Military Quiz Question from Asgardian

[Asgardian]

Sorry for stealing your thunder BSA, but I came across this and thought everyone else may also be interested:-

Who can tell me the significance of the "Second Armored Division March" which is the official song for the Second Armored Division, US Army.

[Frodo]

This is good

http://www.livinghistory.nl/2ndarmored/2adphotos.html

but this is better

http://www.2ndarmoredhellonwheels.com/82ndrecon.html

[Player]

Was that "Johnny comes marching home"?

It kinda sounded like the worst version ever produced of the song.

Johnny Comes Marching Home

"When Johnny comes marching home again,
Hurrah, hurrah!
We'll give him a hearty welcome then,
Hurrah, hurrah!
The men will cheer, the boys will shout,
The ladies, they will all turn out,
And we'll all feel gay when Johnny comes marching home."

[Mooster7]

I served at Fort Hood in the 1st Cavalry Division while the 2AD were still there.

I don't remember much hearing their march. I know that Bea Patton (General George's wife) wrote the song. 2AD was Patton's first General command. He designed the armored corps patch and gave them the "Hell on Wheels" moniker. Also, Elvis Presley served in 2AD. They are no longer on the active roster. Shame, they were a fine unit with a proud history. They also had two full brigades of tanks - all gone. :mad:

Oh well, I'm just a cavalry trooper. The 2AD folks were "the guys down the road." I do remember long PT runs to their territory. They had a big red and white checkered water tower. A run there and back was five miles AND (I swear this is true) it was UP HILL BOTH WAYS.

Peace, Mooster

[Asgardian]

Well done Mooster7, yep, General George Smith Patton Jr's wife wrote a song called "Song of the Armored Force" which is now known as the "Second Armored Division March".

The Second Armored was the first division that Patton commanded.

In 1974 Patton's son, George S Patton 3rd, accepted command of the same unit.

It was the first time in US Army history that a son took command of the same unit that his father also had command of.

Today the unit is still known as "Patton's own", or at least the sources I have read says so, lol

[NYMets]

that's wierd 'cause it sounds like like when Johnny comes marching home which is at least from the Civil War if not much much older. :confused:

[Asgardian]

It originally began with pistol shots and sirens, so it was likened with the 1812 Overture, with its cannon fire

I have done a bit of a search for "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" and found some bits and pieces, this link is the Civil War pages . com, which lists several songs, including the one in question and provides the words, but no story behind it

http://www.civilwarpages.com/

Found some more, it looks like the music is a traditional Irish arrangement, the words are credited to a Union Army Bandmaster, Patrick S Gilmore, who is supposed to have written them in 1863

http://mariah.stonemarche.org/livhis/marchinghome.htm

You may like to visit this site also for additional info

http://scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/sheetmusic/a/a56/a5654/

Hope this helps NYMets