New Orleans Selected as 2004 Reunion Site

Frank Schlatter (56-58), CEO for the 33rd Army Band Alumni Association, in collaboration with on-site member Roger Dickerson (58-59), has selected New Orleans for the location of our 2004 reunion. It will be held from the 27th through the 29th of August.

Identified as the reunion hotel is the Astor Crowne Plaza Hotel in the French Quarter. The hotel will provide us with the benefits of one of the newest hotels in New Orleans and the convenience to major downtown attractions at rates that are below those of most of the other hotels in the vicinity. Subject to the addition of room and occupancy taxes, the price of single and double room accommodations for our reunion is $89.

The attractions that New Orleans offers for visitors are obviously many, and it is the hope of the reunion coordinators that the members of the 33rd ABAA, along with family members and friends, will turn out in large numbers for this occasion. At this time 40 rooms have been set aside for the reunion, and to insure receiving the special rate, members will need to make their reservations with the hotel itself by July 30th. (You can make yours as soon as you like by contacting the hotel at 504-962-0500 or, toll-free, 888-696-4806. Just be sure to indicate that you are with the 33rd ABAA. According to our contract with the hotel, individual guest room deposits will be refunded if reservations are cancelled 72 hours prior to the day of arrival. Rooms can, of course, be reserved by the use of a credit card. It should be noted that if you wish to arrive a day early and/or to depart the day after the reunion, the same rate will apply for those days.)

Yet to be decided is the amount of the reunion registration fee that will be sent to the reunion coordinator. That fee will cover the cost of the scheduled group meals and such other expenses as are incurred in taking care of reunion activities. At this time it would appear that for dues-paying members of the association the fee will be somewhere between $70 and $80. The exact amount for the registration fee, along with the projected deadline for the fee to be paid, will be provided in the next Passing In Review.

A complete schedule of events has yet to be developed. However, on behalf of the organization, Frank Schlatter has signed a contract with the hotel that will provide for our registration to begin in the early afternoon of August 27, with a banquet to be held on Saturday evening (Aug. 28) and a breakfast meeting to be held on Sunday morning (Aug. 29).

Aside from meeting old friends and making the acquaintance of new ones, the major activity on Friday will undoubtedly be getting acquainted (or reacquainted) with the French Quarter in New Orleans, which will mean the frequenting of local jazz centers that evening.

Saturday morning is likely to be the best time to visit the nearby National D-Day Museum. Then, depending on whether there will be a sufficient number of former band members who wish to put on an informal concert following the Saturday evening banquet, some time Saturday afternoon could be set aside for a rehearsal. In that same time period, other reunion-goers might wish to visit Harrah's New Orleans Casino or take in the Poydras Street business corridor, or take a riverwalk, or visit the arts district, or the aquarium. Then, too, a Saturday afternoon cruise on the Mississippi may be a viable alternative. Additional details for all of the preceding will be provided in the April Passing In Review.

In the meantime, dues-paying members of the 33rd ABAA will find a self-addressed, stamped reunion questionnaire attached to this newsletter, which you are encouraged to complete at your earliest convenience and to drop it in the mail. You'll note that the first question you are asked is whether you plan to attend the reunion. Certainly, at the time you complete the questionnaire you will realize that eight months intervenes until the reunion and it may be hard to know for certain whether you will be able to attend. However, for the planning necessary, the reunion coordinators do need an indication of how many will be in attendance. As you may remember, the Washington, D.C. reunion was attended by about 70 people, while the Minneapolis reunion had forty people in attendance. It would be great if we were to have 50 or more people attending the New Orleans reunion. But whatever your views are at this time, please return the questionnaire as soon as you can.

Former members of the USAREUR Band who have paid their association dues will be receiving the latest edition of the 33rd ABAA Directory along with their January newsletter. The editor of the publication has attempted to make it as complete and up-to-date as possible. Unfortunately, numbers of former 33rders have not kept us informed of their current address, telephone, and/or e-mail addresses, and, as a consequence, numerous individuals who were previously identified as "found" are now listed among the "missing".

You can help make our membership rolls more accurate by sending Frank Schlatter current information that does not now appear in the directory.

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The 33rd Army Band Alumni Association is a not-for-profit organization that has been developed to provide a means for former members of the USAREUR Band to be in contact with one another via the quarterly newsletter Passing In Review and through periodic reunions.

33rd ABAA CEO: Frank Schlatter, 3111 Futura, Roswell, NM 88201. E-mail: obfusa@rt66.com Telephone number: 505-622-6898. Fax: 505-622-1611.

Webmaster for the 33rd ABAA internet site: Dee Tonning, 2265 Tawny Woods Pl., Boise, ID 83706. E-mail: dtonning@aol.com

Persons who are not former members of the 33rd Army Band but who are interested in participating in the activities of the alumni association are welcome as associate members. Annual dues for all members: $15, payable to the 33rd ABAA and sent to the CEO.

