Two Colored women with the American Expeditionary Forces

by Addie W. Hunton; Kathryn M. Johnson

1. Bugler Hamilton White. 2. Band Leader Wm. Bailey. 3. Sgt. Jefferson, Saxophonist. 4. St. Nazaire Band. 5. Band of the 802d Pioneer Infantry. 6. Band of the 803d Pioneer Infantry.

We followed the history of the St. Nazaire Band with a certain pride and interest because, in the early days when we entered that town it was a small struggling group with but few instruments, the sounds from which can be but faintly described by the word horrible. It was encouraged by the Young Men’s Christian Association, who gave it a thousand dollars for instruments and music. We watched this band grow and lose its crudeness with almost incredible rapidity, until a year later, when it visited the Leave Area, it was our joy and pride. It is sad to record that at the very zenith of popularity, its history was saddened by the sudden and tragic death of Sergeant Stevenson, the assistant bandmaster, who fell from a pole at Chambery. Again the beautiful French spirit was demonstrated by the populace of the town in a mass of floral offerings at the funeral of this soldier. Always with the French it was “Nos fleurs et nos coeurs.” The writer shall always have a peculiar remembrance of the St. Nazaire band, for at the time of the signing of the armistice she had succumbed to a serious illness as a result of overexertion. For a day or two the outer world was rather vague to her consciousness, but she was brought back when the band passed the house playing with full tone and complete abandon “Over There.” Looking into the face of her associate she learned that the armistice had been signed and that this playing was but an incident of the jubilation that had been in progress for several hours.

The Regimental Band of the 805th Pioneer Infantry was organized very late, but it became famous overnight, especially at Chateau Chehery, near Grand Pre. The Regimental Headquarters were in the famous and beautiful Chateau de Chehery, and there the band entertained the French, British and Americans of high rank who were constant visitors.

The story of the 808th band who had the honor of playing for President Wilson as he sailed home from Brest in June, is best told by one of its members who wrote this letter while they were in France:

“When they left Camp Meade the watchword was ‘Over There,’ and as the band of the dashing 808th Pioneer Infantry played that tuneful strain upon leaving the good old United States of America, they gave courage and cheer to the three thousand boys in line, and filled the hearts of wives, sweethearts, mothers and friends with that kind of spirit which wins wars—an unbreakable faith. But I am to tell you of these boys ‘Over There’ and I am to get my story from the spontaneous expression of boys who just needed a strain of some good old ‘rag’ or quaint Irish ballad to spur them on to the next town or a beautiful symphony to lull them off to sleep as they lay in pain on their cots.

“This band of colored musicians has indeed upheld the tradition of its race, for their music contributes much to make the name of the 808th Pioneer Infantry popular at the front. To begin with, they are right at the front being only a few kilometers behind the line, and although in danger of attracting the attention of hostile forces, they realize that the spirit of the boys must be kept cheerful and refreshed. So, often they assemble in a well protected spot and play for the constant line of khaki as it moves along the road toward the enemy. And how those boys enjoy the music only they can tell. But from the quickened step, the straightened shoulders and the whistling and singing, one can really feel the refreshing and satisfying effects of the band. When the band stops playing, however, there is no question as to the appreciation of the music, for from hundreds of throats comes the cry, ‘Carry On!’

“There is small wonder, though, that these boys have developed into such a well-balanced band, for when one meets the ‘Chief,’ as he is familiarly known among his fellow officers, the reason is easily explained. With a natural talent for music, the ‘Chief’ combines years of training as bandmaster and leader. It was he, Lieutenant James E. Wheelock, who brought to the Carlisle Indian School athletic prowess which struck terror in the hearts of all followers of the pigskin in the East, and he also developed the Carlisle Indian School band into one of national repute, so now it is he, realizing the power of music, who adds his talent and leadership to the one great end. I must not fail, however, to give due credit to the boys under his brilliant instruction. Naturally gifted as musicians and with deep love for it, these colored boys have developed into a respected organization, and with a realization of their power, they have unhesitatingly given their services where they might cheer some homesick boy or ease the pain of those suffering from wounds of battle. Transported in trucks through mud and rain, they have gone miles to play in hospitals and rest camps, and have brought to our nurses some little respite from the constant cry of pain.

“These boys have also developed other features which bid fair to permit them always to retain a warm spot in the hearts of the boys of the American Expeditionary Forces. Could you but hear Terry and Bloxson pull off their skit entitled ‘Sick Call in the Army’ in that dismantled stable which the fellows have the nerve to call a theatre, or could you hear the melodious string quartette, or a beautiful saxophone solo, or the sweet voices of the band, you, too, would do as the hundreds of boys do who crowd that place every Monday—jump to your feet crying ‘Carry On!’ Let us thank these boys and Lieutenant Wheelock for their unselfish spirit.”

Other regiments, combatant and non-combatant, had their bands that won honor and praise in the same way as the few did with whom we had personal touch, and then there were great numbers of singers and shows. In any camp an impromptu musical program was not far to seek.

But everywhere the music of the colored soldier was a faithful index of the spirit behind the song. There might be heard painfully monotonous or sombre chords—but wait a little and the atmosphere would change. There would come creeping into the music aspiration and elevation. Always the psychologist could discern the sorrow, pain and rebellion of souls that suffered unjustly, but always he would also discern through the exaltation and nobility of the music that its fundamental basis was faith and vision.