Cecil D Wallace, Sr. and WWII

Renee brought to my attention that Cecil Wallace, Sr. served during WWII. He enlisted in 1944 for the duration of the war, and his grave stone says,

PFC 179 AGF Band 

World War II

Translating the acronyms, you get: "Private First Class 179 Army Ground Forces Band."

He and his family must have been proud of his service.

I wasn't able to find much information online about the Army Ground Forces Band that Cecil was in--it appears that there were many bands serving during WWII, but only a few big, well organized ones. I couldn't find enough information to decipher what the inscription on his gravestone meant.

According to US Army Element, School of Music,

"The Army Band performed at countless Red Cross and USO dances and played concerts for civilians. Of all the premier bands in Washington DC, The Army Band is the only one to ever perform in a theater of foreign combat operations."

I believe I remember hearing that his preferred instrument was the cornet.

Cecil's daughter Kathleen remembers,

"He did not go overseas.

I have no idea how long he was in the army.  He had felt it was his duty to serve.  He was in the infantry, but later when they learned he was a musician, he was in the band.  I know nothing about concerts given or the like.

I don't remember him ever telling any experiences, but obviously since he didn't leave the USA he didn't see combat.  I do remember him telling about crawling under barbed wire with live ammo fired over their head during training.

Nor do I know if the war had much affect on his life afterward.  He had been a music teacher before the service, and was a music teacher at another school (in the same county) after.

I cried after every furlough when he had to return.  Mom put on a good front, and kept our home pretty normal."

Lucy and Cecil (probably circa 1927, when they were first married)

Cecil with music students.