PATRICK CANFIELD

THE BAND PLAYED ON

 World War II Bond  Rally  -  Wilmington, Delaware

INTERLUDE ENTERPRISES

WILMINGTON, DELAWARE

PATRICK CANFIELD

THE BAND PLAYED ON

ANNOTATION

World War II was a bloody and horrible encounter.  At the height of the conflict there were 16,353,659 men and women in the armed forces.  The death total of the U.S Air Force and U.S. Army was 292,131; Navy deaths totaled 36,950; the Marine Corps totaled 19,733 and the Coast Guard totaled 574. The Battle of the Bulge had a casualty list of 76,000 Americans and 100,000 Germans. 

Some of the bloodiest fighting of the war took place in the Pacific Theater of War where the marines and army veterans slugged it out with the cream of Japan’s fighting force.  On Guadalcanal the Americans suffered 1,600; casualties, the Japanese 9,000.

The novels D Day by Stephen E. Ambrose and The GI’s War by Edwin P. Hoyt give an insight into the feelings and courage of the GI’s who landed on the shores of Normandy and the Pacific Islands.  So many young men and women gave their lives in the defense of their country; I pray their deaths were not in vain.

Taking into account the sacrifices and bravery of our fighting men and women, I wrote The Band Played On to give people a glimpse of the American GI’s as they relaxed and enjoyed their free time during WW II and as part of the occupation forces in Germany following the war.                                                     

I was a member of the 692^nd Army Air Force Band. It was our assignment to entertain the troops at home and abroad.  While in the States, we participated in bond rallies, parades, military duties and concerts.  We played the music of Glenn Miller and the big bands for the enjoyment of the troops, enlisted men and officers.  We spent a year and a half overseas where we continued to entertain and perform military duties.

Relive my memories of time spent at the New Castle Air Base in Wilmington, Delaware.  Meet good-looking, brash Bob Shebly, born and raised on Philadelphia’s Main Line, and an outstanding drummer who had played in the famous Benny Goodman band.   He was without a doubt the most affable and unpredictable character in the band.  Follow his wild and exciting escapades with the girls, as he courted them in his famous Model A Ford car with a rumble seat.  Travel with Shebly on one of his nightly forays into Wilmington’s night life.  They were nights filled with hilarious and unpredictable behavior; he lived each night as though it was last.

Staff Sergeant Barlow, in charge of the prisoners on the base, was not one of our admirers.  “I think that fuckin’ band is a bunch of queers; and if I ever get any of them in my prison, I’ll bust their balls.”  After he observed the band members play a game of touch football, he suggested our team join the touch football league.  We accepted his offer and, as a token of appreciation, arranged for him to take a nap in our barracks at least twice a week.  He became one of our greatest admirers.

We soon realized we had the best deal in the armed forces.  After rehearsing two hours in the morning, we were free until retreat at 4:30 p.m.  During that time we indulged in tennis, basketball, touch football, horseback riding and sun bathing. Our participation in these activities didn’t endear us to the guards.

In December 1944, we left New York harbor and a day later joined a convoy of approximately 35 ships headed to Europe.  It was an adventure that only happens once in a lifetime.

 Follow our exploits as we entertained the troops during the final months of WW II. We played dances for the enlisted men and officers who didn’t know whether they would survive the final phase of the war.  As you can imagine, things got rather wild; for many, it would be their last fling.

As part of the occupation troops, life was just a bowl of cherries.  Follow us as we frolicked, cavorted and romped with the prostitutes of Paris, London, Geneva and most of Germany. Follow our exploits as we rode through the famous Sudetenland.  On our way we danced and courted the Czech girls and experienced exciting and venturesome times when we sold cigarettes on the black market.

Being assigned to a certain branch of the service is in most cases the luck of the draw.  I was one of the lucky ones who enjoyed my duties as a musician, and thank God I was spared the trauma of being a member of the invasion forces that landed in Normandy or the Pacific islands.

I hope you enjoy my memories of WW II as I endeavor to give you an insight to the unusual and bizarre behavior of the GI’s during their leisure hours.

Read The Band Played On and enjoy the antics of the GI’s as they not only won the war but also won the hearts of the girls of Europe.

Everyone is back home from the War.  Thanks to Julian Menken we had some wonderful reunions.

Our last reunion was also held in 1995 in Wilmington, Delaware.  We relived our days at New Castle Air Base and our tour of duty in the European Theatre of War.

Read The Band Played On and enjoy the antics of the GI’s as they not only won the war, but also won the hearts of the girls of Europe.