329th Band
With the transfer of Sergeant Olin R. Kelsey from the 18th Field Artillery, Fort Bliss, Texas, to the newly organized 329th Field Artillery, we have the beginning of the band. Like all new organizations the band had its many troubles. On September 19, 1917, Lewis Arnold and on September 22, 1917, Douglas. J. Merwin were assigned to the regiment. They, with Sergeant Kelsey, formed the first bugle corps of the regiment, playing guard-mounts and other military formations, using Sergeant Kelsey’s own compositions. They found many duties as all the calls of the day were blown by them. Later we will find that this was the nucleus of the band. Immediately the sergeant diligently set to work hunting for musicians. His efforts were quite successful as he found to his surprise about 70 men claiming to be musicians. A day was set early in October, and the men were given try-outs on their respective instruments. From this number Sergeant Kelsey chose the following men to be transferred to the Band Section.
Headquarters Company: Emil M. Kossel, Douglas J. Merwin,
Battery A: Lewis W. Arnold, Calvin W. Stewart, Edward Theiss, Myron Horowitz
Battery C: Allen R. Walsh
Battery D: Joseph M. Double
Battery F: Sherman Hanecki
Battery E: Guiatino Cerasi, Burr A. Doten, Joseph Kwiatek
It was a rainy, muddy and blustery day that the instruments were drawn and the first rehearsal held. Things went well considering the fact that it was the first time these men played together. It was not long before this band was massed with the bands at Camp Custer for the purpose of furnishing music at the formal dedication of the camp. The time came now when it was necessary to expand the camp.
This was done very rapidly and the regiment was moved to the west end of the cantonment and rehearsals were held in the barracks occupied by the Supply Company. Soon Building 1283 was completed and occupied by Headquarters Company. This was then to be the home of the band throughout the regiment’s stay in Camp Custer. November 7, 1917, marks the band’s coming into existence officially. On that date the musicians of the regiment were transferred to the band and were quartered with Headquarters Company. It was at this time that the bugle corps was being organized in the regiment to furnish field music for artillery formations . The bandsmen were now relieved from this former duty....
....In the month of November a divisional review was held on the division parade grounds. The bands of the 160th Field Artillery Brigade were massed for this review. The troops were reviewed by Major-General Joseph P. Dickman, then in command of the 85th Division. A similar review was held on the same parade ground by General Parker. The regiment had by this time increased in personnel so each regiment was reviewed as a unit. Here a great calamity befell the band as it was freezing weather—the instruments froze up and the band was unable to play the march as the general rode the line. Here the band gained fame when General Parker said "Start up your band!"....
...As time passed the personnel of the band increased....now and then playing at the Y. M. C. A. huts for entertainment.....On March 5th, just escaping a quarantine, part of the band toured the state of Michigan with other picked members of the division bands and played many concerts under the direction of Bohymir Kryll. This trip was a grand success and the cities of Lansing, Bay City, Saginaw, Port Huron, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Battle Creek royally entertained this grand band on this tour. Spring was soon on its way and new duties were again in store; playing for Liberty Loan drives at Detroit, Albion and smaller towns in Michigan....
...On the morning of July 16th the band left with the regiment, going to Camp Mills....July 30th, again taking trains for New York city, the band went to the docks where a boat awaited....
....August 27th the regiment reached Camp Coetquidan, near Guer, where much work was in store for it. Here the band played many concerts and found before it the solemn duty of many military funerals. It was there that the battle of Vinegar Hill was fought. Many of the fellows sustained minor injuries but soon were back on duty again. Corporal Hendricks was taken sick with the Spanish "flu," then so prevalent, and was sent to the hospital.
During the stay at Cöetquidan members of the band formed an orchestra. They played several programs at different places in the camp and also furnished entertainment at the dinner given in honor of Colonel Campbell by the officers of the 329th regiment. In all, the 329th Field Artillery orchestra was well known as a good entertainer. The following is the instrumentation: Solo, violin, Sgt. Skalski; 1st violin, Al W. Wenz; 2nd violin, S. Hanechi; viola, Sgt. Rath; bass, Joseph Kwiatek; oboe, cornets, Sgt. Merwin, Sgt. McCord; trombone, Allen W. Walsh; baritone, saxophone, Panfilio Salulo; piano, William Evans; drums and traps, C. W. Stewart.There were few musical duties from the departure from Cöetquidan till the time when the was would cease. The band played its last concert in open air at Orquevaux before starting for the front. The next journey was to Domgermain by train. This ended the musical duties for the band as the war zone had been reached. November 1st the orchestra instruments were packed and left at Lagney when the regiment left at 4:00 p.m.
The band being a non-combatant unit was not without work to do. The great traffic through the town left the streets in a very poor condition. Were they in need of a cleaning? The band was ready to do it. Also there was guard duty and even band men sometimes know their general orders. Many other details were done by the band while stationed at Bouillionville, but to spare time, space and feelings they are not mentioned here. November 11th came and with it the cessation of hostilities. The band of the 329th only stood around, or at least those on K. P., and listened to the music of the 55th Infantry band who were stationed in the same town. Music has never sounded so sweet as then, when the “Star Spangled Banner” pealed forth, in the feeling of freedom and victory. Then, as the band marched down the street to the powerful swing of “Stars and Stripes Forever” a great cheer from each American echoed through the town and everything was quiet. That was the spirit of victory as it came to those Americans at Bouillionville.
Two days later the regiment marched to Pont-a-Mousson, arriving there at 5:00 p.m., November 13, 1918. Once more the band took up the duties, playing many concerts and furnishing music for many entertainments. The band was very unfortunate in losing Geo. Gue who was sent to the hospital at Toul. Here Corp. Hendricks returned to the organization from a casual replacement camp.
Thanksgiving passed and soon Christmas came. Christmas in Pont-a-Mousson was a merry time for the organization. The orchestra furnished music for the entertainment, which was quite all that could be expected at such a place and at such a time. Beer, barrels of confetti, games, poems and presents of all kinds were the merry makings of the evening. New Years came and with it everyone was wondering when the regiment would leave for the good old U. S. A. January 10th the band left Pont-a-Mousson for Villerupt. The cities of Metz, Diedenhafen, Luxembourg and Esch Alzette were visited.
At Villerupt they were shown a royal time and their playing was highly commended. A week later they returned to Pont-a-Mousson to take up their regular duties once more. The saddest work of the band was at the funeral of their comrade Harry Koppert.
[Your Name Here]
Post a Comment
Reader Comments