REMEMBERING WORLD WAR TWO

 

OCTOBER 1944

I WAS INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY. MY BASIC TRAINING WAS AT CAMP JOSEPH T. ROBINSON, ARKANSAS.  AFTER MY BASIC TRAINING, I RETURNED HOME IN HAMILTON, OHIO FOR A BRIEF FURLOUGH.  THEN, ON MARCH 9, 1945, MY HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART, LELA, AND I WERE MARRIED.

AFTER A FEW DAYS, I WENT ON TO FT. MEADE, THEN ON MARCH 25, 1945, DEPARTED ON THE OCEAN LINER, QUEEN ELIZABETH, AND ARRIVED IN ENGLAND, MARCH 31, 1945.  THERE WERE 15,000 SOLDIERS ON THE SHIP.  THEN TO LE HARVE, FRANCE, THEN TO A PLACE CALLED RENNES, FRANCE, PREPARING FOR OUR FIRST CONTACT WITH THE GERMANS.  IT WAS THERE THAT I MET CHAPLAIN BARKER AT THE CHAPEL SERVICES IN AN OPEN FIELD.  HE LIKED MY SINGING, AND ASKED IF I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN FORMING A QUARTETTE AND THEN A CHORUS AFTER THIS WAR WAS OVER.  I SAID: "OF COURSE, I WOULD LIKE THAT."

 

 APRIL 1945

 FROM THERE WE WENT TO ST. NAZAIRE WHERE THERE WAS A POCKET OF GERMANS WHO DID NOT WANT TO SURRENDER.  WE WERE ONLY ON THE FRONT LINES FOR ABOUT THREE HOURS, WHEN SOME OF OUR SOLDIERS CAME BEHIND US AND SAID: "IT IS ALL OVER, THE POCKET HAS SURRENDERED."  WE WERE HAPPY FOR THAT NEWS!

 

APRIL-MAY 1945 422nd INFANTRY REGIMENT

FROM THERE WE WENT TO A PLACE IN THE WOODS NEAR MAYEN, GERMANY WHERE WE SET UP CAMP.   CHAPLAIN BARKER WAS OUR REGIMENTAL CHAPLAIN.  AS THE WAR ENDED SURE ENOUGH WE FORMED THE QUARTETTE, THEN THE CHORUS.  WE SANG IN CHAPEL SERVICES.  I DID QUITE A LOT OF SOLO WORK, AND OUR REGIMENTAL COMMANDER COL. WILLIAM B. TUTTLE, LIKED MY SINGING. FROM THAT TIME ON, HE WOULD HAVE ON THE BULLETIN BOARD, "PVT. GOLDEN SINGS FOR COLONEL'S MESS AT 1800 HOURS".  THAT HAPPENED MANY TIMES AS THERE WERE VARIOUS GUESTS COMING THROUGH. AT ONE TIME, I SANG FOR THE COPA-CABANA GIRLS AND WHAT A THRILL THAT WAS.  SINCE WE SANG IN CHAPEL SERVICES, WE CALLED OURSELVES "THE CHAPELEERS".  WE BEGAN SINGING IN VARIOUS CAMPS IN THE 7th ARMY.  I SANG FOR MANY DIGNITARIES WHO CAME THROUGH AT THAT TIME, AND THE 106th INFANTRY DIVISION WAS BEING RE-ORGANIZED.

JUNE-JULY 1945

THE REGIMENTAL SHOW WAS BEING PLANNED.  THE CHAPELEERS WERE TO BE A LARGE PART OF THE SHOW.  COL. TUTTLE'S MOTTO WAS; "SMASH AND DRIVE", AS WAS THE NAME OF THE SHOW.  ONE OF THE TRUMPET PLAYERS IN THE BAND WROTE "SMASH AND DRIVE" A SONG FOR THE SHOW.

