HOLES IN THE LINE… WHO CAN FILL THEM?
Recently your secretary-treasurer received the following request for information in an e-mail from Christel Breeze with the USAREUR Band and Chorus Public Affairs Office:
The reason for beginning this issue of Passing in Review with this exchange is to solicit your help in filling in the gaps in our lines. As you know, ragged lines leave a great deal to be desired. So here are your orders: locate those old rosters and travel orders for the 33rd and see that we get some copies of them. We may not be able to close up the ranks of missing members, but with some effort we should be able to locate some of the troops.
It should be pointed out as well that we occasionally hear from individuals who have served in the chorus subsequent to 33rd Army Band’s becoming the USAREUR Band and Chorus in the early 80’s when L. Bryan Shelburne Jr. was the commanding officer. One such correspondent with us has been Nicholas Kliewer. Nicholas had written to indicate that he had visited the website and surmised that chorus members are not considered eligible for membership in the alumni group. He was informed that there is provision for chorus members to belong to the association, although at present there are just a few individuals who have joined.
Slander Stevens Jr., who from April 83 to Dec. 84 was a chorus member, also wrote us recently, saying that he looked for other chorus members. He noted, as well, that he is currently working with MSG Betty Ann Weikel, who was first sergeant with the chorus in the early 80’s. He asked why there isn’t an internet listing for the chorus. He was informed that no chorus member(s) have set out to develop a companion listing to what has been developed for the band. It was suggested, though, that if a sufficient number of chorus members are attracted to the 33rd organization, it appeared likely that an all-out search for other chorus members could be inaugurated and eventually the current organization could either modify its program and its website to include the chorus, or, if it should be deemed appropriate, the chorus could have its own twin listing and newsletter.
Alexander E. Roberts (Robbie—Alex) wrote to indicate that he had been a member of the USAREUR Band and Chorus from 1980 to 1983 and wished to say hello to "all those guys I met during my tenure with the band and chorus." He stated that his home address is 1262 Winburn Drive East Point, Atlanta, Georgia 30344. His telephone number is 404-209-8832. E-mail address is: Alex262@bellsouth.net.
The award was created in 1985 for the purpose of recognizing "a unit’s meritorious performance of a challenging mission under extraordinary circumstances in peacetime." In 1996 the band and chorus was cited for deploying "eight times in support of Operation Joint Endeavor, traveling 25,000 miles and performing 77 times in 24 camps and cities throughout Hungary, Croatia and Bosnia." Army officials stated that an immeasurable impact on community relations and troop morale was made by the band.
The report goes on to indicate that band and chorus members who were not on the trip to the Balkans had "325 play dates in Germany, Italy and other sites in Europe." Army officials were quoted as saying "No other band in history has managed to maintain operations in such varied and numerous locations for such an extended period," and "The Army Superior Unit Award reflects the professionalism and dedication of every soldier in the USAREUR Band and Chorus."
Commanding Officer of the USAREUR Band and Chorus at the time of the unit’s meritorious service was LTC Gary Lamb.
When the steering committee for the last reunion met to discuss the Washington D.C. reunion, a brief portion of the meeting was spent in attempting to list the commanding officers of the 33rd Army Band. The results of the effort and some later research were presented in the directory that was disseminated at the reunion. Since that time there have been some additional communications from 33rders regarding the order of commanding officers, and provided here is what appears to be the most accurate listing to date. If you have more accurate information, please see that the editor of Passing in Review receives it.
Alfred wrote:
"I joined the band when it was stationed on Mannheim, Germany. I was one of five white sergeants sent to integrate the band. There was the 80th Army Band - 33rd Army Band and Color Guard, plus two officers and two warrant officers, totaling about 120 soldiers. The black officers and Color Guard were transferred. Most of the 80th Army Band were sent to England, and a new Commanding Officer was brought in: CWO Irvin Sartell. CWO Harry Hollowell and WO Thomas Reed stayed on with the 33rd."
"The members were divided up about 50/50 white and black and were moved to Heidelberg USAREUR Hqs. It was all spit and polish and we wore our uniforms all the time."
"Oh, yes, we changed over from brown shoes to black shoes and black ties. We were a ‘good’ band: won best stage band and choral group two years in a row while I was there. Several of our sergeants went to band school and became band directors. Joe Stevenson, Scott Haines, and Henry Van Doorn went to OCS. CWO Sartell retired and stayed in Heidelberg for awhile and was replaced by Ralph C. Church.
From Steve Barnhart (74-76): "I heard from Lorelei Giddings recently and am looking forward to the next 33rd get-together.
