THE GALLOPING GHOST
BY
Bill Brinkley
(Stars and Stripes Naval Writer)
June 17, 1944

ABOARD THE GALLOPING SHOST ---
SWING AMMUNITION

This cruiser’s band doubles in brass and 40MM ammunition. There was the time, for example, when a considerable piece of enemy shrapnel went through the shoe and part of the foot of Tweed Shedden, a musician second class from Salina, Kan., and bull fiddler, while he was engaged as loader.
When not on watch or rehearsing, members of the band can be found some distance below decks in the band compartment in what is called with a combination of grimness and a remote touch of fondness, “Torpedo Junction.”

A phonograph was grinding out some swing music. The band boys listened with a professional ear.
“We were organized at the Navy School of Music in Washington with all of us signed up for six years in the regular Navy,” said Richard Sowell, Jr., 22-year-old musician first class from the Bronx.

Sowell, who is handsome, red-haired and lead trumpet man, went on to explain that the band’s duties besides concerts, colors, physical drills, dances and such occasionally include playing for the loading of ammunition on the ship, the idea being that the men can load better in rhythm to a waltz or a Sousa march.
The band once gave a public concert in Casablanca especially for the natives, probably the first concert in history given them by a U.S. Navy band. They had the Arabs jumping with jive says Blackwood. Besides the Arabs, the band has played for Italians and French.
“We have played for everyone but the Germans,” said Blackie with a sly twinkle in his eye, “and we hope to play for them soon.”