US Army Band Training
11/22/1946. “I called home for 3 minutes to say I got into the Band Training Unit (BTU). I found out at 3:00 pm that I would ship out today at 7:30 am, and called home at 6:00 pm for night rates. Everybody is pretty happy here. A bunch are in the back room playing marches. We turned our rifles. I have my clarinet and sax with me. I have been in the army for 12 weeks. I have to be at camp Saturday for roll call at 6:00 am for pay day".
11/22/1946. "Moving was difficult; everyone rushed to the new barracks to stake out a claim. I have a single bed, instead of a double bunk, for the first time. Then I had to carry all my belongings. The mail-call window is across from the barracks; it is A to L, so I have to wait until L is called in order”. Everybody is happy here; some men are playing marches in a room in the barracks".
11/24/1946. “I have left the 86th and am now in the 77th for BTU. All basic training has closed down at Camp Lee; it is only BTU and the quartermaster technical school. The 77th company is centrally located: the press shop, theatre, and PX are within a block. The chapel is across the street. We had only two meals here, but the food is very good, there is much more room in the mess hall, the manners are much better, and you don’t have to fight the guy sitting next to you for the food. We are still trainees, but it will be easier than basic training. This is Sunday, and we will start band training on Monday.
11/26/1946. “I was in Richmond for Thanksgiving. Mrs. Gellman is wonderful. I couldn’t feel any more at home anywhere. The dinner was very good. It is a thrill every time a band marches by our barracks, or I hear a band practicing concert music or popular music in an indoor room. I love music.
11/29/1946. “I had a very nice Thanksgiving thanks to Mrs. Gellman. She is just as nice as can be, a wonderful woman. Wednesday night I went to a lecture with Mrs. Gellman and the youngest son, the speaker was about 27, who lost a leg at El Alllemain. Thursday, we took Mr Gellman to his golf club. The oldest son drove me around Richmond, which is a beautiful city. We went to the campus of the University of Richmond, a small college around a lake among trees and grass. The buildings are the same architecture, brick. Near the campus are large, beautiful homes, southern architecture, red brick, green and white shutters, and big lawns. Dinner at Mrs. Gellman’s sister's in Richmond. The sister has 2 boys, one 23 and the other 21, just out of the service, one married 5 months ago and the other 2 months. One is practicing optometry, and the other is finishing law at the University of Virginia. Their wives are from Connecticut and New England, all were there, the accent flew thick and fast, very interestingly. The sister’s name is Spertner. She said she knew someone in Oakland, Friedman, who is the family of Bill Friedman of Pi Lambda Phi. She is from Norfolk. I asked if she knew Shirley Greenberg and her husband., She and her married daughter know them well”.
Only 3 trombones and 1 bell player, and I from the 86th will start training Monday. Moving was difficult; everyone rushed to the new barracks to stake out a claim. I have a single bed, instead of a double bunk, for the first time. Then I had to carry all my belongings. The mail-call window is across from the barracks, it is A to L, so I have to wait until L is called in order”. Everybody is happy here; some men are playing marches in a room in the barracks.
12/1/1946. “ I had KP for the first time in 8 weeks. It was easy. Here, before they yell at you, we know what to do and start doing it. They don’t yell and swear at you, keep telling you that it is wrong or too slow. I had my hands in hot and soapy water for 2 ½ hours in the morning at KP. They let us off at 1:00 pm to go to the 86th to get paid. It took 20 minutes, but we didn’t go back until 2:15 to miss KP at the noon meal. We had to “GI” the floor when back to the barracks.
12/2/1846. “A bunch of new guys dropped into our area from basic, one is Marv Braunstien. He has the bed above my lower, I showed him how to roll our beds. I went into the mess hall with him for lunch. A corporal a couple of tables away, and I looked at each other, and it was Mavin Silverman who played mellophone in the Washington High ROTC band. He has been in the army for 7 months and teaches music fundamentals”.
