Stilled-for now to foUo,v lliln; ""- c.. - The George C. Marshall ...

At Chateau-Thierry in 1918 a correspondent
once heard an American infantryman mutter, "Some
guys fight the war and others play in bands." In \Vorld
\Var II some guys did both.
One winter morning of early 1944 a Sgt. Frank Hanshaw and a Colonel Andrew Tychsen wcre walking
. past the Rec Hall in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
"Tell me, Sergeant, do you hear noise coming from that building?"
"No sir, Colonel, I hear music."
The 399th Infantry Band was organized and quickly became tops in the North Carolina dance cir­
cuit, appearing on several radio shows. In the June "Battle of Music" among 100th Diyision bands, the 399th
musicoes walked away with top honors in both sweet and hot licks.
The band played nightly shows across the Atlantic before the 399th landed at Marseille. The
uandsmen put their instruments with the duffel bags, picked up their rifles, headed up the Rhone Valley
toward the front.
175 combat days later the band reorganized. Five of the Stateside members were wounded and gone.
The remainder were wearing the silver and blue combat Infantryman's badge, the Medic's valor badge, purple
hearts, silver stars. The trombones wouldn't slide and the trumpets were mildewed. After a four day overhaul­
ing the boys put on their first post-war show which was later to increase to over 1,000 appearances.
The 399th Combat Infantry Band has been acclaimed by Privates and Commanding Generals alike as
"the" band in the ETO. Radio AFN Munich beamed many of their recordings and personal appearancesp.
A show by the 399th Combat Infantry Band would have the spotlight on the trumpet of Joe Rao, say
of Ken Soderblom, clarinet of Irwin Witcoff, and piano of Don Gero. Top sidelights are the announcing of
CBSman Deane Stewart, laughs by Rip Farish, solid sending by "Creepy" Sohlman and the Sextet, drum duet
by Joey Raina and Dannie Seypura, and vocals by Ray Vorce, Harry Walker, and Jay Johnson.
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