European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 14, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                He to Prague the 3rd army div band storms the City Sis Geisy Komarey staff Sta. Tom , and cat Cain Lead tha crowd in emphatic rendition of the Quot Beer barrel polka Quot in Prague a St Wenceala Square. By Gary Pomeroy staff writer my. Bright smile spread across the face of 85-year-old Jan Kreci As the sounds of the brass band m echoed through the Crisp autumn air. The 3rd army div band was blasting out the first notes of the upbeat marching tune foot lifter and immediately the crowd of czech citizens began to grow. Kreci and the other Prague residents gathered on the Plaza in front of the intercontinental hotel were witnessing the first . Army band to play in the City since world War ii. Quot i am very Happy the americans Are Here Quot said Kreci. Seconds later the 32-member band began its procession Down Paris Street toward old town Square. Kreci Dapper in a three piece Wool suit and narrow billed Cap followed slowly determined to keep within ear shot. As he walked with the Aid of a wooden Cane he recounted How the americans had been friends of the czechoslovak people Quot through world War i world War ii and the persian  As the band blared its Way Down the two Long City blocks onlookers gathered on All sides. Stores emptied people waved from fourth floor windows and american flags appeared. Quot i am glad the americans Are Here a Kreci repeated As he lagged behind. In the Square the band was greeted by hundreds of enthusiastic people including the 65-member Prague Garrison band which had visited Frankfurt Germany in july. For 40 minutes it was party time As the two groups took turns playing. The americans wailed new Orleans jazz John Phillip Sousa marches and Glenn Miller swing. The czech military band countered with traditional czech tunes and the Beer barrel polka. The crowd responded with Street dancing and tears. A norwegian tourist sobbed As she watched the scene. Quot it reminds me of nov. 8, 1945,�?� said the woman As the army band played Glenn Milter s in the mood pc had the germans for five years you  look at them a she said pointing at the excited crowd while wiping away tears. Quot they Are allowed to be free it touches me very  sgt. Tony Moore a trombone player said that prior to the visit he had not known much about Czechoslovakia. Quot but i Felt proud marching Down that Street a said the native of Salem Ala. The enthusiastic scene in old town Square was repeated five times in other locations Over three Days. That first afternoon the band played to about 300 elderly citizens in a Long and narrow auditorium in the health spa resort town of pod Brady 40 Miles East of Prague. Spec. Victor Martinez was caught off guard by the emotional response in pod Brady. As he played his saxophone he noticed a woman crying in the front Row. Quot it affects you Quot said the 27-year-old Soldier. Later the band moved outside to play three tunes for the scores of others who had been peering through windows. One woman who waited outside said she was a teen Ager when her family sheltered an american Pilot for nine months after he was shot Down by the germans in world War ii. Permela Sedivak said she kept in touch with him until 1948 when the communists clamped Down on International mail. This was her first Contact with americans since she Learned Many years ago that the Pilot had died. The band took Sedivak Back about 45 years. Quot i am so Happy to see so Many Young american boys Quot she said. A the reception amazed me Quot said staff sgt. Tom Harper. It reminded him of performances at world War ii reunions in France and Belgium. Quot it was like they were saying a where were you you be been away so Long Quot a it definitely was t a typical Job said sgt. Tyrone Starks a Nashville tenn., native who plays both the tuba and trombone Quot every time somebody mentioned Freedom they got  and when they weren t playing the americans were subjects of interest. Quot in the stores people followed us and asked to take our pictures Quot Starks said. Moore noted however there seemed to be an undercurrent of Reserve in the audiences. Quot some people looked real Happy to see us but yet they were afraid to respond Quot said the 32-year-old. Quot in a couple of years maybe they la let Loose. Hopefully we gave them a sense of . For All the suffering the czechoslovak people have endured Over the years Moore said Quot you figure you owe them  spec. Me bums left and Jarl Lexa a Prague military band member play a last minute tune before the 3rd army div band boards the Bua for Frankfurt the 3rd army div band converges with the Prague Garrison band above while sgt Tony Moore below dances with a czech citizen. My for a amps Matthew staring Millers Melody lingers Onby Gary Pomeroy staff writer to members of the 3rd army div band its no. 36. It s always the next to last song in a concert and it tells the band that it is almost time to Stow the 7,000 pounds of equipment into the truck and move on to another Job to europeans it is much More. It is in the mood and when europeans hear it they dance they cry they remember. Quot it brings them Back a said chief warrant officer 3 Paul Clark the 3rd army div bandmaster. Quot it s the first american music we heard Quot during world War ii said Horst longer a German citizen who was deep into the beat As the 3rd army div band played at. Prague Castle on oct 2. Quot that s Why it s popular Quot plus he added Quot its got a Good beat Quot in the mood was Witten by Andy Razaf and Joe Garland in 1938 and recorded the same year by Edgar Hayes and his orchestra Glenn Miller made it a no. 1 hit m 1940 a year Laler Miller and his orchestra played the song in the movie Sun Valley serenade which featured norwegian figure skater Sonja Henie. Miller joined the army air corps in 1942 to perform for the troops and was Given the rank of Captain on dec. 15. 1944, his plane disappeared during a flight from England to Paris. No Trace  plane or Crew was found. The song has been recorded three times since then in 1959 by Ernie Fields 1974 by Bette Midler and 1977 by the Henhouse five plus too. Staff sgt. Michael Jones has played the song on his saxophone about 3,500 times from England to Iraq in ins 17 years with the 3rd army div band. Quot it s probably one of the Good things that came out of world War ii Quot said the Tallulah Al native noting thai the germans Are particularly enthusiastic. Quot i never get tired of their reaction Quot he said Well almost never. A we played it four times one night. They would not let us go. My chops were burned. If it moves the audience i m not going to get tired of  he recalled a different Type of audience movement a he described his strangest performance of the song the location was the Border Between saudi Arabia an a Iraq in late february As the signal was Given to launch the desert storm ground offensive. As 3rd army div tanks and trucks poured across the Border the band did its own blasting away. In full chemical gear. Quot we got some looks a Jones said. During the band s visit to Prague the City s Deputy mayor dirt Exner said Quot the music of Glenn Miller is very Good army  Jones agreed. Quot As Long As there s an army band Quot he said the song will be  that old czech favorite Quot in the mood Quot has Mem dancing on the paving stones at Prague Castle. For a amps malt How Sterling Page 14 b the stars and stripes monday october 14, 1991 the stars and stripes b Page 15