Hide Article Text (OCR)
L -.....-.........Ji Jkm\*■t ■ *I , mi in* only DreaK m its existence' was immediately following the war when all National Guard units were disbanded. It was soon reorganized however. And so, for nearly thirty unbroken years, though its musician personnel has changed; older musicians giving way to younger blood, it has always maintained a standard ofmusic that has characterized it as fy4»ne of the really good bands of * Iowa.The band has done much to advertise Fairfield in surroundingstates as well as Iowa. In acknowledgment of excellent service, it has been awarded plaques and citation.’.This was the history of the organization that found itself atCamp Claiborne in February, 1941.It was there that the Khythm Majors, famous offspring ot the band, tame into being. In resixm.se to requests for a bit of swing music, nine of the band members formed an orchestru to play for dances.When the band which had become a part of the first A.E.F., landed in Northern Ireland with the first contingent of American troops, the orchestra through the special service department, played a number ofvariety shows for the entertainment ot those troops.English people had ENSA shows, similar to our USO, which were sent to Ireland for the pleasure of the British soldiers and later, for the Americans. A popular vaude- jors, famous dance band ot World ville act, Forscythe, Beamon. War n Twlt;( members of the ong-OFarrel now tops In the enter-tamment world In London, took ! their show to Ireland at their ownI*SI I■-mmiiI!111!III1(Today’s 34th division dance band is an outgrowth ot the Rhythm Ma-expense. The Rhythm Majors fur-actor to be billed at tin* Palladium,spells the same as when an American artist finally hits Broadway. It is the absolute top.Then followed a tilteen dav tourpresent organizationAbove 111 picture, taken of the' am n n aim ivu v umu mo |ui o 4 114 f i » 1 , \ , • . v ».... ..ii ! Rhythm Majors at the Palladiumlushed the musical background for | J 1 ___the show. As a result, they Joined the act on a tour, making 25 appearances.When the show returned to Lun-don, the orchestra helped to dedicate the Washington Red Crossclub at 11 o’clock on the morning of July 4 The members of the orchestra were the first G I.’s to stay at the club.Later in the day, they played at a tea party given by Mrs.John YVinant, wife of the American ambassador at Grosvenor house, off famous Grosvenor Square. They also furnished the music for the officers danec held in the house that evening.The next day. July 5. the orchestra headlined an all-American show at the beautiful Palladium theater in London. For an Englishin London are shown: Front row,left to right Wayne Wise, directing; Merle Simpson, Donald Hart-man, Dominic Prochaska, Max Ja ci bson. John Jackson and Elvin Ilt;owe Hack row Richard Willey. Gordon Ruhe, Wesley Hamm, Oren Wier and Bud Warner. Pianist, not shown is Willard Johnson. 1Bottom picture shows the presentdance band; trout row, left to rightDillon Lowell, Wayne Heston, PaulCarpenter, Raymond West andJame Bo werm aster. Rear BillYoung, Dale Dillavou, Forest Mc-Glasson, Charles Danielson and Howard DeKalb.rison, Forest MiOlasosn. Harold V. Willits, Robert B Brickey. Wayne Maddix. Harold McChesney, Ralph C. Witthoft, all from Fairfield.Thoslt; from other communitiesfor the group that was rapidly be- wen Willard C. Johnson. John S coming lam us throughout the Percival, Walter J LaPoint, Clyde country. At the completion ol the M Lee. Frank Paradi o, Dominie tour, the orchestra returned to lrc- i Proehaska and Richard Willey.When Frank Simmons wa: given a physical discharge in May, 1943. the band lost its last charter member For twenty-four and a half years he had served the organiza-land, where they stayed until December, 1942.Following is a list ol the men wholanded in Ireland as members of the 133rd Regimental Band: FrankC * f %sN. Simmons, John C Jackson, Don- j tion as a bass drummer and was laid W Hamm, Glen little. Donald the la t f the original 28 musici-J Hartman, Merle