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Retiree/Alumni Reunion Luncheon (8/24/2024)

If you were not able to travel to the 2024 Retiree/Alumni Association Reunion Luncheon, here's your chance to see and hear what went on.  Click on the following link to view highlights from the presentations made at the luncheon.  Ken Stopplebein reviews some of the directions the Association is now taking.  In addition, Sue Kelley shares preliminary information about the upcoming 80th Anniversary celebration (2026), Mike Culbertson updates us on those who have passed away in the past two years plus unverils his latest publication - Kings of the Highway 2024, and Joe Levine describes some of the excitement surrounding the current Association plans.  Finally, LTC Robinson, the band's new Commanding Officer, talks about his feelings for the Field Band and his plans for the future.

    https://youtu.be/uTEnzN6ZCto

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There will be two ceremonies at Devers Hall on Tuesday, 17 September 2024 starting at 1:00 p.m..

In the first ceremony, Command Sergeant Major Matthew Kanowith will turn over the duties and responsibilities of Command Sergeant Major of The United States Army Field Band to Sergeant Major Daniel L. Brimhall.

Following the Change of Responsibility will be the Retirement Ceremony honoring the career of CSM Kanowith.

R.S.V.P. by 10 September to SFC Scott Devereaux at scott.l.devereaux2.mil@army.mil

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CW3 (Ret)  Charles F. Almeida, Jr.    (1928 - 2024)

Charlie Almeida will be long remembered as one of the "founding fatherrs" of the Jazz Ambassadors.  Here is soloing with the Jazz Ambassadors in 2019 - when he was 90 years of age.

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OCHSIbosbg&ab_channel=LisaAlmeida

An article from Senior Life - Nov. 3, 2020: 

Most soldiers choose a particular branch of the Armed Forces. Charles Almeida opted for two.

In 1951, the Rhode Island native joined the United States Air Force Band and for three years played the saxophone for the Band’s Airmen of Note, the Air Force’s premier jazz ensemble. 

In 1962, Almeida enlisted in the United States Army, which assigned him the duty of woodwind instructor at the Army Element of the U.S. Naval School of Music, in the process connecting Almeida to a third branch of the military.

He is one of those lucky fellows who easily found his true career path. Right out of the gate, he became a professional musician.

"At the time I graduated from high school in ’44, all the hotels had 14-piece bands and every country club hired a band on Saturday nights," the Melbourne resident said.

Alas, the enviable life of the freewheeling musician came to an abrupt end when Uncle Sam called Almeida. 

"The draft caught up with me and I went kicking and screaming," he said, although he now realizes it was one of the best career moves he could have made. 

"I tell young people who want to pursue music to go into one of the service branches."

Proficient in oboe, saxophone, clarinet and flute, Almeida studied music at several schools, including Catholic University and the University of Arizona, but he never bothered to graduate.

During his service years, Almeida served as warrant officer bandmaster with the Army and was conductor of the 36th Army Band. He served as bandmaster of the Eighth U.S. Army Band in Seoul, Korea in 1965 and in 1966 was reassigned back to the states as commanding officer of the Army Element, NORAD Band in Colorado Springs. From that job, Almeida hopped to the U.S. Army Field Band in 1968. While with the Field Band, Almeida organized the 25-piece jazz/rock group Studio Band, which he took on several national tours. 

"I’ve played in most states," he said. 

When military retirement arrived in 1972, Almeida headed to the Kennedy Center, among other places. 

In addition to the legendary Washington, D.C., performing venue, as a freelance musician Almeida has played at Wolf Trap, at the National Theater, with touring companies of Broadway shows and with the bands of Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, Artie Shaw and many others.

Although his three daughters played in their high school bands, Almeida did not encourage them to take their musical instruments with them to college.

"I knew that if they got in the band, they would end up marrying a musician," he joked.

He must have had the right idea, for two of his daughters are physicians and the third one is a business executive.

When not playing music, Almeida would chill out as a competitive water skier and as a spear fisherman. The replacement of both hips has made pursuing those passions difficult, although he takes consolation by living riverside just south of the Pineda Causeway.

Now 87, Almeida keeps the music going, with gigs such as providing the musical accompaniment for the Henegar Center’s production of "The Wiz" and with the Brevard Symphony Orchestra, the Community Band of Brevard and Melbourne Municipal Band’s Swingtime Ensemble.

"My motto is 'have horn, will travel,' " Almeida said. 

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Call for assistance.

Joe Peterson, Class of 1973, recently lost his home and possessions in a fire.  He also suffered serious burns.  See the message from his sister, who has set up a GoFundMe page for him.  If you feel moved to donate to it, the website address is at the bottom of this page.

Mike Culbertson, Class of 2009

"Hello Everyone. I am Joe (Jody) Peterson's sister, Hillevi Anne Peterson-Hirsch.

I am raising funds to help my brother, Joe Peterson, get back on his feet after loosing his trailer home and possessions to a fire and being hospitalized with severe burns.