 

"SMASH AND DRIVE" 

THE REGIMENTAL SHOW        

MAYEN, GERMANY

 

FANFARE....................................................ORCHESTRA

INTRODUCTION, MASTER OF CEREMONIES, CHUCK MOFFIT, INTRODUCES THE FOXHOLE FUGITIVES,

CONVERY & McGOWEN WITH A VAUDEVILLE ACT.

TRIO: ORGAN, GUITAR AND MANDOLIN.

SOLO: MAX GOLIGHTLY 

"TIME WAS" AND "CARELESS"

NONSENSE: CHUCK MOFFIT

THE CHAPELEERS:  "AN HOUR NEVER PASSES" AND "THE TROLLEY SONG"

TED SUTTON: SINGING A COUPLE OF TUNES

ORTEZ:  HIS TAP DANCE ROUTINE

I & E SKIT BY CHUCK MOFFIT

INTRODUCE:

NOLEN GOLDEN, STAR TENOR: "SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES" AND "STOUTHEARTED MEN" WITH "ROAD TO MANDALAY" AS AN ENCORE.

MITCHELL: IMPERSONATOR

ORTEZ: MORE OF HIS TAP DANCE ROUTINE

THE CHAPELEERS:  "STEAL AWAY" AND "NOBODY KNOWS".

PAT DOOLIN: SINGS

TED SUTTON & CHUCK MOFFIT:  COMEDY SKIT, "LITTLE NELL"

GRAND FINALE: DRUMS ROLL, NOLEN MARCHES OUT AND STOPS AT THE MIKE TO SING OUR THEME:  "SMASH AND DRIVE", BACKED UP BY THE CHAPELEERS, WITH SIX RIFLEMEN MARCHING BEHIND HIM.  AS THE SONG ENDS, NOLEN SALUTES THE AUDIENCE AND THE RIFLEMEN PRESENT ARMS.  COL. TUTTLE JUMPS TO HIS FEET, THROWS HIS HELMET INTO THE AIR, AND SHOUTS; "SMASH AND DRIVE!"    CHUCK MOFFIT COMES OUT AND GIVES CREDITS TO ALL PERFORMERS, THEN THE SHOW IS OVER.  

COL. TUTTLE WANTED THE CHAPELEERS TO BE PUT ON SPECIAL SERVICES TO SING FOR THE TROOPS.

 

JULY 1945

THE CHAPELEERS LEFT THE REGIMENTAL SHOW, AND PUT TOGETHER THEIR OWN SHOW, TOURING AROUND THE AREA AT VARIOUS CAMPS, THEATERS, AND SERVICE CLUBS.  WE PERFORMED IN THE LE CASINO AT NAMUR, BELGIUM JULY 8 1945.  NOLEN BECAME ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AND SOLOIST FOR THE CHAPELEERS.  SOMETIMES, CHAPLAIN BARKER WOULD BE ENGAGED IN SPEAKING AT OTHER FUNCTIONS, AND NOLEN WOULD THEN DIRECT THE CHAPELEERS IN THE PROGRAMS.

ONE OF NOLEN'S FIVE BROTHERS, THURL, WAS IN THE AREA AT THIS TIME, AND, IN FACT, NOLEN AND THURL WERE ABLE TO GET TOGETHER AND WALK  ALONG THE RHINE RIVER IN ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF JULY. 

 

AUGUST 1945

THE SECOND DAY OF AUGUST THE CHAPELEERS WERE IN MINGLESHEIM, GERMANY, WENT TO SEE JACK BENNY, INGRID BERGMAN, MARTHA TILTON, AND LARRY ADLER IN A STAGE SHOW AT THE JONES BOWL.  NOLEN TALKED WITH THESE FAMOUS STARS AND RECEIVED THEIR AUTOGRAPHS. 

 

AUGUST 4 1945

NOLEN WAS INVITED TO SING AT GENERAL KEY'S HOME FOR SEVERAL GENERALS AND OTHER OFFICERS, INCLUDING GENERAL PARRON AND GENERAL STROH.  THEY ENJOYED IT VERY MUCH.

