Long before John Deere became known around the world for its green and yellow farm equipment, the company answered a different call. During World War II, its Waterloo operation shifted from building tractors to manufacturing critical components for the U.S. military.
In July 1942, the John Deere Iowa Transmission Company earned the prestigious Army-Navy “E” Award for Excellence in Production, one of the nation’s highest honors for companies supporting the war effort. The recognition celebrated the dedication of the men and women who quickly adapted their skills to help supply America’s armed forces.
With wartime restrictions reducing civilian tractor production, John Deere created the Iowa Transmission Company to focus on military manufacturing. Workers produced transmissions and final drive units for M3 and M4 Sherman tanks, eventually turning out about 22,000 units during the war. At peak production, the Waterloo plant was manufacturing roughly 1,000 transmissions each month.
The company also built military tractors, ammunition casings, mobile laundry units, and aircraft parts while engineers helped solve mechanical issues with the Sherman tank’s transmission. Women stepped into manufacturing roles alongside men, receiving equal pay as thousands of male employees left to serve in the military.
John Deere’s wartime work transformed Waterloo into a key manufacturing center that played an important role in the Allied victory while showcasing the innovation and adaptability that would shape the company’s future for decades to come.
Source: https://www.notesoniowa.com/iowatimemachine