Joe was asleep and woken by neighbors who saw the flames and cried out to him. He was trying to escape his motor home only to have the plastic coated ceiling melt down upon him, coating his back, leg, arms, and foot. At the time I am writing this, Jody is at U.C. Davis Medical Center in their burn unit and has had skin grafts. He is in terrible pain.

From here, Joe will be going to a V.A. hospital for recuperation. Joe served his country in the U.S. Army Field Band Chorus during the late 1960s and early 1970s.

The funds gathered for Joe will be used toward housing, medical, and trying to replace all his personal belongings lost in the fire. It is no exaggeration to say he needs all the love and prayers along with financial support."

www.gofundme.com/f/support-joe-peterson-restore-and-rise-from-the-ashes

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On April 25, I had the privilege of talking with former commander Hal Gibson. He was guest conductor of the Schwob Wind Ensemble at Columbus (GA) State University, where he is Director of Bands emeritus. The occasion was celebrating his 100th birthday! He directed Clifton Williams' The Sinfonians. He seemed in good spirits and according to my math, it was 56 years ago that I was under his direction with the Field Band.

I was there because my daughter, Lisa Oberlander was featured clarinet soloist on that same program, celebrating 25 years teaching clarinet at Schwob. She played Divine Mischief, Concerto for clarinet (2022), by J. Mackey.

The entire program can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/live/xaZdx_dVUP4?si=chEN-Pe4czLXWRDY

Ralph Oberlander, Indianapolis, clarinet, class of 1968

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I am sad to report the death of Sergeant Major Dominick Macaluso, who passed away on 30 April at the age of 95.

Mac joined the Army as a trombonist in 1948, during the time when basic training was not required.  He retired 35 years and two weeks later in 1983, and every one of those 12,798 days was as a member of The AGF Band/TUSAFB.  When he retired he had been a member of the unit for almost 95% of its history.  He had some interaction with 936 members of the unit, including the first six commanders.

Mike Culbertson

Viewings May 12 & 13:  Both days 2-4pm and 6-8pm. Family private viewing at 1:30pm May 12th. Location:  Singleton Funeral and Cremation Services, 1 2nd Avenue, S.W., Glen Burnie, MD 21061, phone: 410-766-7070

Mass May 14th:  12:00 noon, Christ the King Roman Catholic Church (formerly Holy Trinity), 7436 B & A Blvd., Glen Burnie, MD 21061, phone:  410-766-5070.  

Burial May 14th:  Maryland Veterans Cemetery, 1122 Sunrise Beach Rd., Crownsville, MD 21032, phone:  410-987-6320.

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On 20 February I attended the Field Band change of command ceremony at Fort Meade.  COL Jim Keene will retire this Spring, and LTC Domingos Robinson, who had been the Deputy Commander for six and a half years, assumed command of the unit.

Major General Trevor Bredenkamp, Commanding General of the Military District of Washington and Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region, was the presiding officer for both the change of command and COL Keene’s retirement ceremony.

COL Keene received the Distinguished Service Medal in recognition of his more than thirty years of active duty, which included more than nine years in command of the Field Band.  He led the unit through the very challenging period of the COVID pandemic, keeping the community relations mission alive by using online programming.

Major Richard Winkels has been transferred to the Field Band to serve as Deputy Commander and Officer in Charge of the Concert Band.  He had been assigned to Headquarters Department of the Army as the liaison between the Chief of Public Affairs and the Chief of Army Bands.

About two dozen TUSAFB alumni attended the ceremonies, including past Commander COL(R) Tim Holtan, Class of 2014; COL Bruce Pulver, Class of 2012; LTC(R) Dwayne Milburn, Class of 2015; CPT(P) Alexandra Borza, Class of 2017; CPT(R) Rick Barnes, Class of 1986; and SGM(R) Lane Wood, Class of 2002, sixth Band SGM. 

Congratulations to COL Keene for a job well done.  We wish LTC Robinson success in his new position.

Mike Culbertson, Class of 2009

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NEW PUBLICATION 

When I was getting ready to retire from the Army, I decided to make a list of all the Soldiers who served in The AGF Band between 1946 and 1950.  Mission creep has transformed that list into a book documenting the service of everyone who served or is serving in the band between 21 March 1946 to 1 September 2022.  I've also added some information about the unit lineage, and biographical information on many.

The newest edition is titled Kings of the Highway 2022.  There are two versions, a paperback book of 338 pages and an eBook.  The hard copy/paperback book will appeal to readers, such as I, who prefer turning pages to scrolling.  Lulu told me that I have to put a minimum price of $35.38 on it, which is why the book costs $35.50.  The eBook costs $2.50 and has the benefit of being searchable.    

Anyone interested in purchasing either version can go to LULU.COM/SHOP and search for Army Field Band.  Both versions should then appear, and you can choose the one you want.

https://www.lulu.com/search?page=1&q=army+field+band&pageSize=10&adult_audience_rating=00

Please contact me if there is any glitch in purchasing.  I can be reached via email at mikeculb@aol.com, or 443-848-1220.

I hope you like this new U S Army Field Band book.  ENJOY!