"During the last three months (aside from wrapping up another semester of teaching), I completed a manuscript for Percussionists: A Biographical Dictionary which will be published by Greenwood Press within the next year (I hope!). It's been a five-year learning experience for me!
"I also recently performed on a recording session in Denver. Sort of a "new age" CD featuring a pianist.
"Taught music camp in June here at UW. Took a few days off to enjoy the beach south of Mobile, Alabama. I have one more trip planned to Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas to visit family, then the fall semester cranks up in late August."
From Lorelei Giddings (77-79): "I have been gathering information regarding hotels, talking to representatives from hotels that have sent me the information, trying to identify (from a mass e-mail) which dates are the best for our reunion in Minneapolis in 2001. It looks like the third week in June is the choice of the majority. Those dates would be June 21, 22, 23, & 24, 2001. I think that we can get a fairly good rate on hotel rooms in the Bloomington area. Bloomington is a suburb of Minneapolis and the location of the airport and the Mall of America. Transportation to any location in the environs of Minneapolis or St. Paul is easily negotiated from there, and it is a mere 10 minute ride to Fort Snelling which is the home of the 451st Army Reserve band. At least one of the Minneapolis committee has spoken with the commander of that band regarding a joint concert situation, but nothing has been officially planned. The possibilities for fun-filled activities seem endless. Our hardest work, I think, will be eliminating activities. We plan for an August committee meeting, and we are hoping to have a visit from Frank S. in September. That's about it for the reunion update.
"On the sad side, Michael's (i.e., Fish's) dad, age 86, died on June 19th in Orlando not having been ill. As a matter of fact, two weeks before he had the massive heart attack which killed him, he was dancing at his granddaughter's wedding. The ceremony for him and his family took place in Fort Myers on June 23rd where he was buried beside his wife who had died 20 years ago this August. We are both still sad for the loss but remembering what a good and productive life he led."
From Alexander Roberts (80-83): "I was the Administrative NCO during that time that was before SFC Weikle came on. I am here in Atlanta, Georgia, working with Dekalb County School Board as a School Nutrition Supervisor and part time with H&R Block as a Manager. I have talked to several people so far that were in the Chorus during my tenure: Kalvin, Gerald and Steven. I think those guys are on your list so far, but please feel free to call or e-mail me."
From Dee Tonning (56-57): "I am keeping busy playing in our various bands. (I am also webmaster for our band website - http://members.aol.com/hochorch/). We have several bands of different sizes that play for dances, parties, corporate functions, etc., around the area. Quite a bit of our work is in Sun Valley, Idaho. Our big band, "The Kings of Swing", plays at the annual "Swing' n' Dixie Jazz Jamboree" in Sun Valley each October. They import some of the best swing and Dixieland bands in the country to the jamboree. Any of our alumni who enjoy this kind of music are encouraged to attend. Phil Jones came out last year and played in our trumpet section.
"We took our grandkids to California in June and did the 'LA -Hollywood-Disneyland-Seaworld' tour. We also had a brief stay in Las Vegas. It was a lot of fun but those California freeways are murder. Other than that it has been business as usual. We have been blessed with a fairly mild summer so far."
From Nathan Currie (current Band Historian): The band is going to the Netherlands for Memorial Day and to Normandy for the 55th Anniversary. I'll relay any stories that happen at these events. [Ed Note: We hope to get such data for the next newsletter!]
*I remember arriving in Frankfurt with my duffel bag filled with dirty clothing and that which I was wearing almost able to stand by itself.
*I remember on the train ride from Frankfurt to Heidelberg I stood in the corridor and ogled the countryside. I remember being impressed with the Bahnhof in Heidelberg, a very attractive train station. I recall only vaguely the first time I passed through the gates of Patton Barracks; I believe one of the sergeants from the 33rd had met me at the station and transported me to the 33rd's quarters, which were then on the third and fourth floors of the building across from the tennis courts and the WAC building, where we ate our meals.
*I remember Ralph C. Church's ubiquitous cigar.
*I remember that on the first bus trips the band made to various nearby locations that I continued to look at everything out the windows of the bus, wondering if the other guys in the band actually realized the uniqueness of the land we were passing through because they weren't paying any attention to what was there. Of course, later on, once I was acclimated, I, too, did not spend so much of my time looking at Germany. Instead, as when we traveled to more distant locations, I remember participating in wild and woolly games of Hearts on those green army buses.
*I remember being introduced to a whole new vocabulary with the band. --No, it wasn't swearing. It was band talk.-- Things were "too much" or "far out." And if you were in Ed McConnell's presence for any length of time you learned that things are "hard like a crab."
