World War II Service with the 13th Army Airborne Band

(1943-1946)

Oscar Stover was drafted into the Army during World War II in 1943. Letters of Reference from Kansas State Teachers College for Stover indicate he attempted to join an Army Band Organization. Based on these references, it appears Mr. Stover did not attend basic training, rather reported directly to Florida where his CO (Allen Baggett) took over charge of necessary training. The band played both stage band shows and traditional park concerts in both the U.S. and Europe. The group moved between Florida, the Carolinas, New Jersey and finally to the European Theater in late 1944 or early 1945. Pictures in Stover's scrapbooks show that the group was stationed in Joigny, Chartres and Paris. The stage band performed in Paris on May 7, 1945 and they took pictures of the celebration on May 8.  He remained in the Army until 1946, though the President of Kansas State Teachers College asked the Army for his immediate de-mobilization in October 1945 to allow Stover to return to his teaching career in Pittsburg, Kansas. 

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These videos are from the original drobnakbrass website. They are a bit lengthy, but contain most of the photographs found in the archives.