U.S. ARMY BANDS IN HISTORY

ARMY BANDS IN WORLD WAR II

Approximately 500 bands served the Army during World War II. The bands were categorized into three types: special bands, separate bands, and organization bands.

The United States Army Band (Pershing's Own), the US Military Academy Band, and the US Army Air Corps Band, were the designated special bands. As special bands, they performed at special ceremonies, concerts, parades, and recruiting drives.

Separate bands were controlled by the Adjutant General and supported the administrative, technical, and training centers to which they were attached.

Organization bands were infantry units and were attached to combat commands to provide music for the unit's combat and support troops of the division. (Regimental bands were abolished in 1943 as individual units and consolidated to form division bands.)

Organization bands performed many non-musical duties as infantry units. Most bands guarded post perimeters and supply trains. They were able to function as musical units when required, as long as they remained organically intact and held occasional rehearsals. Many times, however, commanders would use their bandsmen as litter bearers or replacements in the line. When it came time to use these bands as musical units, they were generally inoperative, and required several months to reorganize and retrain.

Field commanders used organization bands primarily to entertain off-duty combat troops. Commanders made their bands more versatile and maneuverable by dividing their bands into several small ensembles. This also allowed them to perform closer to the front. Some ensembles, such as those from the 101st Airborne Division Band, played as far forward as command posts.

The 28th Infantry Division Band distinguished itself during WWII. During the Battle of the Bulge, the divisional command post at Wiltz, Luxembourg, came under severe attack. Members of the 28th Infantry Division Band took up arms and fought as part of holding line around Wiltz to stop the German advance. The band put away their instruments, dug foxholes and picked up carbines. A clarinetist, Private First Class Collins, manned a bazooka and then drove a truck loaded with the band's music. He was going to save the music, but 10 miles out of Bastogne the convoy was ambushed and all the music burned. Only 16 of the band's 60 men survived the fighting in the Ardennes.

The 28th Infantry Division Band was not the only band involved in the Battle of the Bulge. The 101st Airborne helped hold on to Bastogne preventing it from falling to the Germans. The 82nd Airborne Division Band was caught in the battle after being sent to the Ardennes for R & R. The 82nd front line was stretched thin. The 82nd Airborne Band joined the depleted front line to hold off the German spearhead. The band helped hold off two German Infantry Divisions and a Panzer Division.

Because the demand for music units exceeded the number of available bands and ensembles, many commanders organized Field Music Units. Most Field Music Units, composed of drums and bugles played by soldiers, spent their mornings on military duties, and afternoons in rehearsals or drill. These units became so popular they performed extensively until the end of the war.

The war in Europe was not limited to just organization bands. The Army Band embarked on a two week wartime tour in 1943, which lasted two years. The band performed near Metz, not far from combat, to lift morale during the Battle of the Bulge. The Army Band performed at countless Red Cross and USO dances and played concerts for civilians. Of all the special bands in Washington DC, The Army Band is the only one to ever perform in a theater of foreign combat operations.

The dance bands of the Army, due to their mobility, entertainment value, and the positive morale factor, became important. This was the day of the large dance bands in America and many soldiers thirsted for the music they left behind. The selective draft brought many outstanding musicians into the Army and the Army Air Corps.

The most recognized name of the big bands was Glenn Miller. Glenn Miller was commissioned as a captain in the US Army Specialist Corps in June 1942. Miller did not have to enter service; he had defective vision, was above draft age and had two adopted children. He wanted to contribute by bringing his music to servicemen and women and to streamline and modernize military music. After becoming director of Army bands, he organized a plan to have 30 small dance orchestras to tour the country and one major string orchestra. He also wrote swing arrangements of Sousa marches. His band would perform military ceremonies from jeeps so a full rhythm section could accompany the winds. Army officials were not receptive to the swing arrangements and Glenn Miller found himself bogged down with the Army routine. He transferred his service to the Army Air Force and was made director of bands training for the Army Air Forces Technical Training Command. In 1943, Glenn Miller's 45 piece orchestra began a weekly series of half hour radio programs called "I Sustain the Wings." This program included a dramatic skit to recruit men into the service and selling war bonds. In 1944, the band, now named the American Band of the Allied Expeditionary Force, began a weekly radio program broadcasted to Europe and later to the continent.