Mike

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Hello, all, Mike CUlbertson here.  I need some help in the search for Bill Rabinowitz, who played clarinet in the Concert Band from 1964-66.

Pete Cortese, who played in the section with Bill, gave me some good leads, and the release of the 1950 Federal Census gave me some more data to work with.  It was time to visit Ancestry.com

1.  In 1950, 8-year-old William was living at 821 E. 173rd with his parents Harry and Sylvia and his 3-year-old sister Roslyn.

2.  Knowing his age in 1950 let me search for a William Rabinowitz who was born ca 1942.  I found him in the Birth Index of the City of New York, born on 26 July 1941.

3.  A database called "U.S. Public Records" gave me an address, 11865 Metropolitan Ave #2, Kew Gardens, NY  11415.

4.  That led me to a "phonebook" called Intelius.com.  I searched for a William Rabinowitz born in 1941 at the Kew Gardens address and found him!

So now there's good news and bad news.  The good news is that I believe that I have found SP6 William Rabinowitz.  The bad news is that Intelius indicates that he died on 24 November 2014.  

The sticking point is that I cannot in good conscience add a name to the In Memoriam list without documentation.  Without an obituary or other record of his death, I can't differentiate THIS William Rabinowitz from the dozens of OTHER William Rabinowitzes.

I'll keep looking for a published obituary.  I will also keep searching for relatives to verify his passing.  If anyone knows his sister Roslyn or her descendants, please ask her to be in touch with me.

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RAA Newsletter Archive now available

Wish you had saved those old issues of the Association Newsletter?  Miss those updates on what "old timers" were doing?  Trying to remember where George Koran was going next with his sailboat?  Enjoyed reading what former Field Band commanders were thinking about?  NO PROBLEM!

An Archive of all of the print issues of the Newsletter (1992-2006) is now available - all 234 pages of it.  

The Newsletter was the mainstay of the Association in the early years.  Your $5 dues brought you 3 or 4 issues each year via U S Mail thanks to the dedicated work of a small team of retirees led by Joey Greco.

Check it out by going to https://www.lulu.com and search for "Army Field Band".  You can get a printed copy of the Archive for $10.50 or download it as an eBook for free.  And while you're there, check out the other publications supported by the RAA in celebration of the 75th Anniversary.

https://www.lulu.com/search?adult_audience_rating=00&page=1&pageSize=10&q=newsletter%20archive%20-retiree    

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A Comprehenive Look at the Soldiers Chorus and its Origins

The latest in-depth 75th Anniversary Field Band article by SFC Brian Eldridge is now available on the Field Band's home page. Click on "Origins: Volume 2 - The Soldiers’ Chorus: How it was Established by its First Directors" (https://www.armyfieldband.com/about/75th-anniversary) and sit back for a wonderful tour of the voices of the Field Band and how they evolved. Learn about the role each of the Soldiers Chorus early directors played in building this multi-faceted vocal group.

SFC Eldridge has once again written an article that keeps you reading from beginning to end. You will be amazed at how much you didn't know about the history of the Soldiers Chorus.

Coming up next? SFC Eldridge will now be turning his attention to jazz and how it found a home in the Field Band.

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A Photo History of The United States Army Field Band: The First Seventy-Five Years (1946-2021)

by S. Joseph Levine (Clarinet 1963-1966)

The book consists of 19 chapters with a section for each decade of the band's history along with other chapters focusing on specific aspects of the band (the Drum Act, Transportation, Jazz, etc.).  The full color pages are devoted to every imaginable aspect of the band.

The book is available as a FREE download, as a softcover/paperback edition, or as a hardcover "coffee table" edition.  The softcover and hardcover editions are 322 pages in length, printed back-to-back on heavy weight glossy paper (#80) with high density colored ink (of course the photos of the band's early years are all in black/white!). 

The cost of the softcover edition is $65.24 and the hardcover edition is $73.31.  The downloadable eBook is FREE.

If you've been looking for some way to help people understand what it is/was like serving in the military's finest musical organization - this is it.

The book is available from Lulu.com - a well known online on-demand publishing company.  They are set up to provide high quality printing in response to specific orders - they do not print copies ahead of time and warehouse them.  It usually takes about 2 weeks for the book to arrive at your location.

To order a copy, download a free copy - or just check it out, go to:

        https://www.lulu.com/search?q=photo+history+army+field+band+levine&page=1&pageSize=4&product=s-joseph-levine%2Ca-photo-history-of-the-united-states-army-field-band-the-first-seventy-five-years%2Chardcover%2Cproduct-7jz9r4.html&sortBy=RELEVANCE&adult_audience_rating=00

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Former Member of the Field Band?

All former members of the U S Army Field Band have been entered into the database for this website.  If you are a former member of the band, click on JOIN HERE (upper right), enter your name, and complete the short sign-up form.  Your name will then be forwarded to the website administrators for verification.  Once you are verified you will have full access to all parts of the webiste. 

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The History of Taps

A YouTube video by Joe Orosz (Class of 1982) -The History of Taps.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABNPNcf5Buk