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(Ed. Note: In the holiday season numerous individuals wrote to extend their greetings and to provide updates on their activities. Some of the following messages came in such circumstances.)

Col. Gary Lamb (85, 96-98) noted that the year with the US Army Band was a hectic one, beginning with the All American Bowl in San Antonio, TX. Among other activities, he adjudicated contests, oversaw the annual tuba/euphonium conference with its many concerts, experienced the flooding of Brucker Hall due to a horrendous rainstorm after Isabel had visited with her winds and rain, enjoyed two or more reunions, engaged in many concerts in various places in the country and even in Bilbao, Spain, where Gary not only conducted but had the opportunity to play chess with Anatoly Karpov (though he didn't indicate the result of the match), took the opportunity whenever possible to get onto the golf course, and then, late in the year, went to Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Baghdad with members of the US Army Band and the USO.

Fred Boots (Band CO from May 59-Oct 62) provided a summary of 2003 in verse, relating that during the year he and his wife Pat had enjoyed a week in Williamsburg, traveled to Roanoke to be with "Federation friendly folk," attended a 65th high school reunion, enjoyed a national convention in Nashville, noted that Isabel had created such havoc that they drove to Ocean City, and then, at Thanksgiving time, took pleasure at being at Fort Myer for the holiday.

Dick Hays (May 57-Aug 58) referred to their "MH trips to Texas, South Dakota and within Colorado", noted that they had also travelled to Dodge City, Kansas, and also took in Mount Rushmore. He spoke of his and Shirley's having "played with our bands, sung with the choir, done some Eastern Star, Shrine and Masonic activities."

Ken Tschantz (57-58) referred to visiting with friends in the Smokies and a June family reunion in MI and gave a brief pitch about never getting tired "of going to Cades Cove in the mountains near Gatlinburg, Dollywood or outlet shopping in Pigeon Forge." Like the Hayses, he and his wife Ardith sing in the choir. A major event for them this year was apparently a long-awaited time to become grandparents. The letter also noted trips to Alexandria, VA, Washington, D.C., Strasburg, Pa and then to MI and the Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids and one of the Lake MI beaches."

Several 33rd ABAA members, including Frank Gomes (May 55-Apr 56), Dee Tonning (56-57), and Bill Steiden (Oct 56-Apr 58) expressed their regrets at not being able to make the Heidelberg trip. Bill noted that he and his wife Alma are planning a visit to Ireland this spring.

Non-seasonal mailings included updates from individuals who also were paying their 33rd ABAA dues for 2004.

Paul Stevens (62-67) wrote in late November to inform us of the passing this past spring of CW4 Byron Smith (62-66). Paul also reported that at the ARMM meeting in Clarksville, TN, in October, the guest speaker, CW5 Dave Ratliff, Assistant to the AG in charge of all army bands, stated that by 2006 there will be only one army band left in Europe. One of the two division bands will go to Ft. Carson, the other to Ft. Riley, leaving the 33rd as THE European band.

Nollie Neill, Sr. (54-55) told of staying busy with volunteer jobs, "such as treasurer of The English Speaking Union, Greensboro Branch; Historian of Church, Irving Park United Methodist Church; Historian for Greensboro Kiwanis Club, founded in 1919." He also serves as family historian for the Neills and Washburns.

Nollie also sent along some pictures, including one of a mini-mini reunion at the Neill home in Greensboro, NC, when "three of the old guys from the class of 54-55 [with wives] got together": Lou Driever, Paul Smith, and Nollie. (Later, Lou Driever also forwarded a picture of the threesome.)

It was the first time Nollie and Lou had seen one other in 48 years, and it had been 40 years since Paul and Lou had gotten together, "even though they both were in school departments in Ohio." Besides recent photos, Nollie enclosed one taken at the Red Ox Inn during their tour with the band. It shows the three "old guys" and Maurie Maine, who, according to Nollie, passed away a year or so ago. (Two of the pictures mentioned here are reproduced on a subsequent page of this newsletter.)

The daughter of Tom Kolbe (Jul 56-Dec 59), Kama Kolbe Schneider, wrote in early December to relay the news that Tom had passed away on November 17, 2002, of leukemia. She indicated her regret at not having written sooner, but she had been "looking for the right words to write--no words ever came." She went on to say the following: "I would like you to know that my dad loved reading Passing In Review and enjoyed visiting the web site whenever he came to visit us. You should also know that one of my dad's fondest memories was of the group's reunion [in Washington, D.C.] and that he was one of those selected to place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown. How proud he was and how privileged he felt.

"I know he and my mom would have enjoyed a reunion in Germany. My mother, however, was in failing health herself and passed away just 3 days after my dad was diagnosed. When the trip was first mentioned they both enjoyed reliving many fond memories of our time there. It was, without a doubt, one of my family's favorite tours." [Ed Note: The editor wishes to express his deepest condolences to Kama. I was well aware of Tom's feelings about the part he played in the Arlington ceremony because he told me more than once how privileged he felt at being a member of the wreath-laying contingent. Tom was good about sharing his memories of his tour with the 33rd with me, stories that I appreciated getting and putting in the newsletter.)

