Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael
Lance Cpl. Carla Perez Ramirez
(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brian Bolin Jr.)
Lance Cpl. Preston Morris
Lance Cpl. Dominic Trujillo
The 2nd Marine Division Band provides music on behalf of the Commandant of the Marine Corps and the Commanding General, 2d Marine Division for official Department of War approved functions, military ceremonies, official civic functions and community relations events. Their performances demonstrate Marine Corps discipline, professionalism, values and traditions to all audiences.
At the start of the conflict, Marine bands were organized at the post and regiment level. The first band to see combat in the Pacific was the 8th Marine Regiment Band on the shores of Guadalcanal. Following the battle, the 2nd Marine Division Band was formed in 1942 from surviving elements of the 2nd, 6th, and 8th Marine Regiment Bands in Wellington, New Zealand. To bolster morale, the larger band gave troops and locals on liberty a full-sized American jazz band to liven up the local dance halls and watering holes. In addition to Guadalcanal, 2nd Marine Division Musicians were present at the battles of Tarawa, Tinian, Wake Island, and Saipan.
Capt. Bobby Troup, actor and musician-turned wartime Marine Corps Officer, was assigned to train Marines at Montford Point. Doing additional duty as the Recreation Officer, he led shows in the Jacksonville area featuring prominent African American musicians who enlisted to fight, such as Pvt. Finis Henderson and Sgt. Joe Wilder. Troup's song "Jacksonville" became the unofficial anthem of the Marines of Montford Point. In 1944, Troup took command of the 6th Depot Company in Saipan.
The first and only all-female Marine Corps Band was organized on Camp Lejeune from 1942 to 1945. Their mission was to tour the United States and raise money for the war effort. Under the direction of Charlotte Plummer Owens, they performed 27 concerts, 15 parades, three live broadcasts and dozens of dance hall shows. Their most successful concert tour raised $7 million in war bonds. Their final performance was leading the 1945 Victory Parade for Adm. Chester Nimitz in Washington.
During the Korean and Vietnam wars, the 2nd Marine Division Band did not deploy as a complete unit. Musicians were however regularly tasked as military police, litter bearers, and security forces. From 1948-1952, legendary Dixieland trumpeter Sgt Robert "Smokey" Stover was the lead chair trumpet at the 2nd Marine Division and went on to perform with Louis Armstrong.
In 1991, the 2nd Marine Division Band saw combat action as part of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Following the conflict, they performed in the Washington victory parade led by Gen. Norman Schwartzkopf.