WWII vet Littlejohn recounts how music took him around the world
By Lissa Greiner
When Bill Littlejohn bought his first baritone as a junior in high school, he had no idea it would eventually take him around the world to perform - including for the queen of England.
But that's exactly what happened, said Littlejohn, now 93, in a recent interview with Decorah Newspapers.
Born in Oskaloosa in 1916, Littlejohn's family moved to Ottumwa when he was just eight years old.
"I got my first horn when I was a junior at Ottumwa High School - it was a baritone," he remembered.
After graduating from high school in 1933, Littlejohn did stints at a restaurant and delivered papers before taking a job as an instrument-repair technician and salesman at Art Reifsnyder's Music Shop in Ottumwa.
Answering the call
While Littlejohn enjoyed his work at the music store, his life changed when fellow Ottumwan Joe Little, a drum major in the Army, told Littlejohn he was looking for a few good musicians to help entertain the troops.
"He knew of me and asked me if I would consider joining," said Littlejohn.
So in 1940, Littlejohn joined the National Guard's 133rd band, which was stationed in Fairfield. He and his unit stayed there until February of 1941, when the division was called to join the Army.
"We headed for Camp Claiborne, La. as an Army unit. We stayed there for 10 months, until Pearl Harbor," said Littlejohn.
While stationed in Louisiana, Littlejohn and his group played for the troops as they marched in formation.
"We played every morning and sometimes in the evening," said Littlejohn.
"I remember one Fourth of July we played in Baton Rouge. We were the first Yankee troops to play in a state that had been part of the southern confederacy."
The war begins
One night following a concern, Littlejohn heard the news the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor.
"The next morning at 2 a.m., they shipped us out for New Orleans for guard duty, where we stayed for two weeks," said Littlejohn.
Their mission was to protect the country's oil supplies in the port of New Orleans.
After returning to Camp Claiborne, the 133rd was on its way to Camp Dix, NJ, to await passage to Ireland.
Going abroad
In January, the group of musicians from Fairfield arrived in Ireland, and were soon invited to England.
"Our travels included playing for the queen at the Palladium in London," said Littlejohn.
"We also attended the opening of the American Red Cross in London, where we got the chance to see Col. Dwight Eisenhower. Joe Little later got acquainted with him, and he (Eisenhower) invited us to his headquarters. Unfortunately, the Army wouldn't transfer us," remembered Littlejohn.
After England, the 133rd left for Limovady, Ireland, where they remained for approximately one year, before heading to Africa.
"I remember as we docked in Oran, (Africa) being rammed by another boat. It was friendly - an accident. We got of fthe boat and the next day it sank," said Littlejohn.
Peacemakers
Littlejohn recounted that after arriving in French-occupied Oran, the band stayed for about a month.
Every night, the American band played in a parade, "just to make peace with the French."
"We also had the opportunity to have lunch with the French Foreign Legion - we were the only American outfit to ever have that opportunity," he said. "During that time, we traded one of our snare drums for one of their drums. I still have it today."
After a month of peacemaking, the band members were sent to the field, either as guards or litterbearers.
"During this time, we got word that another band, the 168th, was captured and taken prisoners of war," he said.
The 34th Division, now comprised of both the 133rd and 135th (or what was left of them), now combined to form the Rhythm Majors Dance Band.
"I remember right after the war ended, they sent us to Tunisia to play in a parade. We hadn't played our instruments in about four months," he said.
Strange discovery
After Tunisia, the band was sent for some rest and relaxation before being stationed near the Mediterranean Sea.
"I remember one day we saw a rubber dingy floating in the sea. We waded out to it, about a quarter of a mile, and brought it in. It had obviously belonged to an aviator, and in the dingy was an oar, a map of Italy and part of his chocolate bar," remembered Littlejohn. "We found his dog tags and turned them in, but we never did find out what happened to him."
On to Italy
Next, the 34th was sent to Anzio, Italy for about three months, where they were stationed near a hospital.
"The hospital was bombed, killing three nurses. The last bomb that dropped was about 50 yards from our camp," said Littlejohn.
Soon after the Army was running out of troops, and called in the band to serve as litterbearers once again.
"It was during that time I had my closest call, when we were bombed at night and shrapnel cut the legs off the cot I was sleeping on," said Littlejohn.
Other close calls
Littlejohn recounted other close calls in Africa, like the time the band lost many of its instruments during a bombing.
There was also the time when he was on guard duty that a horse got tangled up in the wires of his tent, causing Littlejohn to fire his gun, waking up the whole camp.
"I thought it was the enemy," he said.
Coming home
By the time the war ended, Littlejohn had spent 3.5 years overseas, having the opportunity to entertain troops in the field, hospitals, rest camps, troop stations and more.
"In 1945, I returned home and took advantage of the GI bill, and decided to go to the University of Iowa," said Littlejohn.
Once again, it would be music which led Littlejohn on another journey, to find his wife, Martha.
In 1945, Bill and Martha met in the University of Iowa marching band, before dating for a year and marrying in 1946.
Professional life
Martha, a trombone player, graduated from the University of Iowa with a bachelor of music, and Bill achieved his masters in education in 1951.
The husband-and-wife team landed in Lovilla, Iowa, where Martha taught music and Bill taught business education. Several years later, the couple moved to Ainsworth, where Bill served his first years as a superintendent.
In 1960, the couple settled north of Decorah after Bill was hired as the first superintendent of North Winneshiek School.
"Four years later, I retired from education to go into farming, and I've been farming ever since," said Bill.
Still playing
And after 63 years of marriage, the Littlejohns still enjoy making music together.
Today they get together each Wednesday evening with like-minded musicians to play in the Fort Atkinson Community Band, performing for such venues as Czech Days in Protivin.