 

AUGUST 7 1945

CHAPELEERS MOVED INTO THEIR OWN HOME IN PHILLIPSBURG, GERMANY.

 

AUGUST 25 1945

THE CHAPELEERS AUDITIONED AT 7th ARMY FOR SPECIAL SERVICES, AND WE MADE IT. YES, WE WERE IN!  THEY WERE VERY ENTHUSED OVER US AND STARTED TO WORK RIGHT AWAY AS TO WHERE THEY COULD PUT US.  WE WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE 100th ARTILLERY, SPECIAL SERVICES.

 

SEPTEMBER 1945

CHAPELEERS JOINED THE 375th F.A. BATTALION OF THE 100th DIVISION.  THE FOLLOWING IS A QUOTATION FROM AN ARTICLE IN THEIR "MUZZLE BLAST" DATED SEPTEMBER 22, 1945.  

"HERE IS THE FIRST PICTURE TO BE PRINTED IN THE MUZZLE BLAST OF THE ALREADY FAMOUS CHAPELEERS.  THE CHOIR ARRIVED IN 375th TWO WEEKS AGO AND THE HALLS OF 'THE GASTHAUS ZUM HASEN' WHERE THEY ARE QUARTERED, HAVE BEEN RESOUNDING WITH THE STRAINS OF WAGON WHEELS, SPIRITUALS, HEP-TUNES AND THEIR THEME SONG 'FARTHER ALONG', EVER SINCE.  UNDER THE CAPABLE DIRECTION OF CHAPLAIN LLOYD O. BARKER, WHO REPLACED THE POSITION LEFT VACANT BY THE TRANSFER OF CHAPLAIN WRIGHT, THE PROGRAMS WHICH THE CHAPELEERS HAVE PRESENTED HAVE MET WITH SUCCESS WHEREVER THEY HAVE BEEN.

TRANSFERRED AS A GROUP FROM THE106th DIVISION, AT GEN. BEUCHLERS' REQUEST, THE CHOIR ARRIVED WITH TWO VOICES SHORT, BUT THE MISSING SECTIONS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY THE MEMBERS OF 100th, BOTH OF THEM FROM 375th."

 

SEPTEMBER 28 1945

ARTICLE IN THE 100th CENTURY SENTINEL, A FEW QUOTES:

"CRACK CHORAL UNIT OF THE REDEPLOYED 106th DIVISION, 'THE CHAPELEERS' ARE NOW ENTERTAINING THE CENTURY,  HAVING BEEN TRANSFERRED AS A GROUP TO THE 100th, LED BY CHAPLAIN LLOYD O. BARKER AND ALL MEMBERS OF THE 375th F.A.

THE CHAPELEERS STARTED OUT AS A CHOIR, BUT SWITCHED TO POPULAR STUFF UPON CUSTOMER DEMAND.  THEY STAND READY TO PERFORM, UPON REQUEST, AT ANY 100th DIV. SOCIAL FUNCTION."

 

OCTOBER 1945

THE CHAPELEERS WENT ON A REST AND RELAXATION FURLOUGH IN SWITZERLAND.  WE WENT TO BASLE, LUCERNE, MERRINGEN, INTERLAKEN, GLION MONTREUX, BERNE, OLTEN, AND BACK TO BASLE.

AT LUCERNE WE STAYED AT HOTEL KONKORDIA.  NOTE: THE FOOD AND HOTELS THROUGHOUT SWITZERLAND WERE JUST WONDERFUL.