Mclntire, Gordon : ans who had been sworn in at the W Ruhe. Richard S Warner. Will- start Six more months would have iam Littlejohn, Elvin Lowe, Roy E. j given him his 25-year service stripe.Hamluvou.Charle 1 Ruble Dale Dil- Tlie band was issued an invitu-M ix Jacobson, R . ei Mor-1 tmn to make a tour of the Green-FOR DADI \ I 111 K S I\Y sl NIBV, .11 NL 2 IMiniatureGift Shoes InSpecial BoxIf you don t know Father s exactsize, and style of his choice . . . give him these miniature him do his own choosingRoblee shoe shown at $10.93.two-tone and ideal for summer.Others $7.95 and $9.95.Other Gift Suggestions:* ROM was* LOAFERS* PHOENIX SOCKS* HOUSE; SLIPPERS* MENS GOLF SHOES* ROCHESTER WOOD SHOETREESvvich Naval Academy, located on the Thames river. The academy is comparable to our Annapolis. As the boat load of officers and enlisted men travelled on the Thames, two flags were waving, the Stars and Stripes and the Union Jack A river patrolman ordered the boat to lower one of them a; onlv one could be*•*tlying on the river boats. Every American on board lelt his heart beat a little harder as, in honor of the guests on board, the English Hag was lowered and the American flag stayed aloft.In the meantime* the band numbers were participating m another type of activity. Oil Christmas day. 15142, they were* part lt;»t a shiploadthat sailed out e*f Liverpool harbor, heading for the* battle areas of Africa. It was not a happy Christmas for tho « men. Their thoughts were of loved lt;«u\s athome, brought in keener mental focus by memories associated withthe* dayH New Years eve*, it was worse*. The neistalgia e»f the* men was much ten* evident. It wastl*i*n the* orchestra acted. Tliev0put on a hIuiw tli.it magically gave* the* men a lift. Part eif it was frenn fe»rnte*r rehearsed performances, part eif it was original. Soon the*re* was laughter and I he* loneliness was morebearable.When the ship was five* miles out of Oran, it wa* rammed bv another Seitnehow, the* vessel had turned in lremt of the* second ship and was struck squarely in tiie* band section This section wa . tin I) deck, directly tin the* water line. The impact tore a hole in the suit* of the ship.Forest McGlasson of Fairfield and Harold McChesney of Pack-wood. were* the* only two memberso! tin* band in the compartment atthe* time, but neither was injured Lights were out, the* engine room was lltxided and orders were issued to abandon ship. This did ne»t have to be* done however, but the ship had to be towed into dock the next day The* instrument and equip-' incut belonging to the water soaked and hadout to dry.•»In At i n a, orders w ere received to move* to the front. Be*lore the move, however, the orchestra was ordered to Oran to play tor a series of -how and dances. They took partm the* dedication of the* first RedCreis club in Africa, which wa established in a theater A* the* information desk of the* j club, the* group met Don Newell Ottumwa high school coach Newell was awaiting an assignment but ciid not know where he* was to be* sent. Two days later the local group left for the* front. They travelled 800 miles and one* eif the fn t menthey saw upon reaching their des-t mat ion w as Dm Newell He* had been assigned to the* 34th division as Red Cross officer. He remained such until he returned to the* States.During the African campaign, i the men filled several jobs, servedi as re*gimental command post guard and helped bury American dead.j At the end e»f May, the instruments were again brought out and ordered to be out in condition for theband to represent the Americantroops in the victory parade in Tunis They were selected from several American bands. During1 (Continued on page two.)bund were*to be laid
Newspaper Details
Fairfield Daily Ledger
Fairfield, Iowa, US
Thu, Jun 17, 1948
Page 25
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 02 May 2020
Other Publications Near Fairfield, Iowa
Fairfield Daily Journal
Fairfield Journal
Fairfield Ledger
Fairfield Daily Ledger
Fairfield Matrimonial Register St Mary
