Original Item: Only One Available. The Army-Navy "E" Award was an honor presented to companies during World War II whose production facilities achieved "Excellence in Production" ("E") of war equipment. The award was also known as the Army-Navy Production Award. The award was created to encourage industrial mobilization and production of war time materials. By war's end, the award had been earned by only 5% of the more than 85,000 companies involved in producing materials for the U.S. military's war effort.

An earlier award, the Navy "E" Award, had been created in 1906 during Theodore Roosevelt's administration. By the end of World War I, the Navy "E" Award had been joined by the Army "A" Award and the Army-Navy Munitions Board "Star".

These three separate awards continued until seven months after the attack on Pearl Harbor had pulled the United States into World War II. In July 1942, the War Department proclaimed that the new Army-Navy "E" Award would merge the Navy "E", Army "A" and Army-Navy Munitions Board "Star" into a single, service-wide award.

All factories engaged in war production were eligible to receive the award. Government as well as privately owned plants were eligible, as were contractors.

Although the award was granted to industry, one academic institution and one individual received it. Iowa State College (now Iowa State University) received the award for its contribution to the production of uranium for the Manhattan Project. Dr. Harley A. Wilhelm received the award for inventing the Ames process for the extraction, purification and mass production of uranium for the Manhattan Project, which occurred at Iowa State College.

Some factors which were considered in selecting recipients were:

- Quality and quantity of production
- Overcoming of production obstacles
- Avoidance of work stoppages
- Maintaining of fair labor standards
- Training of additional labor forces
- Good record keeping in relation to health and safety

District procurement officers, chiefs of the supply services, agencies concerned with production and the Commanding Officers for the Matériel Commands would recommend plants, complete with the reasons for such recommendations. An Award Board would review the recommended plants and decide on granting of the awards.

The award consisted of a pennant for the production plant and emblems for all employees in the plant at the time the award was made. The pennant is a triangular swallowtail (V-Shape) with a white border, with a capital E within a yellow wreath of oak and laurel leaves on a vertical divided blue and red background. ARMY is on the red background and NAVY on the blue background. This is the Third Award and is classified by the 2 white stars present on the flag. The pennant itself is the first award, a single star present would be the 2nd award and a 2nd star would signify the 3rd award. The condition is absolutely lovely but does show signs of extensive use. There are scattered small holes throughout as well as age toning and staining, but nothing subtracts from the beauty of the award.

Also included in the lot is an original invitation to the presentation ceremony for when the factory received their 2nd or 3rd award in 1943. Another original item is the “SEASON’S GREETINGS” card from the Western Machine Tool Works company and even has the original envelope. Next is a copy of an award presented to the company by the US Navy for “Patriotic and generous assistance to the Navy Recruiting Service in its campaign to enlist four thousand Michigan men during Michigan Navy Recruiting Month, November seventh to December seventh, nineteen hundred forty-two”. The award was signed by B.E. Flechtner, Lieutenant Commander, US Navy Reserves.

Up next is an original unissued award pin still attached to the original issue card and is retained in the original envelope. The emblem was worn by all employees who were present for the duration in which the company was given the award.

Lastly is a framed 11 ½” x 9 ½” framed copy of the original photograph taken at an award ceremony. The photograph was printed using an original negative from the ceremony.

Usually an Army officer and a Navy officer would be present at a ceremony, where the company would assemble all the employees involved in production. After the award of the pennant to the plant (to be flown), the employees present would receive individual pins.

A total of 4,283 companies received the award in the course of the war. This amounted to about five percent of the companies engaged in war work.

The Army-Navy "E" Award was terminated three months after the end of World War II, on December 5, 1945.

Comes more than ready for further research and display!

This company was founded by Nicodemus Bosch and John Boda. Bosch bought out Boda in 1919. The company made machine tools (i.e., metal-working machinery) including shapers, lathes and drill presses.

Nicodemus Bosch was born on September 3, 1863 in Vriesland, Michigan. Bosch moved to Grand Rapids at 16 years of age with four sibling sisters: Theunissen, Anna, Hannah, and Lena.

Bosch attended Hope College and a business college in Grand Rapids. He married Emma Cherest on December 8, 1889. The couple celebrated their 50th anniversary in 1939. In Grand Rapids, he worked for 8 years in the credit department of Herpolsheimer's, eventually becoming credit manager. He also owned a small machine repair firm. Then he organized the Valley City Machine Works with two associates in Grand Rapids.

In 1905, he moved to Holland, Michigan and founded Western Machine Tool Works (WMTW) with his business partner John Boda. Bosch bought out Boda's interests in the company in 1919. Nicodemus remained President and General Manager of WMTW for 40 years. The company prospered, as it was on total war production during both world wars. Bosch received a citation from Industrial Press Publishers in New York City for his contribution to the development of the mechanical industry. His company also received the award of Army-Navy "E" Production Pennant for high achievement in production of war materials.