Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1943-05-22
First Army Air
Force Band Hit
AT Fla. Field
Veteran Leader
Is Father OF
West Point Grad

MACDILL FIELD, Fla.-(SNS)-
what is believed to be the first
Negro Army Air Force Band in
the country, was recently activated
at MacDill Field, Florida.
The organization, which will be
AiioWn as tine 435th Army Air
Force Band, is now composed of
The following: Privates Louis A..
Grant, los South Griffin Street.
Florence, S. c. Evaughn Richard
son, 1127 9th ST., N. W., Washing
ton, d. G. Frank r. Verdell, go
Nassau St, Newark, N. j. Solomon
l.. Moore, 244 West 112d Street,
New York City; Theodore Palm,
Roper, N C.;Ernest B. Thompson,
309 Terry St, Orlando, Fla: John
u. Johnson, 1914 South Deaborn
ST, Chicago; Junior R. Jasmine.
Modesto, La. David D. Turner,
545 Calhoun ST., Augusta. Ca:
Edward Morgan 2723 Amelia st.,
New Orleans; Harold A. Dyer
Homes Avenue, Lawnside. New
Jersey; Pellis Davis, 1905 Cottage
Ave, st. Louis; Walter Anthony,
1881 North 23rd Ave-, Philadelphia !;
and Corporal George P. Reed, l00l8
Graham Ave Los Angeles.
The Bands director is Chief
Warrant Officer Robert p Tres.
vile Bay City, Tex, one of the
men whose son is a graduate of
the U. S. Military Academy at
West Point, and is now stationed
at Tuskegee Flying Field, Ala.
Mr.. Tresville has a wide musical
background, and has served as an
Army bandsman for 81 years. He
has seen action in the Philippine
Islands, at the Mexican Border
during the days of Pancho Villa,
and more recently in the South
Pacific.
His career as an Army musician
began in 1912, with the 9Th Caval-
~ Band at Fort Warren, Wyoming.
During his three and one-half
years Of service on the Mexican
Border, he became conscious of the
inspiration music give to men
on the fighting lines.
HONOR GRADUATE IN MUSIC
In 1916 Mr.. ITesville had tour of
duty in the Philippine Islands.
In 1919 he was assigned to the 10th
Cavalry. Ambitious to further his
Army band career. he applied for
Bandmaster school where his
ambition caused him to complete
three years work in the two, and
he graduated from the Institute
of Musical Art Of New York, (noW
Juilliard School Of Music, with
honors in June, 1922.
He was then sent to Camp Harry
Jones, Ariz., to organize the First
Battalion Band of the 25th Infan-
try. Later he went to Fort Ben
ming, Ca, where he remained for
10 years, during which time he
was appointed a Warrant Officer
Last year, his organization
was ordered to the South Pacific
to entertain the armed forces, the
wounded and the evacuated from
Guadalcanal and other points Of
action. cit wasn't an easy job,
said Mr.. Tresville. 1--WE carried
our full packs and rifles at oil
times, because we never knew
when we'd have to throw away oul
horns in favor of guns. We ever
carried our rifles in the mess
hall. They were our constant com
panions.'
BIGGEST THRILL IN PACIFIC
ISLANDS
When asked what was the bigges
thrill in all his 81 years in the
Army. he answered: when over {
thousand voices drowned out thu
! music of our band down in tht
Pacific Islands, He stated thai
band music, in addition to a II
piece dance orchestra, was the sole
means of entertainment for mel
who had spent months in jungle
fighting.
Back in the United States again
Chief Warrant Officer Tresville i.
engaged in forming the new Mac
Dill Field band which he expects
eventually, to have 40 pieces.