12/6/1946. “I visited Marv Silverman. He said I will probably start training on Monday, because 150 new men are coming to this company. Also, BTU will stay at Camp Lee until the end of February. I will be finished by then, I have been in the army for 3 months”. Silverman is a sergeant now. I was waiting in a chow line, and he came to talk to me. Afterward, somebody asked what he had bawled me out for. A corporal came through and took me and 14 others to “GI” the floor upstairs and downstairs, next Bon Ami the windows, then called out to sweep the sidewalks. In the afternoon, a corporal took 6 of us to wash all the windows in the mess hall, the windows and screens stuck, we got the screens mixed up when off, used Bon Ami, which stuck like glue, tried other things, and ended using toilet paper”.
12/7/1946. “Went to Washington D.C. “This is an experience every citizen of the US should have, it is unbelievable how those few buildings right in front of you link together 48 states into such a powerful country, from which we planned the war that beat such strong countries as Japan and Germany”.
12/9/1946. “I began training today. Our barracks formed 1 band of 75 men. Marv is in the same band. We have about 20 trumpets. The band in 1 day sounds better than the Washington High ROTC band after 3 years. Today I had the first 2 hours of ‘ music harmony and fundamentals. And played scales, chorals, and a couple of marches. The usual training day will be 4 hours rehearsing, 2 hours drill and marching, 2 hours music harmony and fundamentals”. Each military band usually has a couple of dance bands, which can earn money on the side. At orientation, I had a talk by our director, a master sergeant. Band training takes 8 weeks, then a name goes to the band replacement center at the Adjutant General's office in Washington, DC. Every band requests replacements, and they give a permanent assignment where you are needed. He said a band is the best assignment in the army today. Every band has a good location, the best barracks, shortest hours, and much free time, no KP or guard duty, probably never hold a rifle again”.
12/10/1946. From Mrs. Geller. “Both Mr. G and I enjoyed reading about the fine work you and your dear husband have and are doing there. Mr. G was particularly pleased since he feels his brother Ben Brith has a right to enjoy the fine praise given to another. Sam has been President of Richmond B’nai B’rith and active in the local and state lodge for years, so they will have much in common- when they meet some day - I hope. Norman looked grand when he was here at Thanksgiving. As usual, we enjoyed his being here and accepted him as we do our own. Norman is such a sweet, sociable young chap; he fits in with any group. We are ever so fond of him. Norman tells us he has never had such cold weather. It seems to agree with him, for he looked splendid when here. Good wishes to you all for a pleasant and joyous Chanuka, and with prayers, the year of 1947 will bring peace and contentment to men everywhere”.
12/11/1946. “This afternoon, a bunch of guys downstairs have formed a dance orchestra, having their first rehearsal, sounds pretty good. Our 70-piece military band is training: the first hour tone building by scales exercises, whole notes chords, and hymns and chorals. 2nd hour rehearse concert pieces (classical) and a march now and then. Then 2-hour class of band formations and drilling, in the afternoon, 2 hours of music fundamentals, and 2 more hours rehearsing. It’s hardly like being in the army, more like a large music conservatory, the difference is you can’t quit, and they pay you instead of you paying them.
12/11/1946. “ I am in a 70-piece band. First hour tone building: scales, exercises, whole notes, chords, hymns, and chorals. Second hour, we rehearse concert pieces (classical) and a march now and then. This is followed by 2 classes of band formations and drilling. In the afternoon, 2 hours of music fundamentals (harmony, etc.), and 2 more hours rehearsing. It’s hardly like being in the army. It reminds me of some sort of large music conservatory instead. Two differences: you can’t quit, and they pay you instead of you paying them. Last night I went with Marv and 2 others to a 2 ½ hour concert by Tex Beneke and the Glenn Miller Orchestra, in a beautiful auditorium in Richmond. We got back at 1:00 am and got up at 6:00 am. It was a marvelous concert”.