AT MERRINGEN WE STAYED AT THE HOTEL POST.  IN THE EVENING WE ATTENDED A YODELING CONCERT.  AT INTERLAKEN, WE SPENT ABOUT THREE HOURS AT THE OBERLAND HOTEL WHERE WE ATE DINNER.  IT WAS HERE THAT WE SAW AND HEARD THE ALP HORN FOR THE FIRST TIME.  AT GLION MONTREUX WE STAYED AT THE HOTEL VICTORIA.  THE FIRST EVENING THE CHAPELEERS GOT TOGETHER AND SANG A FEW SONGS, AND THE ENTIRE HOTEL WAS CROWDED AROUND LISTENING.

AS CHAPLAIN BARKER WAS NOT WITH US ON THIS TOUR, NOLEN DIRECTED THE CHAPELEERS.  NOLEN ALSO SAT DOWN AT THE PIANO, PLAYED AND SANG "WHISPERING".  THEY ENJOYED IT SO MUCH THAT THE MANAGER OF THE HOTEL INVITED THE CHAPELEERS TO PUT ON A CONCERT BEFORE WE LEFT.  THE LAST NIGHT AT THE VICTORIA HOTEL, THE CHAPELEERS GAVE A CONCERT UNDER THE DIRECTION OF NOLEN B. GOLDEN, WHO ALSO SANG "INDIAN LOVE CALL", AND BY REQUEST, THE SONG "WHISPERING".  THE HOTEL LOBBY, STAIRWAY, AND OUTSIDE, WERE PACKED WITH PEOPLE WHO ALL ENJOYED THE PROGRAM SO MUCH THAT THE MANAGER INVITED THE CHAPELEERS TO A HOSPITALITY PARTY IN ONE OF THE BANQUET ROOMS AT THE HOTEL.

 IN BERNE, THE CAPITAL OF SWITZERLAND, THE CHAPELEERS WENT TO THE BROADCASTING STATION AND, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF NOLEN B. GOLDEN, MADE RECORDINGS TO BE BROADCAST NOVEMBER 4 TO THE USA, RUSSIA, AND SWITZERLAND.

NOVEMBER 1945

ON THE TENTH OF NOVEMBER THE CHAPELEERS GAVE A CONCERT UNDER NOLEN'S DIRECTION, FOR  COMMANDER, COL. RENOLA.

ALSO IN NOVEMBER '45 THE CHAPELEERS MADE A BROADCAST TAPE FOR THE AMERICAN FORCES NETWORK TO BE AIRED ON SEVERAL STATIONS IN THE  UNITED STATES.

 

NOVEMBER 20 1945

TRANSFERRED TO 16th ARMORED BATALLION OF THE 1st ARMORED DIVISION.

 

NOVEMBER 28 1945

CHAPELEERS PERFORMED IN THE STUTTGART OPERA HOUSE.

 

NOVEMBER 30 1945

KIRCHHEIM, GERMANY:  CHAPELEERS SANG FOR SEVERAL COMPANIES IN THE AREA.  WE WERE PLANNING OUR CHRISTMAS CONCERT TO BE PRESENTED IN THIS AREA IN DECEMBER.

 

DECEMBER 4 1945

WE PRESENTED OUR SHOW IN ULM, GERMANY.  ALSO IN THE STUTTGART, AND WIESBADEN OPERA HOUSES, MANY THEATERS, AND RED CROSS CLUBS.

THE CHAPELEERS PRESENTED THE CHRISTMAS MUSICAL AT A HUGE CHURCH IN COPPINGEN TUESDAY DECEMBER 18, 1945;

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 19, 1945

IN HELBRON; THURSDAY DECEMBER 20, 1945

IN MANHEIM, GERMANY; FRIDAY DECEMBER 21, 1945 HEIDELBERG;

SATURDAY DECEMBER 22, 1945 AT ESSLINGEN.

