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FReeper Canteen ~ Honoring Women Military Bands ~ 20 February 2007
Internet ^
| February 19, 2001
| Soaring Feather
Posted on 02/19/2007 5:59:01 PM PST by Soaring Feather
Today, we honor, Women Military Bands.
 400th WAC Band
Source:Women's World War II Military Bands
Good Morning, Troops!
Thank You for your service!
FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT
Showing support and boosting the morale of our military and our allies military and the family members of the above. Honoring those who have served before.
On July 20, 1942, the first contingent of women was inducted into the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) at Fort Des Moines, Iowa. By early 1943, five bands, the 400th Army Band, 401st Army Band , 402d Army Band, 403d Army Band, and the 404th Army Band were composed entirely of women. WAAC bands were later redesignated and officially activated in the Women's Army Corps (WAC) on January 21, 1944.
Eventually the only Army Band made up entirely of women, was the 14th Army WAC Band, activated at Fort Meade, Maryland in August 1948. The 14th reported to the Women's Army Corps Training Center at Camp Lee in March the following year. Its commander was WOJG Katherine V. Allen, a graduate of the Julliard School of Music. She also attended the Boston Conservatory, University of Virginia, and The College of William and Mary. Under WOJG Allen's command the 14th Army WAC Band toured many different regions including the Fifth Army area of responsibility, Hollywood, California, and the Rose Bowl Parade in 1951.
The very first military all women band, the Women's Army Band organized at Fort Des Moines in 1942, was led by then Sergeant Mary Belle Nissly. As a result of special legislation, early in 1944 WAC Sergeant Nissly became the first woman in military history to win a warrant officer band leader appointment.
Warrant Officer Nissly left the Army in 1946 but returned to the service as a Captain in the Air Force in 1951 to organize the United States Air Force WAF Band.
The 50 member concert unit performed all over the world playing everything from classics to rock and roll and mambos to marches. Their home base was Norton AFB in California but they were on the road 70% of the time. Unique to the WAF band was the only woman coach horn soloist in the USA - Technical Sgt Martye Awkerman, pictured above in the shadow image.
In the mid 1950's the WAF band played in New York City and as an Air Force recruiting sergeant at the time, I had the pleasure of being their escort. When they played at the dress rehersal of the Garry Moore Show the program's orchestra "vacated the orchestra pit" and invited the WAF Band to take the stage and play for the show. Circumventing the musician's union rules this way was a grand tribute to the WAF band.
Please remember The Canteen is a cyber home for our Troops, check your politics at the door.
All information comes from the Internet.
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TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: freepercanteen; military; support; womenbands
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To: Kathy in Alaska
Hey Kathy.
Well, we've lost just about all our snow. And it's supposed to get warmer as the week goes by. :(
Got anymore snow pics? Any tall furry visitors?
141
posted on
02/20/2007 3:48:46 AM PST
by
MeekMom
(Present your bodies a living sacrifice unto God.)
To: Kathy in Alaska
142
posted on
02/20/2007 3:50:39 AM PST
by
MeekMom
(Present your bodies a living sacrifice unto God.)
To: Soaring Feather
Yes, the school yard. As I was taking the picture of the momma on the right, the yearling wandered into the viewfinder....surprise, and just plopped down!! Off to get some sleep. Stay warm!
143
posted on
02/20/2007 3:50:58 AM PST
by
Kathy in Alaska
(~ God Bless and Protect Our Brave Protectors of Freedom~)
To: Jet Jaguar; Laurita; CMS; OneLoyalAmerican; tongue-tied; Defender2; txradioguy; MEG33; ...
144
posted on
02/20/2007 3:54:03 AM PST
by
Kathy in Alaska
(~ God Bless and Protect Our Brave Protectors of Freedom~)
To: trussell
Happy 7th Birthday, Cody!!
Click
145
posted on
02/20/2007 4:14:10 AM PST
by
Kathy in Alaska
(~ God Bless and Protect Our Brave Protectors of Freedom~)
To: trussell
Happy birthday to Cody and congrats, trussell.
