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Military at Old ThreshersOne of the midwests most highly rated military bands will appear Saturday afternoon, September 4th, at the Midwest Old Settlers and Threshers Reunion in Mt. Pleasant.The 34th Division Army Band at Fairfield will present a concert in the village bandstand on the Reunion grounds.From its beginning November 11, 1918, to the present, the organization has ranked high inthe opinion of army men, and it was very rare that markings of less than excellent were received. This summer while intraining at Camp Ripley, theband received the highest rating obtainable from the valuationofficer.Twenty-eight musicians tookthe oath of office in the Fairfield Armory the same day the Armistice was signed bringing an end to World War I.The band was formed through the efforts of Ed Lucas, the adjutant general of Iowa, and a former resident of Fairfield. The band was attached toHeadquarters Co., 4th Iowa Infantry, for administration andsupply.In 1921, the 4th Iowa Infantry became the 133rd Infantry Band and in 1938, the National Guard was mustered into Federal Service as war clouds gathered in Europe. Then, came Federal mobilization, and, in February,1941, the Fairfield Guard Units departed for Camp Claiboume, Louisiana for an expected year’s military training. Pearl Harbor came December 7th that year, and the Fairfield Band was among the first U.S. troops to arrive overseas in February,1942.They landed in North Ireland where they remained until October and then embarked with the largest convoy in history totake part in the Allied invasionof North Africa.They engaged in heavy fighting in North Africa, moved into Italy and while in actualcombat, band members served as litter bearers and workedwith medical units.After the war ended May 7,1945, the 133rd Infantry and the 135th Infantry Bands were fused into one unit still in Italy.A portion of the band was formed as the “The Rhythm Majors” a dance band, and it was in great demand entertaining Allied Troops waitingfor their return home.After the band returned home,another reorganization tookplace in the National Guard and the Fairfield unit was designated as the 34th DivisionBand.Three members who took part in World War II are still with the band. They are the band’sCommanding Officer, WarrantOfficer Glen Little, Sgt. DonaldHartman, and Sgt. JohnJackson.Warrant Officer Little willretire from the band in April, 1972, after serving 40 years in the National Guard, all with oneunit, the band.Sgt. Ronald Prill is concertmaster for the organization.The band plays summer concerts in Fairfield’s City Park eight weeks on Tuesday nights and it takes part in Veterans Day and Memorial Day services.LOST FERRY HONG KONG (UPI)—A ferry that left for Singapore July 7 has been missing for over a month, officials said Sunday. A crew of nine was aboard the inter-island ferry Pau Kee, including two British officers and seven Chinese sailors.
Newspaper Details
Mount Pleasant News
Mount Pleasant, Iowa, US
Tue, Aug 24, 1971
Page 4
Full Page
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Anonymous
USA 06 Aug 2019
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