Recollections - June 2010 Photos Revealed
BOLLING AFB, D.C. --
I do believe the two men in this photo are William "Red" Brower and John Hickox, former Singing Sergeants. On many, many tours, they augmented the crew, driving the trucks, loading/unloading equipment and setting-up/tearing down the stage(s).
- Chief Master Sergeant (Ret.) Glenda Shepela, USAF
Several USAF Band Alumni wrote to me in the last few months and mentioned Senior Master Sergeant William "Red" Brower in their email. Many suggested that I contact him and get his perspective on his time in The Singing Sergeants. After doing some research, which almost always means contacting Chief Master Sergeant (Ret.) Harry Gleeson, I discovered that we didn't live too far apart. Last month, Mr. Brower graciously welcomed me and my family into his home for a visit.
We spent the morning looking over historical photographs. He recounted his years in The Singing Sergeants, where he was the Noncommissioned Officer in charge from 1959 until 1971. We also listened to a recording of him singing a duet with Glenn Darwin from years ago. Before I left, he gave me an autographed copy of his autobiography, which I read immediately. Filled with photographs and memorable stories, I was able to truly get a take on his years in The USAF Band. This is an excerpt from his book:
In 1951, I spent 53 days on an American Good Will Tour of war torn Europe with The USAF Band. In those 53 days we gave 44 concerts in 10 countries. Everywhere we went was total devastation, all this had happened in 14 years.
Our commander, Colonel Howard, was determined to play a concert in the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. On June 25, 1951, we played a concert to 130,000 Berliners. According to the locals, it was the first time the stadium had ever been voluntarily filled, plus each person had paid a small entrance fee to go to the rebuilding of a hospital.
The concert was a huge success, but only after we had regained our composure. When we finished the overture we expected applause, instead, silence and then the stadium began to light up with matches, cigarette lighters and flashlights. But still no sound, then it dawned on us, this was the locals' way of thanking our pilots as they flew over, delivering supplies to keep them alive, and now, us, for bringing them much needed entertainment.
- Around the World in Ninety Years by Bill Brower
I'm so glad our readers suggested I meet with Senior Master Sergeant (Ret.) William "Red" Brower. It was truly my privilege to hear about his time with The Singing Sergeants and The United States Air Force Band. While many things have changed since his years in the Band, the mission remains the same--musical service to our country.