Playing a Role in the War: Music in World War II

Introduction:

            One never hears much of the role of music during World War II; the topics most commonly talked of include the holocaust, Pearl Harbor, atomic bombs and other deadly innovations and events of the time period. Rarely does the subject of music come up, and if it does, it’s only for the smallest sliver of a second. However, despite being overlooked, music played an influential role in Americans’ lives during World War II. It was developed as a medical therapy, played to soldiers on the front lines, as well as broadcasted on the radio to spread the good feelings that music brought to all who listened, on both the home front and abroad.(1) The role that music played in World War II laid the foundations for the development of the music therapy field. My research revealed that music did in fact play a significant role in the lives of soldiers both abroad and in their return home. Before, during and after World War II, music had a growing impact on troops, and it is this impact that has caused music therapy as a medical technique to grow dramatically since its establishment in World War II.

Methods:

This topic drew my attention from the very start, due to my connection with many of the songs from this time-period shared with me through my own grandfather. The basis of my research was a collection of letters from Howard Sarty, a World War II soldier. I transcribed seventy letters of Sarty’s, and through this close reading and analysis, I questioned whether this music that he mentioned, quite frequently, had a large impact on his deployment. Through my research, I was able to ascertain the depth of the role that music played even when so minorly mentioned in Sarty’s letters.(2) I also analyzed two books which focused on music therapy and its development during the era as well as its positive effect on the troops.(3) Other than the Sarty letters, I also studied a few other first-hand accounts including the account of a military band member who played on the front lines for the troops.(4) Lastly, I studied scholarly articles which analyzed the beginning of the music therapy profession during World War II, the role of music in sending “letter-like” messages to those at home and abroad, the growth of U.S. radio stations abroad during the war. (5)

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Photograph of a Women's Army Auxillary Corps band rehearsing music.

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Wedding photograph of Howard Sarty and his wife Yvette whom he wrote letters to.

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A copy of the letter containing the reference to the song "Ten Days With Baby."

Music Therapy:

Music therapy had its beginnings earlier than World War II: “Performing for soldiers in hospitals in the U.S. was not something new. Bands had been used in this venue since the American Civil War” (6). However, music therapy use and development grew significantly during this era. According to Annegret Fauser: “Music used in military hospitals during the war was the impetus for the music therapy profession.” (7) Through the development of the music therapy field, troops were better able to be reacclimated to civilian life: in one instance a badly burned soldier was able to overcome many of his psychological scars through his interaction with a Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) band upon his return. (8) With the growth of the use of WAAC bands and the use of music in hospitals alike, music impacted the lives of the troops in World War II. Songs that the soldiers listened to daily often held medicinal purposes as well.

Popular Songs of World War II:

Through the messages that the popular songs of this time-period portrayed to the listeners, troops were able to stay connected to home more easily. Songs of this era often had a war-focused theme, with songs like “Cleanin’ my Rifle (and Dreaming of You)” by Count Bassie and “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition” by Kay Kyser and his orchestra. Through the songs’ raging popularity they highlighted the feelings of the country about the war. Even the simple love songs of the time period held snippets of the war; for example, “Ten Days With Baby” by Benny Goodman and “It’s Been a Long Long Time” by Harry James Band and Kitty Kallen. While “Ten Days With Baby” specifically refers to furloughs and other military topics “It’s Been a Long Long Time” holds true to the idea of being separated for a long time and still hints at the war and the location of the man Kitty Kellan was singing about. Many if not most, of all of the love songs written during this time period stressed the long absences that often occurred between loved ones during the war, and helped bridge the gap that arose when letters were unable to travel fast enough. Howard Sarty, a soldier in World War II wrote to his wife “How’s my beautiful little wife to night? [sic] Gee I miss you more and more every day and about that song ‘Ten days with baby,’ I wish I could spend ten million days with Baby.” (9) This highlights how impactful the songs were in the lives of the troops as well as the civilians. Music reminded them of who they were fighting for and who they would return home to when the war was over, thus boosting their morale and encouraging the soldiers to work hard to end the war. (10)

Radio Abroad:

