FReeper Canteen ~ Honoring Women Military Bands ~ 20 February 2007

Internet ^ | February 19, 2001 | Soaring Feather

[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!

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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.

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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.

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Please remember The Canteen is a cyber home for our Troops, check your politics at the door.
All information comes from the Internet.

[SandRat]

 

	The year 2002 is a very special year for a group of Canadian Women who are celebrating and remembering an exceptional time in their lives. They are the women veterans of the WWII Royal Canadian Navy.
Following are excerpts of articles from various publications regarding their history

Wrens Association of Toronto Anniversary Events ... Edmonton Reunion ... Question Period ... History

 
From The Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service and Their Successors - The First Sixty Years 1942-2002  - Calendar produced by Naval Lore - Presentations & Exhibits on Naval History. With permission.

The WRCNS (Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service), more familiarly known as the WRENS was founded in 1942, challenging the traditional all male armed forces. Between 1942 and 1946 close to 7,000 volunteers enlisted in the WRCNS and served in 39 so-called 'non-combatant' occupations on Canadian and allied naval bases at home and abroad.

The WRENS trained at HMCS CONESTOGA, in Galt Ontario, and it was the only ship in the Royal Canadian Navy commanded by a women. Nearly 1000 WRENS served in Halifax, and 1000 more served in Washington DC, New York City and overseas in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Over 500 WRENS served in Newfoundland.

In 1943 Captain F.L. Houghton was S.N.C.O. (senior Canadian Naval Officer) London, located in King's House, at Number 10 Haymarket. In preparation for Operation Neptune his staff grew to almost 700, including a hundred members of the Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service, occupying seven buildings in various parts of the city. The WRENS were accommodated in a large house on England's Lane, off Haverstock Hill, about three miles from the office. For their 1943 Christmas party he wrote a song in their honour, which was put to music by Wren Madgwick. As far as is known the tune is irretrievably lost, but here for the record are the words:

The Belles of London

Here's to the Girls in Navy Blue,
The Wrens at England's Lane.
There one of the boughs of the mighty oak
That rules the raging main.

CHORUS:
Come, Hearts of Oak,
Your glasses fill
And drink a Toast
To Sailor Jill,
At England's Lane
On Haverstock Hill.

We know the nice girls all love Jack -
We sing it now and then;
But something else we know full well -
All Jack Tars love a Wren!

We're very fond of WAAF's and WAAC's,
And soldiers and Marines,
But what can beat a tiddley Wren
In Navy cap and jeans?

CHORUS:
Come, Hearts of Oak,
Your glasses fill
And drink a Toast
To Sailor Jill,
At England's Lane
On Haverstock Hill.

(From the memoirs of the late Rear-Admiral Frank Llewellyn Houghton, CBE, RCN, © as published in Salty Dips Vol. 8, published by the Ottawa Branch of the NOAC. And reprinted with permission from his son and daughter.)

The WRCNS ceased to exist in August 1946, but in 1951 parliament authorized the formation of a WREN section in the RCN(R). In 1955 a women's component of the RCN was authorized and fully integrated into the regular force. This was a first throughout the British Commonwealth. They served in the RCN until February 1, 1968, on which date, along with the rest of the Royal Canadian Navy, they fell victim to the Canadian Forces Reorganization Act.

[stephenjohnbanker]

He DO get around : )

[SevenofNine]

OH MONKKKK breaksfast LMAO

http://www.normsrestaurants.com/p3breakfast.html

[SevenofNine]

Well report from Kydto news wire did you hear about this Chia Pet going recall all japanese build cars in North Korea claim that they could be faulty

DAMN

Why don't Chia Pet become rap star

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjI5yEW5U8Q&mode=related&search=

[Soaring Feather]

Thank You for the added info.

[SandRat]

The first military all women band was the Women's Army Band organized at Fort Des Moines in 1942. It was led by then sergeant - MaryBelle Nissly - the job called for a warrant officer but there was no legal precedent to appoint her to that rank. 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. WO Nissly left the Army in 1946 but returned to the service as a Captain in the Air Force in 1951 to organize the USAF WAF Band.

The 50 member concert unit performed all over the world playing everything from classics to rock and roll. Unique to the WAF band was the only woman coach horn soloist in the USA - Tech Sgt Marty Awkerman, a graduate of the Cincinnati Conservatory. For more on military women musicians see: Musicians

[Tamar1973]

WHOO HOO! I never got a ribbon before. LOL!

[SandRat]

The WAF BAND Conducted by Captain MaryBelle J. Nissly, the Women in the Air Force "WAF" Band created a unique and exceptional chapter in US Air Force and women's history. The band was created in 1951 as the 543rd Air Force Band (WAF) and, over its ten year history as the US WAF Band, was made up of 235 members, with about 50 women musicians comprising the band at any given time.

[luvie]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
~~~~~~~~~
MR.LUV!!! :D
~~~~~~~~~~
MAY IT ALL BE THE BEST!!!
((((HUGS))))

[HiJinx]

Happy Birthday, Mr. LUV!

Hope it's a good'un.

[SevenofNine]

Well according to UK Guardian because of Muslum cleric claim that polio vaccine is US plot to kill Muslum kids there been increase in number of muslum kids coming down with polio

[MoochPooch]

Very inspiring.

I wonder if my mother, who had served in the Marines during WWII, had ever had the pleasure of meeting them.

[Soaring Feather]

Linked in thread. ;)

[Soaring Feather]

Thanks.

Yes, they were and still are pretty impressive.

What a thrill that would have been for your mom.

[The Mayor]

Hi Feather....

I will be releasing this tomorrow in a major Press Release.
http://www.nogitolls.com/Foil.html
The Bell tolls for the Tolls~Thruway Authority Exposed

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, CMS....I've been thinking of sending the cavalry. *HUGS* Hope all is well with you. Is the Army keeping you busy and learning new stuff?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Ashlie has arrived.....I thought it was next month. Be back in a while. She has lots of stories about what's going on in her life.

[AZamericonnie]

Happy birthday Mr. Luv & many happy returns of the day!

[Tamar1973]

Well, look at the bright side. At least they won't grow up to be jihadis.

[SevenofNine]

Yeah that true Tamar LMAO