On July 20, 1942, the first contingent of women was inducted into the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) at Fort Des Moines, Iowa. By early 1943, five bands, the 400th Army Band, 401st Army Band , 402d Army Band, 403d Army Band, and the 404th Army Band were composed entirely of women. WAAC bands were later redesignated and officially activated in the Women's Army Corps (WAC) on January 21, 1944.

On July 24, 1943, two band training units were established by order of Lieutenant General Somervell. One was located at the Quartermaster Replacement Training Center, Camp Lee, Virginia. The second was established at the Signal Corps Replacement Training Center, Camp Crowder, Missouri. This training was intended only to orient qualified draftees on the mission and operation of an Army band. It did not include any courses designed to increase the individual's instrumental proficiency.

When it became apparent that the Camp Lee Training Center could handle the entire music program, the Camp Crowder training unit was discontinued in 1944.

In 1944, separate bands were authorized 28 bandsmen and one warrant officer for each separate band. Organization bands were authorized 56 bandsmen and two warrant officers (the same number as two separate bands combined).

In 1944, the War Department directed that a band be formed entirely of qualified musicians who had combat service overseas. Commanded by Chief Warrant Officer Chester Whiting, the new band was named the First Combat Infantry Band with a mission to entertain at War Bond Drives around the country. When it was no longer possible to maintain a band comprised exclusively of musicians with combat service, plans were made to reorganize and rename the band. General Devers, Commander of the US Army Ground Forces, issued the following order to Whiting: "I want you to organize a band that will carry into the grassroots of our country the story of our magnificent Army, its glorious traditions and achievements: and of the great symbol of American manhood--the Ground Soldier." On March 21, 1946 the United States Ground Forces Band was activated.

During World War II, supervision of Army bands was divided between the Chief of Special Services and The Adjutant General. No central agency had full responsibility for the technical staff supervision of all Army bands and all Army bandsmen.

GREAT TRUTHS THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED:

1) No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats.

2) When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair.

3) If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the second person.

4) Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.

5) You can't trust dogs to watch your food.

6) Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.

7) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.

8) You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.

9) Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.

10) The best place to be when you're sad is Grandpa's lap.

GREAT TRUTHS THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED:

1) Raising teenagers is like nailing Jell-O to a tree.

2) Wrinkles don't hurt.

3) Families are like fudge...mostly sweet, with a few nuts.

4) Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.

5) Laughing is good exercise. It's like jogging on the inside.

6) Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy.

GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD

1) Growing up is mandatory; growing old is optional.

2) Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.

3) When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you're down there.

4) You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.

5) It's frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.

6) Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician.

7) Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.

Here's the disk I was talking about in my documentary section.

CD008: WWII Music & Variety Show Part 1

This disk includes:

