ENMS Memories: 1964-65 Band

[Four members of the illustrious 1964-65 ENMS Band at the 2002 ENMS Reunion. Left to Right: Gary (bass drum), Larry (snare drum), Fred (bugle), and Bob (snare drum & band leader).]

The company of cadets that made up the ENMS senior school was identified as "A Company, 167th Battalion" of the California Cadet Corp. In 1965, it comprised 210 cadets, ranging from 1st through 12th grades. This included a company staff of four leading a color guard, five platoons (including the junior school platoon), and -- THE BAND! [Prior to going to ENMS, my brother and I had taken several years of music lessons learning how to play the Baldwin organ. Actually, my parents bought the organ for my sister and she didn't want to take lessons so they gave me and my brother lessons and I eventually ended up learning how to play it rather well. So, when we went to ENMS, I couldn't wait to keep up my involvement in music in some way and requested to join the band. I wasn't as interested in learning how to play the bugle or the symbols or the glockenspiel as I was the drums. I'd listened to my share of rock and roll and soul music on the radio and felt my calling to be a drummer. So, during the first half of the 1963-64 year, I played snare drum. Then, about half way through the year, the bass drummer asked if anyone wanted to switch with him and I did and really digged it. I must have made more noise at ENMS than anyone else beating the heck out of that big bass drum every day. Unknowingly, this probably was very therapeutic for me and the more I think about it, making the amount of noise that we all did in practice and on the parade fields and marching in a few Southern California area parades, the ENMS band experience was probably very therapeutic for every band member as well. Maybe that's why we had so much fun. And, because we enjoyed playing our band instruments, we all excelled at it.] My band experience significantly took off during my second year when a new student by the name of Larry arrived (above photo). I believe Larry was in the 11th grade and he was immediately assigned to the band because he happened to be a professional drummer. No kidding, he had taken professional drum lessons for years and was the drummer in his brother's popular Southern California rock and roll band (name slips me). His brother's band played at one of our school dances. In fact the first time I heard "Satisfaction" by the Rolling Stones was Larry's brother's band playing it at the dance. And, if memory serves me, Larry had been a drummer for a one-hit-wonder song that had been playing on the radio at the time. Somewhere in the back of my mind I'm also thinking Larry was called upon to substitute for an ill drummer of one of the super groups of the time (Stones?). Larry's skills were so jaw-dropping good that he set the standard for the band's over all performance level. I remember him giving a lengthy drum solo performance at the Easter brunch that was absolutely spellbinding. Larry taught us drummers new cadences and how to twirl our sticks between our fingers without dropping them. Because he was such a pro, we strived to be the best we could be to help support his skill level. At the end of the school year, I can honestly say the ENMS Band was an extremely competent drum and bugle corp and much of the credit goes to Larry.

[The two pictures to the left show bugler Fred posing in ranks as cadet David took the reins on the bass drum for me so I could take this picture. Cadet Bob is playing snare drum in first drum row center. This was the 1963-64 ENMS band lead by cadet SGT John P. -- 2nd photo. John P. was a fabulous band leader. When he did not return for the 1964-65 school year, Bob did a fantastic job as band leader. In the video below, you'll see the 1964-65 ENMS band under Bob's leadership. I'm on bass drum and Larry is to my left. Can you find Fred?]

ENMS Memories: 1965 Commencement

If you go back to the very first post on this blog, you'll see a picture of my family before my younger brother and I went to ENMS. Younger brother is the one in the foreground. Now, fast forward to this movie/video, which is the second and final year at ENMS for me and him and you'll see him standing on the podium delivering a rather complex 6th grade valedictorian speech on -- of all topics -- "Perseverance." Steve graduated from the Junior school as the platoon leader and junior school cadet officer. Something magical happened to my brother during his two years at ENMS as this movie/video demonstrates. When others start to believe in you, somehow you start believing in yourself and start to exceed all expectations. I wonder what younger brother might have achieved in the Senior school had he been able to attend?

ENMS Memories: Drill Team 1964-65

Looking real sharp cadets!

