: : I spent some of the happiest years of my life as a member of the 12th Naval District
: : Band on Treasure Island. The band room contained living quarters for the single band
: : members, two or three to a room unheard of for enlisted men during that era. We also
: : had a kitchen with food lockers and cold storage. The base commissary was right out
our
: : back door. We were housed in one wing of the building- the Marines had the rest.
They
: : were constantly trying to kick us out! Our wing had been the base clinic and infirmary
at
: : one time so it was divided into individual rooms with a large rehearsal area and TV
lounge
: : complete with pool tables.
: : I had a career of 27 years as a musician in the navy and at no time did I experience
the
: : closeness and warmth like we had in that band. The band was excellent musically
thanks
: : to our leader CWO Gerard Bowen. And then, there was the matter of the greatest city in
: : the world just across the bridge! I was blessed to be able to hear the greatest jazz
: : musicians in the history of the music at the Blackhawk and Jazz Workshop during those
: : years. North Beach was my university and church.
: : I will never forget the wonderful spiritual times we shared working together and
: : making beautiful music on the Magical Treasure Island. A treasure never to be
forgotten.
: : The museum should be reopened with a special section for the Navy Band.
: I was one that always enjoyed hearing the Band play at ceremonies and homecomings.
Admiral Toney always seemed to find an opportunity to have the Band perform around the
San Francisco Bay Area.
: Yes, have a section for the 12th Naval District Band.
: Note: I served on the USS Kansas City at Naval Supply Center Oakland and with Shore
Intermediate Maintenance Activity at Naval Air Station Alameda.
I just discovered your "follow-up" to my posting. Thanks for the memories. I recently
hosted a reunion of band members from the years 1960-64 when CWO Bowen was our
leader. I was able to contact five other members of the band; a sixth member was too ill
to travel. I was the only one of the group that shipped over- we all agreed that those
years were among the very best of our lives. Attending were: Dave Novak, Bob Sponholz,
Tom Rogotzke, Dave Riegert Marty Loucks and myself. Jim Grafmyer of Denver was too ill
to travel but was with us in spirit. Mr. Bowen passed away several years ago.