Amphibious_Battle_Hymn.mp3

Any_Bonds_Today.mp3

Army_Air_Corps_Song_1.mp3

Army_Air_Corps_Song_2.mp3

As_Time_Goes_By.mp3

Barnacle_Bill_The_Sailor.mp3

Bell-Bottom_Trousers.mp3

Bless_Em_All.mp3

Boogie_Woogie_Bugle_Boy_01.mp3

Boogie_Woogie_Bugle_Boy_02.mp3

Boy_in_Khaki_Girl_in_Lace.mp3

Burma_Bomber.mp3

Coming_In_On_a_Wing_and_a_Prayer_01.mp3

Coming_In_On_a_Wing_and_a_Prayer_02.mp3

Coming_In_On_a_Wing_and_a_Prayer_03.mp3

Corn_for_my_Country.mp3

Cranky_Old_Yank.mp3

D-Day.mp3

Dear_Mom_01.mp3

Dear_Mom_02.mp3

Der_Fuehrers_Face.mp3

Dig_Down_Deep.mp3

Dont_Sit_Under_The_Apple_Tree_01.mp3

Dont_Sit_Under_The_Apple_Tree_02.mp3

Dont_Sit_Under_The_Apple_Tree_03.mp3

Dont_Worry.mp3

Enlisted_Mens_Mess.mp3

FDR_Jones.mp3

Fellow_on_a_Furlough.mp3

Ferdinand_the_Frantic_Freak.mp3

Fighting_Doug_MacArthur.mp3

Get_Your_Gun_and_Come_Along.mp3

GI_Jive.mp3

GI_Jive-Louis_Jordan.mp3

GI_Jive-V-Disc.mp3

Girls_Dont_Refuse_To_Kiss_a_Soldier.mp3

Gold_Star_Mothers.mp3

Good_Night_Soldier.mp3

Good_Night_Wherever_You_Are.mp3

Goodbye_Mama_Im_Off_To_Yokahama_1.mp3

Goodbye_Mama_Im_Off_To_Yokahama_2.mp3

Good-Bye_Sue.mp3

Guns_in_the_Sky.mp3

Guy_Comes_Marchin_Home.mp3

Harlem_On_Parade.mp3

Here_Come_the_British.mp3

Heres_To_You_MacArthur.mp3

Hes_My_Guy.mp3

Hip_Hip_Hooray.mp3

Hittin_the_Silk.mp3

Hot_Time_in_Berlin.mp3

I_Dont_Want_To_Walk_Without_You.mp3

I_Left_My_Heart_At_The_Stagedoor_Canteen.mp3

Ill_Be_Seeing_You.mp3

Ill_Bet_Youre_Sorry_Now_Tokyo_Rose-1947.mp3

Ill_Get_By.mp3

Ill_Never_Mention_Your_Name.mp3

Im_Goin_Back_to_Whur_I_Come_From.mp3

Im_in_the_Army_Now.mp3

Indian_Summer.mp3

Its_Just_a_Matter_Of_Time.mp3

Ive_Got_Sixpence.mp3

Jeep_Rhythm.mp3

Joltin_Joe_Dimaggio.mp3

Jungle_Jump.mp3

Keep_an_Eye_on_Your_Heart.mp3

Keep_the_Home_Fires_Burning.mp3

Keepem_Flying.mp3

Leave_The_Dishes_In_The_Sink_Ma.mp3

Light_a_Candle_in_the_Chapel.mp3

Little_Bo_Peep_Has_Lost_Her_Jeep.mp3

Looks_Like_You.mp3

LST_Party.mp3

Ma_I_Miss_Your_Apple_Pie.mp3

Marching_Through_Berlin.mp3

Marine_Corps_Hymn.mp3

Miss_You.mp3

Moon_Over_Burma.mp3

My_Devotion.mp3

My_Guys_Come_Back.mp3

My_Sister_and_I.mp3

Never_Another_War.mp3

No_Love_No_Nothin.mp3

Obey_Your_Air_Raid_Warden.mp3

One_Girl_Two_Boys.mp3

One_Letter_Home.mp3

One-A_In_The_Army.mp3

Pearl_Harbor_Blues.mp3

Pistol_Packing_Mama_V-Disc.mp3

Plain_Talk.mp3

Praise_The_Lord_&_Pass_The_Ammunition_1.mp3

Praise_The_Lord_&_Pass_The_Ammunition_2.mp3

Pvt_Mary_Brown.mp3

Remember_Pearl_Harbor_1.mp3

Remember_Pearl_Harbor_2.mp3

Remember_Pearl_Harbor_3.mp3

Road_to_Victory.mp3

Robison-Hirohitos_Letter_To_Hitler.mp3

Robison-Hitlers_Last_Letter_To_Hirohito.mp3

Robison-Hitlers_Reply_to_Mussolini.mp3

Robison-Mussolinis_Letter_To_Hitler.mp3

Rockabye_My_Baby.mp3

Rosie_the_Riveter.mp3

Salt_Water_Cowboy.mp3

Sams_Got_Him.mp3

Scrap_Your_Fat.mp3

Second_To_None.mp3

Send_Me_Your_Love_For_Xmas.mp3

Shh_Its_a_Military_Secret.mp3

Silver_Wings.mp3

Silver_Wings_in_the_Moonlight.mp3

Spirit_of_The_Air_Force.mp3

Spring_Will_Be_a_Little_Later_This_Year.mp3

Spying_is_Trying.mp3

Stage_Door_Canteen.mp3

Stalin_Wasnt_Stallin.mp3

Stop_The_War_The_Cats_Are_Killing_Themselves.mp3

Story_of_Pvt_Joe.mp3

Tail-end_Charlie.mp3

Ten_Bucks_24_Hrs_Leave.mp3

Thanks_For_America.mp3

That_Soldier_of_Mine.mp3

The_Last_Time_I_Saw-Paris.mp3

The_Man_Behind_the_Gun.mp3

The_White_Cliffs_of_Dover.mp3

There_are_Yanks.mp3

There_Wont_Be_a_Shortage_of_Love.mp3

Therell_be_a_Jubilee.mp3

Theres_a_White_Cross_Tonight_in_Okinawa.mp3

Theres_No_Wings_on_Foxhole.mp3

