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From: Roger Hare
Validation: yhctskw
Date: 28 Oct 2005
Time: 22:21:17
Dear Maureen, your post could not have been more timely. As a Pearl Harbor historian, I have more than a passing interest in the attack and, of course, my Father's survival with Band 17 of the West Virginia. The poignancy of survival and your inquiry will become more apparent by the end of this post. First, the particulars of this bands creation. With war looming, the Navy knew more ships meant more bands needed.The class of "Band 17" was greatly expanded to be big enough for two bands; Band 17 and Band 18. The betting was Band 17 would be sent to the Arizona-a legendary "hot-shot" assignment. Well, Fred Kinney (Band Director and leader of Band 17/18) had friends aboard the Tennessee Band about to "rotate out" (remember, bands were assigned en mass and left together). Kinney had advance knowledge that half of the class would be assigned to the Tennesee, and desiring a berth on the Arizona, he arranged for "band 18" to switch Band numbers with the Tennessee. Now the Navy was satisfied their decision wasn't circumvented and Kinney had his assignment to the Arizona with the "cream" of Washington Naval School of Music's Class of '41. Tennesees band number? Band 22. Now you know why your Dad was close to Band 22 of the Arizona-he was one of them! So was my Father, Howard Hare; a drummer. Howard and Keith Hill actually were assigned and reported to the Arizona, only to be told they were "bumped" into the West Virgina band (Band 17). Of course, Band 17 was quartered in rooms situated around the forward magazine of the Arizona, but stories of them "sleeping late" are not correct. In the Navy, if you are a bandmember or the Queen of Sheeba, by God, you are getting up in response to "Battle-Stations"! The "Battle of the Bands" was not complete by Dec.7 1941, but after the attack, the competition was suspended and the Trophy awarded posthumously to Band 22 by popular sentiment-forever to be known as the "Arizona trophy". All ships bands without a billet (known as "orphan bands") were sent to code-breaking units. The Navy discovered that knowledge of music lends itself to the logic of code-breaking. Band 17 was the exception-it alone was kept intact to serve as the "House Band" for the Navy R & R oasis "The Breakers" of Honolulu. Here, the band flipped burgers, broke-up fights, and played with the likes of Artie Shaw (and other USO notables) for the wars duration. They also had a ring-side seat for hearing, first-hand, the awful, true story of the nature of the Pacific war-fresh from Vets returning from Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Iwo Jima. I'll hazard a guess and say your Father (like mine) was humble beyond belief when it came to telling their Pearl Harbor stories. They knew who the real "heroes" were, and it was the men who never came home. My Father always said they never gave medals for being "scared to death". It wasn't until later years that I discovered the real story of his and the band's survival. Howard had heart problems over the past 20 years. He retired with my Mother to Naples, Florida. Doctors "signed-off" on him two weeks ago, saying there was no more that they could do for him and he was moved back to his familiar bedroom to die at home. We were called and told to get down there as fast as possible, but hurricane Wilma shut-down the whole area-no flights in or out. My Son-in-Law and I filled a pick-up truck with a generator, chainsaws and cans of gas. We drove to Naples from Syracuse in 24 hours. The only thing we knew was they had both been evacuated to a downtown shelter. We arrived just as the storm left. Naples was a direct hit and a sight I'll never forget. The shelter was kind enough to provide my Mom and Dad with a private room. He died alone with my Mother just as the "eye" approached Naples. Leave it to an "old Salt" to exit on a whirlwind. Only hours late, I made sure my Mothers condo was cleared of downed trees and installed a generator so she would have some comforts as she returned, alone, to their beloved retirement home. Returning only hours ago, I found your email message, but decided to share my reply with others interested in this ship and a most amazing generation. Now that you know more about our Fathers and the incredible luck and coincidences that led to our existence, we can only wonder how lucky we are to be here today. We'll certainly never see their likes again. Sincerely, Roger Hare rogerghare@webtv.net