12/12/1946. “Training is music 8 hours a day, except Sat. Sun. and Wed. I am enjoying rehearsing classical music, though it hasn’t been my favorite before. We have a marvelous director, although I have played in many bands, he is the best I have seen. You would be surprised what a difference this makes in the performance of the band. He stops over and over again to make any and every little correction. He doesn’t miss a thing, for instance. This morning, when we were playing some tedious long tone exercises, I lost my place and didn't rush to find it again. Out of 70 men, he spotted me out of the corner of his eye, and stopped the music. He asked me if I was lost, began the exercise again, and said, ‘You can’t get a thing out of it if you don’t play it’. He has directed army bands for 12 years; you cannot help but pay attention, even when playing a scale, a mistake, or playing too loud, etc., he is actually hurt, because he is so terribly conscientious himself.
The director tells us the mood of the music, the feelings and emotions of the composer, the stories behind the piece, and the correct expression. When a large band gets in the mood for a deep and beautiful classical piece, you can get carried away. The result is that it is a thrill to play it. For instance, we have been working on Adagio Lamentoso, 4th movement finale, from Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony (Pathetique) Opus 74, arranged by V. F. Sefranek. It is very beautiful. He told us, ‘You can feel this, and still be able to take off a hot ad-lib when you go out with a dance outfit. We also went outdoors, marching for the first time today. It is hard at first to march over rough ground, read music, and play an instrument all at the same time. However, it was a snap for me, because of my 3 years in the high school ROTC band, and one season with the Cal band (also Aptos jr-high band), Most of the fellows have had experience, and it sounded very well. It is fun to march in a band like that, with 5 drummers. The band is 7 men wide x 10 men long, my position is 3rd row from the back and in the center of the row. I often see Marvin Silverman walk by with a baton and his sparkling chevrons on his sleeve. At the Tex Beneke concert, a trombone player stood up and took off on a hot ad-lib. He put in a chorus of the William Tell overture, the Lone Ranger song, and the guy next to him jumped up and yelled ‘Hi Yo Silverman’ “.
12/16/1946. “We are doing the same training schedule. For a 4-hour rehearsal, 1 hour tone building, then the director hands out new music, which we sight-read, and then we work on it. At Washington High, they start a new piece slowly. This is more difficult but more interesting. After we had an hour of march and drill, we were taking a 10-minute break, lying on the grass, talking and smoking, when 10 cars drove up and stopped. An officer got out, our drum major saluted, and we were requested to perform. It was a group of 10-year-olds touring the camp., We put on a parade for them, our first audience”.
12/17/1946. “For 4 hours, we start with the tone-building stuff for 1 hour, and then the director keeps handing out new music, which we sight-read and then work on. At Washington High, they started more slowly with new music
12/18/1946. “In the morning, they don’t pull you out of bed like basic. At 5:50, they only turn on the lights, you dress, and go outside for roll-call at 6:10 am. At 6:00 am, they play 4 marches on the loudspeaker. At basic training, you had to come out running with all your clothes on; here, you stroll out. They hardly ever inspect the barracks for cleanliness or order.
This is the music we are playing:
The Lantern Marriage by Offenbach
The Merry Lives of Windsor by Nicholissss
Intro Acts and Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin by Wagner
Amparito Roca by Texidor
Christmas Rhapsody by Long
United Nations Rhapsody by Bennet
Marriage of Figaro by Mozart
Andante Contabile (Symphony E minor) by Tchaikovsky
Andante (1st movement)
Allegro Con Grazio (2nd movement )
March (3rd movement)
Allegro Lamentoso ( 4th movement final)
Andante is the theme from which ‘Starry Night ‘ was taken. Today is very cold outside, frost on the ground and roofs, all water frozen to be ice, warm in the barracks and practice room. Only 2 more band classes will start here, the last one finishing Feb. 28. All 8 weeks. BYU will start at Kentucky, New Jersey, and Fort Ord. I am off from 4:00 pm Friday to 6:00 am Monday. I am at the Gellmans’ house now”.
12/22/1946. To 12/25/21946. “The Gellmans are treating me as swell as ever. They even gave me a key and told me to come and go as I please. Last night there was a dance at the Jewish community center, on the side of a park and a lake. I broke my glasses, but I have another pair. They picked the Jewish fellows for KP Christmas; we were off Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The clarinet player from Brooklyn, Irwin Lipton, is my companion.