Theyre_Either_Too_Young_or_Too_Old_1.mp3

Theyre_Either_Too_Young_or_Too_Old_2.mp3

This_is_the_Army.mp3

This_is_The_Army_Mr_Jones.mp3

This_Is_Your_War.mp3

Three_Little_Words_V-Disc.mp3

Tokyo_Rose.mp3

Turkey_In_The_Straw.mp3

Umbrella_Man.mp3

Uncle_Sam.mp3

V-Day_Stomp.mp3

Wait_for_Me_Mary.mp3

Waiting_For_The_Train_To_Come_In.mp3

Waltz_in_Berlin.mp3

Wartime_Blues.mp3

We_Did_It_Before_Well_Do_It_Again_1.mp3

We_Did_It_Before_Well_Do_It_Again_2.mp3

We_Did_It_Before_Well_Do_It_Again_3.mp3

Well_Meet_Again.mp3

Were_Gonna_Have_To_Slap_The_Dirty_Little_Jap.mp3

Were_Shovin_Right_Off.mp3

When_The_Lights_Go_On_Again.mp3

When_The_Yanks_Raise_The_Stars_And_Stripes_on_Iwo_Jima .mp3

When_Youre_A_Long_Way_From_Home.mp3

Why_Do_They_Call_a_Private_a_Private_V-Disc.mp3

Wish_You_Were_Waiting_For_Me.mp3

Wonder_When_My_Babys_Coming_Home.mp3

Yankee_Clipper.mp3

You_Cant_Say_No.mp3

Youd_Be_So_Nice_to_Come_Home_To.mp3

Youd_Better_Get_Up_and_Do_It.mp3

Youll_Never_Know.mp3

Youre_a_Sap_Mr_Jap_1.mp3

Youre_a_Sap_Mr_Jap_2.mp3

GI_Jive_Radio_601.mp3

GI_Jive_Radio_602.mp3

GI_Jive_Radio_703.mp3

GI_Jive_Radio_704.mp3

GI_Jive_Radio_705.mp3

GI_Jive_Radio_706.mp3

GI_Jive_Radio_829.mp3

GI_Jive_Radio_830.mp3

GI_Jive_Radio_831.mp3

GI_Jive_Radio_832.mp3

GI_Jive_Radio_837.mp3

GI_Jive_Radio_838.mp3

GI_Jive_Radio_839.mp3

GI_Jive_Radio_840.mp3

GI_Jive_Radio_841.mp3

GI_Jive_Radio_842.mp3

GI_Jive_Radio_843.mp3

GI_Jive_Radio_844.mp3

GI_Jive_Radio_845.mp3

GI_Jive_Radio_846.mp3

GI_Jive_Radio_847.mp3

GI_Jive_Radio_848.mp3

GI_Jive_Radio_849.mp3

GI_Jive_Radio_850.mp3

GI_Jive_Radio_851.mp3

GI_Jive_Radio_852.mp3

GI_Jive_Radio_853.mp3

GI_Jive_Radio_854.mp3

GI_Jive_Radio_855.mp3

GI_Jive_Radio_856.mp3

GI_Jive_Radio_unknown_1.mp3

GI_Jive_Radio_unknown_2.mp3

GI_Jive_Radio_unknown_3.mp3

GI_Jive_Radio_unknown_4.mp3

Mail_Call_01_AFRS-Judy_Garland.mp3

Mail_Call_02_AFRS-Judy_Garland.mp3

Mail_Call_03_AFRS-Judy_Garland.mp3

Mail_Call_05_AFRS-Judy_Garland.mp3

Mail_Call_06_AFRS-Judy_Garland.mp3

Mail_Call_07_AFRS-Judy_Garland.mp3

Mail_Call_08_AFRS-Judy_Garland.mp3

Mail_Call_09_AFRS-Judy_Garland.mp3

Mail_Call_10_AFRS-Judy_Garland.mp3

Mail_Call_11_AFRS-Judy_Garland.mp3

Mail_Call_12_AFRS-Judy_Garland.mp3

Radio_Charlie-German_Propaganda_1.mp3

Radio_Charlie-German_Propaganda_2.mp3

Radio_Charlie-German_Propaganda_3.mp3

Radio_Charlie-German_Propaganda_4.mp3

Radio_Charlie-German_Propaganda_5.mp3

Radio_Charlie-German_Propaganda_6.mp3

Radio_Charlie-German_Propaganda_7.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_001.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_002.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_003.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_004.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_005.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_006.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_007.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_008.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_009.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_010.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_011.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_012.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_013.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_014.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_015.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_016.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_017.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_018.