The Kennedy Assassination: November 22, 1963

November 22, 1963 started out as just another "normal" day at school. Between periods, we were allowed to go to the rest room ("the head"--we called it) and stop by the drinking fountain for a slurp of water. I recollect it was around the 10 am break time when I left Mr. Michaud's (a great teacher) 7th grade classroom at the far western corner of the school building for a drink. On my way, I passed an upper classman with a portable transistor radio up to his ear and he said in an astonished manner, "I just heard the president's been shot." I thought maybe he was just pulling my leg or something -- as many cadets often did to one another -- especially upper to lower classmen. However, the tone of his voice wasn't joking. After getting back to class, I informed Mr. Michaud what I had learned and he was so taken by the news that he decided to check it out for himself by making a quick visit to the principal's office. He left the classroom and we watched him quickly walk out of sight. Then, in less than a half a minute he walked back into class and said, "Well, it must be true. The President's dead." Because he had returned to class so fast, we knew he didn't get to the principal's office and someone asked, "How do you know?" Pointing to the parade field outside the window he said, "The flag is at half mast." [The ENMS band immediately heard from the continuous radio and television coverage of the assassination a "funeral" drum cadence being played everywhere. So, we practiced this drum cadence and when it came time for an ENMS funeral ceremony out of respect for the fallen President, we were able to play this cadence almost exactly as we heard it played on radio and television, which added tremendous authenticity to the ceremony I believe was held the Sunday following the assassination on the parade field after they had already burried President JFK.] The photo on the left came from the 1964 Yearbook (p. 38) and I believe that is me sitting on the top of the cabinets in the middle of two other cadets watching television during some down time. However, that is the TV we all watched the JFK funeral coverage on and saw Lee Harvey Oslwald get shot by Jack Ruby -- as it happened! Now imagine placing 100 plus cadets around this TV trying to get a glimpse of the JFK situation. That's where I got in trouble and earned nine (9) dimerits just prior to the Thanksgiving break. Had I gotten 10 dimerits, I would have been campused and not allowed to go home for Thanksgiving holiday. You see, out of frustration, I lost self control and flipped someone the bird who yelled at me to sit down as I was trying to manuever for a better position to watch the TV coverage. Someone of higher authority saw me and wrote me up. [I don't believe during the two years I was at ENMS this TV was ever replaced. This TV brought us current events and popular culture that seemed to be exploding. We couldn't wait to grab a Bubble Up and a Mallo Cup and gather around to watch shows like American Bandstand, Shindig and Hullabaloo where we saw real time performances like Sonny and Cher, the Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, the Rightous Brothers, James Brown, you name it. We also saw the British Invasion with such groups like the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Moody Blues, Dave Clark 5, etc. We watched it all on this little old black and white TV with rabbit ears.]

ENMS Memories: Sunday Parade October 1963

If you were not campused (see post on demerits), you were eligible to join your family or friends or just by yourself and leave the campus on Sunday pass. Often, I'd take my junior school brother out for a snack and we'd call our parents "collect" from a phone booth. However, before you left the campus around 11 am, several activities transpired. First, after the bugle woke us up and we made it to formation and went into mess for breakfast, then we reformed and went to Sunday worship service. The Protestants convened in the mess hall while anyone Catholic or Jewish was shuttled in the school bus into Elsinore for services. After worship services, we all then quickly got ready for Sunday inspection in our dress blues. Then, after inspection, we reformed and then were released. Those who had approved Sunday passes got to leave the campus. Those who were campused or didn't put in for Sunday pass, stayed back where they just took it easy and did things like play in the gym, read, nap, walk around campus listening to music, etc. Those that were campused, unless they had tours to march off, did likewise. Then, around 3:30 pm those on pass would trickle back to campus in their dress blues and then around 4 pm we'd all get ready for the Sunday afternoon parade. The parade began with the band first arriving on the field sounding cadence. This was followed by the cadet company commander and his staff and the color guard and then the platoons in order of senior school first, second, third, and fourth platoon and junior school fifth platoon. Of course, Colonel Conklin, LTC Stimus, and the rest of the assistant commandant were already in place as the entire cadet company assembled on the parade field. During parade, some awards might be given out to cadets or someone got promoted. But, it was quite an ordeal and really gave a show to the relatives and friends and passersby who were present. After parade, everyone placed their M-1 rifles back, the band stored their instruments, the junior school cadets disappeared back in the junior school dorm and the senior school had a formation where the best platoon in the parade was singled out. After being dismissed from this formation, those who went out on pass relatives or friends often got a chance to say a final goodbye. Then, we all changed into our Khakis with black tie and headed back to formation where we turned in our dress blues and went to Sunday mess where we typically had soup and sandwiches. After dinner, we all headed back to our rooms or dorms and prepared for study hall. After study hall we got a chance to go to the gym and buy a soda pop or candy bar from our allowance and watch a little TV before heading back to our rooms and dorms for CQ (Containment to Quarters) and then lights out at 9 pm. Every day was unique but Sunday was a really unique day for everyone.

ENMS Memories: 1964 Commencement