Reprinted from war on terror news -MsMarti. Copyright 2008-2009 All rights reserved.
Posted by MsMarti - on March 04, 2009 at 04:03
Born June 10, 1923 in Woodriver, Illinois, William Bernard Arter was destined to live forever in a song.
As a young man, William tried out for a spot on the St. Louis Cardinals as a second baseman. He was told to report for spring training, but never made it there. Instead he was drafted into the Army as a bugler into the Medical Unit of Company B.
Most everyone has heard "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy", a song written and later recorded on January 2, 1941 by the Andrew Sisters.
BILL ARTER, "BOOGIE WOOGIE BUGLE BOY": As I played songs and played all my calls, I would go over to Company C, which was an all black outfit, and we had our jam sessions. And that's when they nicknamed me the "Bugle Boy from Company B," because I fit that -- I fit that like a glove, you know. THOMPSON: Bill was discovered by the Andrews Sisters while he was in basic training. He took his music with him when he was deployed with a third wave of troops on D-Day. As a World War II medic, he cared for wounded soldiers but says he spread even more healing through his music. ARTER: It's something you can't tell people about, because they wouldn't understand. But it seemed like whatever I played, I played to entertain them, just to keep their mind off what they were going to go through next. We didn't know what was up there in front of us.
William Bernard Arter went on to earn 5 Bronze Stars through the course of his military career as an Army medic. In the heat of the battle, who goes out to the wounded? The medics do. On the beaches of Normandy, he earned one of those 5 Bronze Stars during the D-Day Invasion. William turned twenty-one while he was there.
After the war, he moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma where he met his future bride, Lois. They were married for 52 years and had 4 daughters, 3 sons, 11 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren!
In Okmulgee, Oklahoma William and Lois built a Christian retreat. William continued playing his trumpet at church, military funerals and social events. On their 40th wedding anniversary, he made a special recording of music for his wife. When he became unable to play the trumpet because of a problem with his hand he didn’t let that stop him. William taught himself to play his trumpet with his other hand and continued on with his music.
Last year William Arter attended a Medal of Honor ceremony, and what did he have in his hand? You would be correct if you guessed his trumpet.
On February 4, 2009 William (Bill) Arter passed away at his home in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma surrounded by his family, as they sang the song, “When the Saints go marching in.” Later, his son James played Taps as the family did a flag presentation in his honor at their home.
Bill was about 4 things… God, Family, Country, Music.
Born June 10, 1923 in Woodriver, Illinois, William Bernard Arter was destined to live forever in a song.
As a young man, William tried out for a spot on the St. Louis Cardinals as a second baseman. He was told to report for spring training, but never made it there. Instead he was drafted into the Army as a bugler into the Medical Unit of Company B.
Most everyone has heard "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy", a song written and later recorded on January 2, 1941 by the Andrew Sisters.
BILL ARTER, "BOOGIE WOOGIE BUGLE BOY": As I played songs and played all my calls, I would go over to Company C, which was an all black outfit, and we had our jam sessions. And that's when they nicknamed me the "Bugle Boy from Company B," because I fit that -- I fit that like a glove, you know. THOMPSON: Bill was discovered by the Andrews Sisters while he was in basic training. He took his music with him when he was deployed with a third wave of troops on D-Day. As a World War II medic, he cared for wounded soldiers but says he spread even more healing through his music. ARTER: It's something you can't tell people about, because they wouldn't understand. But it seemed like whatever I played, I played to entertain them, just to keep their mind off what they were going to go through next. We didn't know what was up there in front of us. CNN transcript
William Bernard Arter went on to earn 5 Bronze Stars through the course of his military career as an Army medic. In the heat of the battle, who goes out to the wounded? The medics do. On the beaches of Normandy, he earned one of those 5 Bronze Stars during the D-Day Invasion. William turned twenty-one while he was there.
After the war, he moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma where he met his future bride, Lois. They were married for 52 years and had 4 daughters, 3 sons, 11 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren!
In Okmulgee, Oklahoma William and Lois built a Christian retreat. William continued playing his trumpet at church, military funerals and social events. On their 40th wedding anniversary, he made a special recording of music for his wife. When he became unable to play the trumpet because of a problem with his hand he didn’t let that stop him. William taught himself to play his trumpet with his other hand and continued on with his music.
Last year William Arter attended a Medal of Honor ceremony, and what did he have in his hand? You would be correct if you guessed his trumpet.
On February 4, 2009 William (Bill) Arter passed away at his home in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma surrounded by his family, as they sang the song, “When the Saints go marching in.” Later, his son James played Taps as the family did a flag presentation in his honor at their home.
Bill was about 4 things… God, Family, Country, Music.
the dna of life passed from father to son
Here below, stand two men from different generations, both heroes in their own right.
And now, the words to the song "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy."
He was a famous trumpet man from old Chicago way
He had a boogie style that no one else could play
He was the top man at his craft
But then his number came up and he was gone with the draft
He's in the army now, a-blowin' reveille
He's the boogie-woogie bugle boy of Company B
They made him blow a bugle for his Uncle Sam
It really brought him down, because he couldn't jam
The Captain seemed to understand
Because the next day the Cap' went out and drafted a band
And now the company jumps when he plays reveille
He's the boogie-woogie bugle boy of Company B
A-toot a-toot, a-toot diddle-ee-ada-toot
He blows it eight to the bar - in boogie rhythm
He can't blow a note unless the bass and guitar
Is playin' with 'im
He makes the company jump when he plays reveille
He's the boogie-woogie bugle boy of Company B
He was the boogie-woogie bugle boy of Company B
And when he plays boogie-woogie bugle
He's as busy as a bzz bee
And when he plays he makes the company jump eight to the bar
He's the boogie-woogie bugle boy of Company B
Toot toot toot, toot diddle-ee-ada-toot-diddle-ee-ada, toot toot
He blows it eight to the bar
He can't blow a note
If the bass and guitar isn't with 'im
A-and the company jumps when he plays reveille
He's the boogie-woogie bugle boy of Company B
He puts the boys to sleep with boogie every night
And wakes them up the same way in the early bright
They clap their hands and stamp their feet
Because they know how he plays
When someone gives him a beat
He really breaks it up when he plays reveille
He's the boogie-woogie bugle boy of Company B
Da-da, da-do-da-da
Da-da, da-do-da-da
Da-da, da-do-da-da
Da-da, da-do-da
A-and the company jumps when he plays reveille
He's the boogie-woogie bugle boy of Company B
I want to thank Sgt. TJ Edwards for guiding me in the right direction. Had it not been for an email of his, I would never have known who William Arter was, and that would have been a shame.
So the next time you hear this catchy tune, think not just of the song, but of William B. Arter, may he never be forgotten! Rest in peace Bill. God Bless!
No comments:
Post a Comment