146
posted on
02/20/2007 5:08:52 AM PST
by
ConorMacNessa
(HM/2 USN, 3rd Bn. 5th Marines, RVN 1969. St. Michael the Archangel defend us in battle!)
To: trussell
147
posted on
02/20/2007 5:32:46 AM PST
by
MountainFlower
(Brownback, Brownback, He's Our Man!!)
To: Kathy in Alaska
Morning ma! Thanks for the Coffee.
148
posted on
02/20/2007 5:48:39 AM PST
by
txradioguy
(In Memory Of My Friend 1SG Tim Millsap A Co. 70th Engineer Bn. K.I.A. 25 Apr. 2005)
To: trussell
HAVE LOTSA FUN
CODY!!!
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HAPPY
BIRTHDAY
TO YOUUUUUU!
May it be
the best
one ever |
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149
posted on
02/20/2007 5:57:45 AM PST
by
luvie
(The War On Terror--not a clash between civilizations....it is a clash ABOUT civilization--Rush L.)
To: LUV W
150
posted on
02/20/2007 5:58:16 AM PST
by
luvie
(The War On Terror--not a clash between civilizations....it is a clash ABOUT civilization--Rush L.)
To: Kathy in Alaska
Hi Ma :)
151
posted on
02/20/2007 6:23:29 AM PST
by
GodBlessUSA
(US Troops, Past, Present and Future, God Bless You and Thank You!. It Prayers said for our Heroes!)
To: trussell
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 Click Mickey for music! |
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Happy Birthday To You!
Happy Birthday To You! Happy Birthday,
Dear Cody! Happy Birthday To You! Big birthday hugs to you!
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152
posted on
02/20/2007 6:24:35 AM PST
by
StarCMC
(After the attacks of 9/11, profiling Muslims is more like profiling the Klan. - Ann Coulter)
To: fatima
Hello (((Fatima)))
I hope you enjoyed your day together!
153
posted on
02/20/2007 6:31:59 AM PST
by
GodBlessUSA
(US Troops, Past, Present and Future, God Bless You and Thank You!. It Prayers said for our Heroes!)
To: GodBlessUSA
Morning GBUSA!! *HUGS* How are you?
154
posted on
02/20/2007 6:35:09 AM PST
by
CMS
(When injustice becomes law rebellion becomes duty ||||Liberals: hard on fetuses soft on terrorists)
To: trussell
Have a wonderful Birthday Cody!
155
posted on
02/20/2007 6:36:01 AM PST
by
GodBlessUSA
(US Troops, Past, Present and Future, God Bless You and Thank You!. It Prayers said for our Heroes!)
To: CMS
Good Morning CMS!
I'm fine. How are you doing?
I'm happy to say we are suppose to hit 40 degrees today. Yay. :)
Hugs!
156
posted on
02/20/2007 6:36:58 AM PST
by
GodBlessUSA
(US Troops, Past, Present and Future, God Bless You and Thank You!. It Prayers said for our Heroes!)
To: GodBlessUSA
Im doing good.
My dad said they were having a heat wave of 39 the other day lol.
157
posted on
02/20/2007 6:52:46 AM PST
by
CMS
(When injustice becomes law rebellion becomes duty ||||Liberals: hard on fetuses soft on terrorists)
To: trussell
Happy Birthday Cody:)
158
posted on
02/20/2007 6:58:38 AM PST
by
fatima
(Shut up Murtha)
To: CMS
LOL :)
I'm glad we didn't get all the snow some people had to deal with. The ice has been slowly disappearing. My daughter was going out in our backyard and pretending to ice skate. There was, what looked like, a rink back there. :)
159
posted on
02/20/2007 7:03:18 AM PST
by
GodBlessUSA
(US Troops, Past, Present and Future, God Bless You and Thank You!. It Prayers said for our Heroes!)
To: GodBlessUSA
Thank You GodBlessUSA,just found out another Grandchild on the way-WooHoo:)So we have 2 in the pot.One due in June and one due in Aug.
160
posted on
02/20/2007 7:10:16 AM PST
by
fatima
(Shut up Murtha)
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