 

 

               GENERAL  PATTON

            FUNERAL  CEREMONY

 

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1945 THE CHAPELEERS WERE ORDERED TO GO BACK TO HEIDELBERG, GERMANY, TO SING FOR GENERAL PATTON'S FUNERAL CEREMONY.  THE FUNERAL WAS HELD IN HEIDELBERG'S CHRIST CHURCH, AND WAS ATTENDED BY REPRESENTATIVES OF ALL THE EUROPEAN ALLIES, U. S. MILITARY LEADERS AND MRS. PATTON.  IT WAS A REAL EXPERIENCE, AND AN HONOR.

AS WE ARRIVED, THE CHURCH WAS ALREADY PACKED.  SOLDIERS WERE LINED ALONG THE SIDEWALKS AS WE PASSED THROUGH TO THE BALCONY WHERE THE ORGAN CONSOLE AND CHOIR LOFT WERE LOCATED.

 I DO NOT REMEMBER THE SONGS WE SANG.  IT WAS INTERESTING TO SEE FROM THE BALCONY HOW THE SANCTUARY WAS FILLED WITH GENERALS, COLONELS, LIEUTENANTS, CAPTAINS, AND OTHERS.

GENERAL PATTON'S CASKET WAS IN PLACE AT THE ALTAR.  THE SERVICE WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE.  I FEEL THAT WE, THE CHAPELEERS, PLAYED SOME PART IN HISTORY.

 

JANUARY 1946

DURING OUR TRAVELS IN SPECIAL SERVICES, WE SAW MANY PLACES.

  

              HITLER'S HOME

 

AS IT WAS IN 1945 AFTER BOMBING

SUMMER OF 1945 A GUARD AT THE MARTIN BORMANN TREE

 

WHILE IN THE BERCHTESGADEN AREA, WE WENT UP THE MOUNTAIN TO HITLER'S HOME.  WE WALKED INTO WHAT WAS THE MAIN ROOM, WHERE HITLER HELD MANY OF HIS GATHERINGS.  ALSO INTO THE LARGE KITCHEN AND OTHER ROOMS THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE. YOU COULD SEE THE WHOLE CITY FROM THE PORCH, WHICH HAS BEEN SEEN MANY TIMES ON TELEVISION, WHERE HE WALKED WITH HIS DIGNITARIES AND OTHERS.  NEAR THE PORCH WE WENT DOWN INTO THE TUNNEL WHERE THERE WERE ROOMS TO EITHER SIDE, SOME BEDROOMS, OFFICES, AND BATHROOMS. THE TUNNEL  LED TO THE CITY, GIVING HITLER PRIVATE ACCESS TO BERCHTESGADEN.

 

HERE YOU SEE THE TERRACE AS IT WAS WHEN HITLER WAS THERE FROM A POST CARD OF THE TIME 

 

 

 

 

DACHAU CONCENTRATION CAMP

 

EARLY 1946

WHILE IN THE MANHEIM AREA, WE WENT THROUGH THE DACHAU CONCENTRATION CAMP.  THE MEN IN CHARGE TOOK US INTO A ROOM WHERE THE PRISONERS WERE TOLD TO UNDRESS AND BE SURE THEY HAD THEIR CLOTHES ON THE PROPER HANGERS SO THAT WHEN THEY CAME OUT OF THE SHOWERS THEY WOULD GET THEIR CLOTHES.

THEN THEY TOOK US INTO THE SHOWER ROOM WHICH HAD, WHAT LOOKED LIKE, SHOWERHEADS ABOVE.  THEY WERE ACTUALLY GAS JETS.  AFTER BEING GASSED, THE  BODIES WERE TAKEN FROM THE SHOWER ROOM TO THE OVEN ROOM.  THERE WERE AT LEAST A DOZEN OR SO OVENS IN THE ROOM.  THEY WOULD PLACE THESE BODIES INTO THE OVENS TO BE BURNED.  WE COULD STILL SEE REMNANTS OF HUMAN BONES IN THE OVENS.  THEN THE ASHES WERE TAKEN INTO THE BASEMENT WHERE THEY WERE STACKED.  WE WERE STANDING NEXT TO A PILE OF HUMAN ASHES OVER FOUR FEET HIGH.  WHAT AN AWFUL FEELING THAT GAVE US.