The KP isn’t hard because few guys around to eat, we were there from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. Stern, Cohn, and Rosenberg were working in the kitchen. We prepared 6 tables for a gala Christmas dinner tomorrow, and we strung lights around a tree outside the mess hall. Then we watched the cook clean out the insides of chickens and turkeys, and we helped clean up afterwards. He named the parts as he extracted them. A Jones was in the kitchen. He is from Sutter St in SF, is 29, and has been married for 8 years. He took KP for a fellow who wanted to go home for $10.00. After a meal, we cleaned off the tables. set tables, and were sent home with leftovers. They threw away 17 cases of milk.
I have time to think in the army. My fraternity friends have sent 1 or 2 letters, except for Stan, and so many letters and food, and gifts came from parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and Carolynn Pinsler. I don’t think I will be friends with the fraternity again. I am really going to try to get good grades and keep studying. I’m glad I decided on optometry as a life’s work. I also intend to do whatever I want to do, and not worry about what other people are thinking or how I look to them. I sure will appreciate everything and be happy all the time just to be a civilian, if nothing else “.
I have made friends during army life, Marv and others. I especially like the clarinet player from Brooklyn, Irwin Lipton. He is not as interested in sightseeing as I am. I don’t mind being alone occasionally. It was fair to choose the Jewish fellows for KP on Christmas. One said ‘I know we are God’s chosen people, I didn’t know what we were chosen for’ “.
12/29/1946 Went to New York for the first time, visited the family of my maternal grandmother in New Rochelle. I will write a separate report.
12/30/1946. “This is Monday, I am off Tuesday and Wednesday, but need to be here Sunday morning for pay day. I received some gifts from the Pinsler family, as well as some delicious stuffed dates from Carolynn, which she fixed herself. She writes to me every day.
1/1/1947. “Last night rained continuously, and it started to get cold. Waited in line for about an hour, while hailing, until mid-afternoon to get paid. Sometimes the lines are long. At night, Lipton met a friend of his and his wife, went to a nice restaurant on the way to Richmond, and all had southern fried chicken, rolls, and honey, delicious. Went to a movie in Petersburg. Cars drove in with snow on the rooftops from Richmond”.
1/4/1947. Went to Washington, DC. Don’t have a letter of description.
1/6/1947. “I paid a visit to Marvin Silverman. He is leaving for Fort Ord, and he will phone you when he gets to SF. Today starts my 5th month in Amy, and the 5th week of band training. Today we marched to a distant drill ground and back in the morning and twice in the afternoon. It was bitterly cold. There are now 8 bands at Camp Lee, each in a different week. The whole unit deactivates sometime in February. This was a final show for General Graham, commanding officer of the camp; there was a large crowd of colonels and majors, down to privates and civilians. A graduating band set up chairs in the center of the field and gave a concert. Then each band marched past the reviewing stand playing a chosen march. We were 5th in order based on our graduation date. Then the 8 bands joined in the far end of the field, 560 instruments, they marched to a raised podium, and when the director raised the baton, 560 instruments were raised to playing position as one. We played 2 marches, and then we played Auld Lang Syne as a final farewell. I was very impressed”.
1/9/1947. “Tuesday was the usual training, and that night we GI’d the floor and generally prepared for a short inspection. On Wednesday, we had training in the morning and the inspection in the afternoon. Today, more training, and 40 of our group will play for a formal guard and retreat ceremony, but I wasn’t chosen. He weather is cold and the sun is out. My laundry was lost 2 weeks ago, and it will be reissued at no cost. We will ship out in 5 weeks. I will mail some things home, including my saxophone”.
1/10/1947. I hope Bob in the Starlight will give Daddy less work. Don’t worry, I won’t be in the furniture business. I definitely want optometry to be my life’s work. I am going to Williamsburg with Marv this weekend. It is a historic colonial village, by John D. Rockefeller.
