Received this yesterday:
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Hello Amanda:
Nice to hear from you and the best of luck with your project. Pleased to assist!
I placed my answers, directly beneath your questions below. Thanks for letting me be part of your project. Let me know if you need any other assistance. This was fun.
Warmly,
Marion
Marion Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Combat Engineer WWII
http://www.6thcorpscombatengineers.com
From: Amanda Charpentier
To: email left off for privacy
Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2009 1:24:56 PM
Subject: WWII Music
Hello,
My name is Amanda and I am working on a project for school. the purpose of the project is to show how music reflects the history of a certain time period. My decade is the 1940s. I really appreciate your collection of music and was wondering if you would be willing to answer a couple questions:
What song(s) do you feel are most representative of the decade? There are so many great tunes! Hmmmm.....My answer would be based on working closely with "my WWII vets", along with my own personal faves. These come to my mind when I think of that era, with emphasis on the war years from 41-45. These are just a few, but ones many still know and sing today. They are eternal.
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree
I'll Be Seeing You
Lili Marlene
In the Mood
Over the Rainbow
White Christmas (this can bring most any veteran to tears)
Thanks for the Memory
As Time Goes By
Are there any specific events that you feel are well reflected in the music on your site? Well WWII in general, but I can't help to think of White Christmas again, and the many of the boys away from home for the first time. That song came out in 1942, and many of the men were already overseas, or at training camp. One of my favorite stories comes from a dear veteran friend named, Dick Fietz (pronounced FEETS). Can you imagine hearing that song during the Battle of Bulge? Or a wife playing it at home, yearning to see her husband, who hadn't been home for three years?
"I was at Camp Tyson in Tennessee in 1942 for Christmas. They were playing White Christmas while I tried for hours to get through to my folks on the telephone. That song had me in tears then. I was 19 years old."
If you had to pick the quintessential song of the 1940s, what would you choose? Ooooo, tough one sweetie! (obviously you can't see or tell how long I stalled before answering this one - whew!) I guess I would finally choose, Thanks for the Memory. I think the title says it all, and it makes me think of Bob Hope singing it for the troops, not only duing WWII, but when he entertained the troops overseas for decades.
I realize this is a shot in the dark, but if you have a moment and wouldn't mind helping me out, I would really appreciate your input. It seems as though you know a little something about the music of the time ( :
Thank you in advance
Amanda.
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"