*I remember the rehearsals upstairs just past the day room. Do I remember rightly that there was some sort of draping hanging from the ceiling?
*I remember the pleasure of walking the streets of Heidelberg, wandering up to the castle, or crossing the bridge, invariably with one of my Voightlanders in hand (one for color slides and one for black and white prints).
*And could anyone forget the routines of the band?-- The cleaning and care of equipment (I still hate the thought of spit shining shoes and polishing brass)...the inspections...the parades at Campbell barracks or in Mannheim or Karlsruhe.
*I remember that there were pranks that members of the band played on one another. I also recall with some relish that because I was one of the quieter guys in the band it gave me great pleasure to take on the role of the Phantom--which I spelled "Fantum." The Fantum was the one who hung the sign on Greg Miller's car, identifying it as "Miller's Unguided Missile." (Greg had all kinds of difficulties with directions.) It was the Fantum, too, who constructed the sign on butcher paper that read "Constructive Rebellion--the Instrument of Progressive Evolution!" and stretched it over the entrance to our living quarters. And I remember very well that I was in our sleeping area when either Sergeant O'Brien or Sergeant Clem came down the hall, saw the sign, and muttered, "That sounds like mutiny to me!" and moments later I heard the sounds of the sign being torn off the wall, crumpled up, and jammed into a nearby waste container.
*Then there was our performing for tree planting ceremonies or for the arrival of Santa Claus at Patrick Henry village...the beer tent gigs, our numerous trips to Berchtesgaden--what a wonderful place to go to play a concert!
*Then there was that trip to Duisberg to play for a soap box derby. And didn't we have to march up and down that race course? It seems to me we did!
*I'm sure all the guys from my time period recall with me the trip to Berlin, when the train traveled through the Russian zone and we performed at the Berlin Police Show in the Olympic Stadium, the place that, to Americans, Jesse Owens made famous. And wasn't it an experience to get a guided tour of East Berlin and to remark on the differences between the Eastern Sector and the Western Sector?
*Back in Heidelberg, the alerts so early in the morning and getting our carbines from the rifle racks.
*And then the times we were in the field, serving as Band Aides. What associations do you have with these kinds of activities? Do you remember 1957 and the Asiatic Flu, when people in the field exercise were being airlifted out on helicopters because they had some of the warning signs of the flu, including a high temperature?
*On our home grounds, the nights on the town--visiting the Red Ox Inn, the Rodenstein, the Sepple... Fasching...the commemoration of the burning of the castle...New Year's Eve...the opera at nearby Mannheim or Schwetzingen... big pretzels, appelsaft, traubensaft, beer and wine and schnitzel and German potato salad...And how I recall one of my pleasures in town: going to the various stores and shops, particularly Carl Knoblochs on Sofienstrasse, where I made my initial purchases of my Marklin train--an expensive hobby which now takes up what was formerly a shop room in my house and which has now expanded to the back porch. (And I don't dare go any farther without adding on to the house itself!)
*And, of course, I remember our activities in the day room. The intramural billiards and table tennis tournaments. As I recall, Tom Kerkman and Bill Steiden were among the best at table tennis. I have no idea who cleaned up on the billiards table. (I just know it wasn't me.)
*I remember that the band had a basketball team--not an especially good one, as I recall. But we had fun playing.
*We had a softball team also, and I know that Ken Stickel recalls very well being our catcher and having the dubious honor of encountering at the plate the huskies from the transportation department or from the MP's who took pleasure in charging in from third so as to tangle at the plate with Ken.
*I remember very well one of the last experiences I had with the band--our trip to Epinal, France, when we played for the selection of the unknown dead from the European Theater of World War II. To me, that was one of the most significant reasons for the band's existence, putting into perspective all the other things that the band and its members ever did.
*The memories that I have with the 33rd Army Band from 1956 to 1958, and those that I am now developing with those who also served with the 33rd and who are writing me, and talking with me on the phone, and sending pictures, and visiting with me at our reunions--all these memories truly make life worth living. --F.D.S., March 1999
Current and former members of the 33rd Army Band may wish periodically to check our website to note whether Dee manages to get such a projected service into operation and, if so, to see if there is some information sought or provided that they can either respond to or utilize.
The former C.O.'s concept regarding the Unit History page would be to combine information from 33rd alumni with the official history in order to build a dynamic history of the band. Incorporated into the plan would be pictures, documents, and whatever other materials would be of interest.
Feedback from members of the association is sought regarding the development of such a page.
Other 33rders, please note: We'd love to receive pictures from you that we can share via Passing In Review and on our website. If you want the pictures back, we'll return them to you after we've published them!