The
music you'll hear on each of these history pages (if your computer has speakers)
is the type of music the GIs listened to during WWII.
In Europe, we had our own radio stations, called the Armed Forces Radio
Network, and we also used Radio Luxemburg.
“Axis Sally,” in her propaganda broadcasts, played the same type of
music in an effort to destroy the morale of the U. S. forces.
It had just the opposite effect. The
GIs listened and laughed at her efforts, but appreciated the good music.
“Tokyo Rose” in Japan tried the same thing with the GIs in the South
Pacific, with no success either. Sgt.
Johnny Mercer (later of Capitol Records fame) was the most popular disc jockey,
with a program he called the “The Duffle Bag.”
His theme song was “Pompton Turnpike” by Charlie Barnett.
These are the tunes you’ll
hear (in the “MIDI” format ): On
the 272nd History page is “Moonlight Serenade,” Major Glen Miller’s theme
song. “Pine Top’s Boogie Woogie,”
on the 461st History, was made famous by Tommy Dorsey. On the 273rd History, “Don’t
Get Around Much Any More” was made famous by Count Basie.
“Getting Sentimental Over You," on the 271st History, was a Tommy
Dorsey hit. “In the Mood,” on
the 271st History, was another of Glen Miller’s famous recordings.
“Jersey Bounce,” another dance tune of that era, is heard on the
777th Tank Battalion History. Another
famous recording artist during WWII was Artie Shaw.
“Begin the Beguine,” as heard on the 661st Tank Destroyer Battalion
history, was one of his big hits. The
music heard on the 880th Field Artillery history is "Take the A
Train".
Some may be wondering how GIs
managed to listen to radio during combat. Well,
combat was not a 24/7 affair – there were lots of lulls during hostilities,
and our GIs were very innovative in finding ways to entertain themselves.
If the Coat of Arms of the unit
you are looking for is not on this page, the history has not as yet
become available, or is being constructed.
As soon as a history is available we will post it.