            When abroad as a soldier, radio was one of the surest ways to hear music and these popular songs. In Britain, the Americans even set up an American style radio station, much to the BBC’s dismay: “General Eisenhower, who had been appointed Commander-in-chief of the European Theatre of Operations, was well aware that with a huge army waiting months to go into action sustaining morale was essential. He believed that the voice from home would work wonders for the American forces assembling in Britain.” (11) This further enforces the idea that music and familiarity were essential to troops while they were abroad. Eisenhower realized the power of the radio and its ability to connect the troops and their loved ones at home. The broadcasting company established in Britain was known as the American Forces Network, and it eventually traveled to Germany with the masses of American soldiers when the front was on the move. (12) The radio was crucial to the movement of music from the recording studio to the soldiers abroad during the war. “Radio and modern science had drawn the world closer together and world events and great battles could be followed almost hourly.” (13) Without the technology developed during this time period and the music broadcasted over the radio to those abroad, World War II’s outcome could have been very different. However, this close connection of the troops to the “real world,” through music, kept them sane and could be seen as the beginning of music therapy.

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Photograph of Dave Brubeck Performing with the Wolf Pack Band in 1945.

Music on the Front Lines:

Aside from radio broadcasts, one of the most popular methods of entertainment while in the field were the military bands which were often created on a whim: “The Colonel in charge, who had heard me play, wanted me to form a band that would play for the men returning from the front. Called the Wolf Pack Band, we would play mostly swing tunes.” David Brubeck, the soldier retelling this memory, emphasizes the extent to which the armed forces went to keep music near the troops, especially those on the front lines. Brubeck often played in harsh conditions and often was located very near the front. At one point, he was even found ahead of the front and narrowly escaped with his life.(14)

Conclusion:

Music played an integral role in the lives of the soldiers. Not only were they kept distracted from the aspects of their daily lives in combat, but they were also greatly assisted by music upon their return from the war. With the development of the music therapy field at this time, one can see that the troops returning had a better, more positive outlook on life than in previous wars and music was a large contributor. Through the war-themed songs that were played on the radio abroad, as well as the WAAC bands and troop bands that were established during this time period, music defied the odds and brought close the soldiers and civilians in a way like never before. 

Author:  Christine Miller

Endnotes:

1. Dr. Jill B. Sullivan, “Music for the Injured Soldier: A Contribution of American Women’s Military Bands During World War II” Journal of Music Therapy 44, no. 3 (2007): 282. ; Dave Brubeck, Barbara Isenberg, “Musical Prayers” Time 163 (2004): 94. ; Patrick Morley, “Allies on the Airwaves” History Today 49.1 (1999): 28.

2. Howard Sarty, Letters of Howard Sarty, 1942-1945. Moorhead: Concordia College.

3. Dr. Annegret Fauser, Sounds of War (New York: Oxford University Press, 2013): Patrick Morley, “Allies on the Airwaves” History Today 49.1 (1999).

4. Ibid.

5. B. Lee Cooper, “From ‘Love Letters’ to ‘Miss You’: Popular Recordings, Epistolary Imagery, and Romance During War-Time, 1941-1945” Journal of American Culture 19 (1996): 16-26. Accessed October 9, 2015. doi: 9710253820.

6. Dr. Annegret Fauser, Sounds of War (New York: Oxford University Press, 2013), 127.

7. Ibid.

8. Dr. Jill B. Sullivan, “Music for the Injured Soldier: A Contribution of American Women’s Military Bands During World War II” Journal of Music Therapy 44, no. 3 (2007).

9. Howard Sarty, Letters of Howard Sarty, 1942-1945. Moorhead: Concordia College.

10. B. Lee Cooper, “From ‘Love Letters’ to ‘Miss You’: Popular Recordings, Epistolary Imagery, and Romance During War-Time, 1941-1945” Journal of American Culture 19 (1996): 16-26. Accessed October 9, 2015. doi: 9710253820.

11. Patrick Morley, “Allies on the Airwaves” History Today 49.1 (1999).

12. Ibid.

13. John Tasker Howard, George Kent Bellows, A Short History of Music in America (New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1957), 326.

14. Dave Brubeck, Barbara Isenberg, “Musical Prayers” Time 163 (2004): 94. 

Playing a Role in the War: Music in World War II