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_019.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_020.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_021.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_022.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_023.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_024.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_025.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_026.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_027.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_028.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_029.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_030.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_031.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_032.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_033.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_034.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_035.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_036.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_037.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_038.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_039.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_040.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_041.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_043.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_044.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_047.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_048.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_049.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_050.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_051.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_052.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_053.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_054.mp3

1942xxxx_Treasury_Star_Parade_Prgm_055.mp3

19420908_Willson-Nesbitt_Prgm_11.mp3

19420915_Willson-Nesbitt_Prgm_12.mp3

19420922_Willson-Nesbitt_Prgm_13.mp3

19421226_Desert_Christmas.mp3

19431225_ Bob_Hope_The_Christmas_Pack.mp3

194411xx_Wehrmacht_Hour_1.mp3

194411xx_Wehrmacht_Hour_2.mp3

19441231_Andrews_Sisters.mp3

1948xxxx_USO_Farewell_Program_Re-enactmemt.mp3

AFRS_Front_Line_Theater_with_Jack_Benny.mp3

611 Megabytes

Thanks Moose. This it too funny!

Why We Won the War!

Attached Files

  why_we_won_the_war.jpg (Size: 39.49 KB / Downloads: 0)

Evening everyone!

Its been a while since I posted and or been on, been busy with work and such. However, I'm here to show ya'll some pictures of our latest event we held and participated in. It was a lot of fun and we hope to do it again next year.

This event was a timeline living history event spanning from the Spanish-American War through World War I to World War II. This was a celebration 120 years of Tybee Island, Georgia as a community and we were recreating soldiers station at Fort Joseph Screven on the north end of Tybee Island from the years of 1898-1944 while the installation was in service. My unit was recreating soldiers of the World War II timeframe as the U.S. 252nd Coastal Artillery Regiment, a North Carolina National Guard unit stationed at Fort Jospeh Screven from 1938-1942.

I hope you all enjoy!

These pictures were taken by people with Pixels at Savannahnow.com...

Kind Regards,

Sgt. James F. Dunigan, III(NCOIC)

First Battalion, Able Company

U.S. 30th Infantry Regiment

U.S. 3rd Infantry Division(Reenacted)