Third US Army Soldier Show (1970): Getting It Together, Now

Over the past few years I have reconnected with a number of former members of the Third US Army Soldier Show that I played drums for from 1970-71 (40 years ago!) at the ages of 21 and 22. Some members from earlier years recently put up a website and contacted me about adding info from the years I was a member (see the website at http://www.tusa-showmobile.com/).

I have written some stories about my experiences in the Third US Army Soldier Show for Youth Peace Resources at: http://peace.mennolink.org/cgi-bin/blog/6.cgi?about. My basic story is that I was drafted at the age of 20 into the Army during the Vietnam War. Since I did not believe in killing other human beings, I went as a conscientious objector and was trained as an Army medic. I ended up working in an Army base pharmacy in Augusta, Georgia. While working there Terry Moretti, trumpet player for the Third US Army Soldier Show just happened to come in the back of the pharmacy for some cough syrup he needed before a show that evening. Having been a drummer since grade school and having played and recorded with the group Beauregarde Ajax, I asked him about auditioning for the show. After the show that evening I auditioned for a 4 month temporary assignment to the Soldier Show, based in Atlanta, Georgia. A month or so after the audition I received notice that I had been accepted into the show. I was transfered to Third Army Headquarters in Atlanta.

"Getting It Together, Now" was my first of 4-5 different shows with the Third US Army. The show included pop songs on the radio and usually a section of Broadway show tunes. We rehearsed for 2 months and toured the South for 2 months playing at Army bases, similar to a USO show. The troup traveled with a tour bus and truck that hauled instruments, stage, lighting and sound equipment. Soldiers in the show received, if I remember correctly, $3 extra dollars a day while on the road. Wow! The show was run by civilians (director, band conductor, choreographer, sound technician) with an Army officer over our company to make sure we kept ourselves in line.

I remember letting my mustache grow longer than regulation on this first tour (I was a long haired musician living in LA when I was drafted in 1969). When we returned to base I tried to keep it long, but was commanded to cut my long mustache back to regulation standard (Mustaches could not grow past the corners of your mouth). I didn't like the Army and particularly being told what to do. So next morning I show up with it cut into a Hitler mustache! It was not appreciated.

Since I was the pit band drummer I was responsible for many of the cues and regulating the tempos of the music for the show, which were much too fast for my musical tastes. At times the tempos sounded carnivalesque! It took a lot of memorization and many times rehearsals on the weekends.

After the first show, which was to be a temporary assignment, I and a few others in the show were kept on as permanent members to provide some continuity as new members were added each show from the auditions held at the various bases where we performed.

My 18 months in the Third US Army Soldier Show not only built up my drumming chops, but provided an enjoyable and memorable expoerience during my time in the US Army.

My next few post will be photos and playbills from other Third US Army Soldier Show productions.