For Those Who Protect the World: Supporting Our Troops

  • June 28, 2022

Just after 3:45 p.m. on February 11, 1943, Black & Decker President S. Duncan Black stood on stage inside the company’s Towson headquarters.

The room was filled with red, white and blue banners, and the U.S. Army Band played “The Star-Spangled Banner.”1 Next to him were various representatives of the U.S. Army, preparing to present the workers of Black & Decker with the prestigious Army Navy “E” Award for excellence in production.2 One by one, the speakers told of sacrifice and patriotism. All thanked the workers for their part in the march to what they saw as inevitable victory. The crowd cheered.

The Army Navy “E” Award had been created in 1942 through the merger of the Navy “E” award, the Army “A” Award and the Army-Navy Star,3 and was earned by companies that demonstrated “quality and quantity of production” of war equipment. Judges also looked at factors such as overcoming obstacles in production, maintenance of fair labor standards and effective management.4

Just five percent of eligible producers won the award in the three years that it was conferred.5 Honorees received a flag to fly over their plant, and employees received a star pin.6

“What you do hour by hour, day by day, week by week, at your work benches, means that our men at the front lines can rise out of their muddy fox holes and charge forward with superiority in firepower, with confidence that behind them are the men and women of American industry.”

Major L.B. Blakeney of the Cincinnati Ordinance.
During the presentation of the Army-Navy “E” Award to The Irwin Auger Bit Company, April 16, 1943⁷
The Irwin Auger Bit Company factory, c. 1940. Toggle this button to get more information about this image.
A certificate given to worker Henry T. Douglas in recognition of his contributions to the war effort. Toggle this button to get more information about this image.

Four of the brands that make up today’s Stanley Black & Decker were honored with the award. In addition to Black & Decker, the steel division of The Stanley Works won four pennants, and several other divisions within the company were also recognized.8 The Irwin Auger Bit Company of Wilmington, Ohio was also honored in 1943 for the production of auger bits and screwdrivers, which were used at various military depots and camps, and by other war industries.9 The Plomb Tool Company of Los Angeles, California, now known as PROTO, was among a select group of tool producers that won government contracts to produce tools for vehicle maintenance that were present on many of the 30,000 vehicles that stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. For those contributions, Plomb won the Army-Navy “E” Award four times.10

Image of Normandy on D-Day showing military equipment Toggle this button to get more information about this image.

 

During the war, the international divisions of the companies shut down their international manufacturing facilities based in Axis countries. As Hitler rose to power in Germany, The Stanley Works completely wrote off its manufacturing facility in Velbert, Germany, as if it didn’t even exist.11 The factory didn’t reopen until 1950.12

Stanley Black & Decker remains committed to supporting U.S. troops in the field and at home. Spiralock, now part of STANLEY Engineered Fastening, produces technology used in missile casings and armor plate mounting for the U.S. military.13 Additionally, Stanley Black & Decker Storage Solutions produces VIDMAR and LISTA storage products for use across all branches of the military.14

In 2015, Stanley Black & Decker launched “Build Your America,” a partnership with the nonprofit House of Heroes to provide free home repair to veterans – a small token of appreciation for their sacrifices. “Our military and public safety veterans didn’t serve to gain our thanks,” said a spokesperson. “But they absolutely deserve it.”15

 

Supporting Our Military

[1] Presentation of the Army-Navy Production Award to the Men and Women of the Black & Decker Mfg. Co., Towson, MD. The Black & Decker Mfg. Co. 1, 5, 9, 12.

[2] Presentation of the Army-Navy Production Award to the Men and Women of the Black & Decker Mfg. Co., Towson, MD. The Black & Decker Mfg. Co. 6.

[3] “Army-Navy E Award.” Naval History and Heritage Command. August 22, 2017. Accessed February 16, 2018. https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/a/army-navy-e-award.html.

[4] “Army-Navy E Award.” Naval History and Heritage Command. August 22, 2017. Accessed February 16, 2018. https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/a/army-navy-e-award.html.

[5] “Army-Navy E Award.” Naval History and Heritage Command. August 22, 2017. Accessed February 16, 2018. https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/a/army-navy-e-award.html.

[6] Presentation of the Army-Navy Production Award to the Men and Women of the Black & Decker Mfg. Co., Towson, MD. The Black & Decker Mfg. Co. 3

[7] Army Navy from’ E’ to ‘V. Wilmington, OH. The Irwin Auger Bit Company. 1943. 6

[8] Rodengen, Jeffrey L. The Legend of Stanley: 150 years of The Stanley Works. Fort Lauderdale, FL: Write Stuff Syndicate, 1996. 90.

[9] Army Navy from’ E’ to ‘V. Wilmington, OH. The Irwin Auger Bit Company. 1943. 2.

[10] Industry Built America, We Built Industry: Proto Tools 100 th Anniversary. The Stanley Works, 2007. 21-22.

[11] Levitt, Robert K. Foundations for the Future. The History of Stanley Works. New Britain, CT: Privately Published, 1951. 134.

[12] Rodengen, Jeffrey L. The Legend of Stanley: 150 years of The Stanley Works. Fort Lauderdale, FL: Write Stuff Syndicate, 1996. 90.

[13] “Aerospace and Defense.” Stanley Engineered Fastening. Accessed February 20, 2018. https://www.stanleyengineeredfastening.com/industries/military-and-defense.

[14] “Stanley Black & Decker Storage Solutions’ Vidmar and Lista Brands Now Available Through all Major Procurement Contracts.” Government Fleet. May 11, 2017. Accessed February 20, 2018. https://www.government-fleet.com/140418/vidmar-and-lista-now-available-through-all-major-procurement-contracts.