 

FEBRUARY 1946

CHAPLAIN BARKER, AND A FEW OF US CHAPELEERS  WENT TO 7th ARMY HEADQUARTERS TO CHECK THROUGH THE FILES FOR NEW RECRUITS FOR THE CHAPELEERS TO REPLACE TRANSFEREES.  WE ALSO WOULD GO TO THE VARIOUS CITIES SO WE COULD INTERVIEW THEM.  THROUGH THESE EFFORTS WE WERE ABLE TO BUILD OUR NUMBER BACK AGAIN.

 

MARCH 13 1946

NOLEN, MASTER OF CEREMONIES FOR THE SERVICE CLUB SHOW. 

 

MARCH 14-24 1946

CHAPELEERS TRANSFERRED TO HEIDLEBURG, GERMANY.  PREPARING FOR RADIO BROADCAST TO THE U. S. ON PROGRAM OF DEACTIVATION OF 7th ARMY.  ALSO PREPARING FOR MUSIC FESTIVAL, ARMY DAY, IN VIENNA, AUSTRIA APRIL 8, 1946.  GENERAL MARK CLARK  REQUESTED US TO SING "AVA MARIA" FOR THE FESTIVAL.  WE PRESENTED A SHOW FOR GENERAL KEYS AND HIS STAFF AT HIS FAREWELL BANQUET.  GENERAL McNARNEY, AND MANY OF THE GENERALS IN EUROPE WERE THERE.             

MARCH 31-APRIL 1946

CHAPELEERS LEFT FOR VIENNA, AUSTRIA.  STOPPED IN HEIDLEBERG TO SING FOR MORNING SERVICES.  NOLEN DIRECTED THE CHAPELEERS.

ON TO ULM, GERMANY WHERE WE STAYED OVER NIGHT. 

ON TO A TOWN NEAR MUNICH ON THE  AUTOBAHN. 

 ARRIVING IN AUSTRIA THROUGH THE RUSSIAN OCCUPIED SECTION AND TO SALZBURG.

THEN TO VIENNA WHICH WAS OCCUPIED BY FOUR COUNTRIES; AMERICA, RUSSIA, BRITAIN, AND FRANCE.  WHILE WE WERE THERE WE VISITED VIENNA WOODS, DANUBE RIVER, ST. STEVEN'S CATHEDRAL, AND OTHER KNOWN PLACES.

WE HAD SEVERAL REHEARSALS FOR THE ARMY DAY SHOW;  "YANKEE JUBIBLEE", PRESENTED BY THE UNITED STATES FORCES IN AUSTRIA SPECIAL SERVICE, ON APRIL 6 AND 7, 1946 AT THE REX THEATER.  THE CHAPELEERS OPENED THE SHOW WITH "WINTER SONG".  WE JOINED THE YANKEE JUBILEE CHORUS IN SINGING NEGRO SPIRITUALS IN ACT 5, "EASTER TIME".  ALSO, BACKED UP ESTHER RETHY IN "AVA MARIA".  THE CHAPELEERS JOINED THE ENTIRE CAST IN THE GRAND FINALE IN "AULD LANG SYNE".  THE SHOW WAS PRESENTED FOUR TIMES.  AT EACH PERFORMANCE THE THEATER WAS PACKED.  AT THE SECOND PERFORMANCE THE EVENING OF THE FIRST DAY, WE HAD A SPECIAL GUEST, GENERAL MARK W. CLARK. AFTER THE PERFORMANCE THE WHOLE CAST WAS ASKED TO REMAIN.  GENERAL CLARK CAME BACK STAGE AND THANKED AND CONGRATULATED US FOR THE SPLENDID PERFORMANCE.  HE SHOOK MY HAND AND GAVE ME A PERSONAL THANKS. 

 

MAY 1946