I had dinner with Marv at Hotel Petersburg: pineapple and cheese salad, relish and celery, veal cutlet, candied yams, string beans, rolls, apple pie a la mode. The dining room is quiet and clean, with quick service. 2 fellows in our barracks got scarlet fever; if 1 more case, we would be quarantined for six weeks. We had a week of clothing enforcement, MP would fine 5 to 25 dollars for: button unbuttoned, wrong insignia, not saluting, Windsor knot tie, no haircut or shave, white stockings or underwe]ear, your hands in your[pocket. Our band director and non-coms are nice to us, the 1st sergeant and captain are mean, but we don’t see them. Seare is supposed to fall out at 6:10 am for reveille and roll call after the bugle sounds, but lately not taking roll call, so we have slept later until breakfast at the mess hall next door. We “GI’d” the floor last night, but no inspection. We are going to the supply room to check on any clothing we are missing. We haven’t drilled for 2 days. The director left to teach a new band at Fort Dix, New Jersey. We had direction by a warrant officer.
When I was at Congress in Washington, DC, at the hearing about seating Senator Bilbo, in uniform, as I was going up the stairs to the gallery, the newsreel took my picture. “It has been playing in the theatre here for 4 days, so it must be playing in every theatre in the country”. Jack Pinsler saw it in SF, and he got a still print of it to save for me.
1/16/1947. “6 weeks over and 2 weeks to go, almost over. Today we played for a parade at the quartermaster school, for cooks, bakers, clerks, and typists. The band plays 4 times during the retreat parade. Once as the troops march onto the field, when the band macrhes past the reviewing stand, once for officers center, and again as the band leads all the troops in pass in review, I get paid $70 a month, I have a lot of expenses, like meals away from camp, movies, and a hotel room when sightseeing is $3.50, I will be home in about 4 seeks, in a delay in route for overseas. No bands are going to Korea, many are now going to Europe, so I may be going to Japan”.
1/18/47. “I am going to a basketball game at Petersburg High School. I mailed you a record by the band. We had our usual instrument inspection. Mine was clean and shone. I am using the government metal clarinet. The warrant officer did the inspection. A warrant officer is addressed as Mr.”
1/19/1947. “Petersburg High won 42 to 29. The gym is small, the cheerleaders are girls, some of the kids come to the game in suits and ties. The yells are in a southern accent”.
1/22/1947. “Yesterday, trucks took us to the quartermaster school for another parade. The last one was a rehearsal, wearing fatigues. This time we wore the uniform, and it went off very well. There was a cold wind blowing, and the clarinet is the only instrument that can’t be played while wearing gloves. We just finished moving to another barracks, and Marv and I rushed there to get a bed together on the upstairs floor. So many have shipped out that they want those left to be close together at one end of the grounds. This morning we had 4 hours of rehearsals. The sergeant here may be tougher and not let us sleep past the bugle in the morning. We will be out of here by January 31”.
1/23/1947. “Unexpectedly, today all training ended, and we turned in our instruments. Now we wait for an order. I expect to be home by the first of February. Marv. Lipton and I went to a radio station and made a copy of our record. Mine has Marriage of Figaro on one side and Rose Marie on the other side. This afternoon we GI’d the old barracks, and I was a window cleaner. After that we got our very fancy diplomas. I am a specialist now. Please stop writing to me, I will stop also”.
I remember the flight home, on a commercial airplane with propellers, it was noisy and slow, I had a cold, so there was some pain from the altitude, especially landing in SF. Lipton and I were stationed at Camp Stoneman, located in Pittsburgh, CA. My cousin Alvin Lanfeld had been stationed there. I took Lipton to see SF and my home at 320 Colon Avenue.
I had received an order to go to Japan to be in a band, and was waiting to be shipped out. Japan was 2 weeks by ship. One day, I was starting KP, finding what to do, and suddenly a soldier came asking for me by name, and said there was an order that you are being discharged.
My honorable discharge is dated 18 March 1947, from the 847th Army of the US. It reads: “This is to certify that Norman G Licht, 39 772 827, Private 9225 TSU-TC Company B Second Training Regiment Army of the United States, is hereby honorably discharged from the military service of the United States of America. This certificate is awarded as a testimonial of Honest and Faithful Service to the country".