Re: 12th Naval District Band

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Posted by: Cash Farrar (saxcash@hotmail.com) on 7/03/08 at 21:48
In Reply to: Re: 12th Naval District Band posted by Mike Beegle on 12/01/05 at 14:32

: : : 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.

I was there albeit briefly before my discharge april '66..my name is "John" Farrar MUSN Tenor Sax.I had a big leg cast on, had to march with it (once)..Riegert's name rings a bell..seem to remember the leader was CWO Huddleston (he told me my tone reminded him of Vido Musso)..yeah was a magic time. when I got out I went directly to the corner of Haight and Ashbury and never looked back..I still play in Vegas recently with Wayne Newton Orch. I've been "Cash" Farrar since the 70's

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Re: 12th Naval District Band Mike Beegle 7/09/08 (0)

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: : : : 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. : I was there albeit briefly before my discharge april '66..my name is "John" Farrar MUSN Tenor Sax.I had a big leg cast on, had to march with it (once)..Riegert's name rings a bell..seem to remember the leader was CWO Huddleston (he told me my tone reminded him of Vido Musso)..yeah was a magic time. when I got out I went directly to the corner of Haight and Ashbury and never looked back..I still play in Vegas recently with Wayne Newton Orch. I've been "Cash" Farrar since the 70's

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