Mary E. Wright, mother of Robert J. Wright (60-61) wrote to inform us of Robert's death on Sept. 9, 2003. In her brief letter she said: "He never forgot the time spent with the 33rd Army Band and it was one of the high lights in his life. He never gave up on the music and played right through all the years until his illness took his strength away." (Ed. Note: The editor wants all those who have lost a former 33rd Army Band member or 33rders who have experienced the loss of a loved one to know that our condolences go out to each of you. Your loss, in some measure, is also ours, though, of course, our experience of the loss can never compare with yours.)

Richard Wilson (92-97) wrote in December of his recently "checking on the USAREUR B & C website and [having] found a lot had happened since my last look. A new branch insignia! Some great shots of Heidelberg in your section!" He went on to say that he had looked at the photo of the new band headquarters but couldn't find out where the building is located. He noted that he started the project to get the band a new rehearsal hall on Tompkins Barracks and subsequently learned from Colonel Lamb that it was finished after he, Richard, had returned to the States. [Ed Note: Though the editor did not have a map of the Tompkins Barracks at hand, based upon his brief visit to the band facility in September, he attempted to explain where the new facility is located.]

Eugene Vacher (63-65) wrote to say he would be glad to hear from any of the 33rd members "or for that matter from any band members who served" with him between 1945 and 1965.

Joseph Turrise (67) wrote several times, the first e-mail stating that Allen Lennstrom, a fellow clarinet player in the 33rd in 1967, had informed him of the association website. Joseph noted that his wife was a "lovely German girl" whom he had married in November of 1967. They now have three daughters and four grandchildren. Joseph and his wife have apparently returned to Germany many times, but in all those times they have never seen the band.

Joseph sent the copy of the page from the October 27, 1967, Post-Herald, a reproduction of which in reduced form is provided with this newsletter.

Bill Meynier (Fall 70-Dec 72), a pianist with the band during his 33rd tour, wrote to say that if there are any members who served during the time he was with the band he would very much like for them to e-mail him at wdmeynier@aol.com, in order to exchange some 'war stories'.

Members of the band from 1957-59 will be interested to learn that Lowell Pedersen, Mayor of Pocahontas, Iowa, had written the editor of the newsletter earlier in 2003, saying that he had read Frank's mail to the Patton Barracks Vets Group on the internet (now no longer in existence) and indicating that he was "just down the hall from the 33d band in HQ company." He went on to say: "I was assigned to the Intelligence Production Branch of the G-2 Div. at Campbell brks. I even had the pleasure of marching a couple of times to your music on the Thurs retreat at Campbell. I am still convinced that the 33d was the best band that I have ever heard anywhere! I remember enjoying the informal sessions that you played in the barracks at Patton. I recall also that whenever one of your members left, the band fell out and played 'Auf Wiedersehen' as he shook hands with the members of the band and then drove off. I would have sold my soul for a sendoff like that. Heidelberg was a great place to be stationed, and we really did very little soldiering other than working in our office jobs. It is great to read the stories from others who feel as I do about Heidelberg in the Patton Vets Group...Tell the members of the band that they still have a big fan in Pocahontas, Iowa....I never fail to remember the 33d when I hear the Col Bogey march which you always played at the retreat ceremony."

33rd ABAA members will note that Frank Schlatter has been identified in the newsletter and the directory as the organization's CEO. Previously he was identified as the Secretary-Treasurer. However, subsequent to the resignation of Dick Hays as President, Frank has been in charge of everything except what is handled by Dee Tonning, the 33rd ABAA Webmaster, (who, everyone agrees, has done a terrific job with our website!) The CEO designation for Frank seemed to be more appropriate, although he has noted that the designation could read CCBW (Chief Cook and Bottle Washer)--except that such a designation might cause some upraised eyebrows when he is in contact with folks outside the organization.

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Thomas E. Kolbe (trombone player with the 33rd from July 56 to December 59), Nov. 17, 2002.

Maurice C. Maine (with the 33rd in 1956), passed away in last couple of years.

Robert J. Wright (trumpet player with the 33rd from 60-61), September 9, 2003.

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Following in this newsletter... As noted previously, the Post-Herald page was submitted by Joseph Turrise. The mini-mini reunion photo was provided by Lou Driever; the circa 55 photo in the Red Ox Inn was provided by Nollie Neill.

The July 1954 photo of 33rders with two WACs was provided by Barbara Pope, who, at the time, was S/Sgt Barbara Arnold. Anyone recognize the 33rders?

Barbara Arnold at right center. To her right, Jesse Jackson, drummer. To her left,
WAC roommate Liz Geran. On the far right, Bob Leiner, trumpet. --July 1954