Hide Article Text (OCR)
FAfRFIELDERS MAKE MUSICAL HISTORY(Continued Prom Pace One)(hr parade, at which (ienerals Munlgoinrry, Alexander a n d mile were present, they re-crived a tremendous ovation.I ih orchestra then went into ;i: ,!i of inti nsive training, play-sea.ini Ini- variety ..flows over Atm anfr-ni'ery In northern Tunisia thenumb* i t the orchestra produced anc pre ■ u’ed a show, Caetu Ca-p, i v ha h wx a decided hit. The p., m ved back with the division t,, ,i j) :nt 1,000 nuk south of O, . an playing variety how a He dan e for t lie* troops.short 1 after this they participat'd m 'he combat landing at Salt mo beach with the 133rd regiment.December 1, they played at a 1, ramp hi Napie and Decem-bn 12 apnea red with four shows intiii 3rd convalescent hospital The h p; al was on the site oi what fiad been intended for the 1045V\ aid b 'li grounds.Hire, the orchestra was given top billing at n show featuring a number oi American and Eng-h h name stars, including Al Jol-m i; Merle Oberon, Frank McHugh aiid many others. By that time theRhythm Majors had won the praise ol generals, admirals, ambassadorswell as stage, radio and screen stai and was referred to as “the sweet* t music this side ol New YorkAt the hattlc ot Cassino, the men were used as litter bearers, aiding in the evacuation of wounded oli Mt Cassino. Here they suffered their only casualty and taps were sounded for Harold Willits, killed by mortar fire in the line of duty. The band then joined the division at the Ati/io beach head and supplied all entertainment lor American and British, hospitalized in six hospitals. Fromthere to Borne and shows there,followed by appearances inI Ion nee, Leghorn. Pisa, Bologna and Milan; then to southern France for varietyshows for the 7th army troops.I hand establish! I a recordthat has no equal. With lile andpi rformanre in the 1 leld, came i r blems that were met and lt;K i d \\ n it v found that a betteislew could be pi * sent lt;(I I rniil aplatform, a portable stage wasi .dt, when it wu found * ha * w indand sun interfen d with perform-• a \ n in was evolved byj w in* hat aip and two t ruck lot rued a back drop.Wilt u the need for some kind«! tran port at ion arose, a captured11 Hp carrier or captured motor-lt;\( le was used. VVh* n music to suitthe oclt; a on w « not available, new arrnng* ments ol oM tun* wcro made or new tunc writtenI rtm tgencie clarinet play* t 1 as lt;■ kik . m tiument t* p.«imen as mess sergeants and hornplayers became inagK ianThe Mth I)ivi ion band looks back on the year- with a feeling of pride, based on achievement. To Ha* undisputed title of the oldest band in the the.iters ot operation,has been added in the opinion of nmnv, the best band.They have earned the 5th army unit citation plaque, which entitles the members to wear a gold wreath on the right leeve. They earned in addition. * battle stars, the French Croix lt;le (iuerro (with the 34th division», the pre-Pearl Harboi medal, the Kuropean medal and the victory medal.Now playing with the 34th division dance band are two members of the original gang. Forest Media on and Dale Dillavou Donald Hartman and John Jackson are playing with an orchestra from Ottumwa. The band still uses thetheme song, We're Through,” composed by A It (lardner. Thiswa. adopted before the war and was the one in u e all during theirtune in serviceWayne Wi e. director ot the band, jwrote mo t of the arrangementswhich the hand u ed Oren Wier, trumpet man, a! o wrote ome ol them.Or eat credit gix to Olcn I .it t If*, busine manager ot the orchestra all during the war Without tlie aidot Mis perfect record.., iilt; h a dt tailed account ot their activitywould not have tx lt;n po iblc.Tmity years t long time foi any musical organization to remainintact That it hail to be good in order to do .so. remains withoutsay mg.
Newspaper Details
Fairfield Daily Ledger
Fairfield, Iowa, US
Thu, Jun 17, 1948
Page 26
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
