Captain Thomas F. Darcy, Jr., the third leader of the Army Band took office in July, 1935. He had a brilliant military record in World War I, during which time he had been wounded. At twenty-two years of age, as the leader of the 18th Infantry, First Division, A.E.F., Darcy was the youngest bandleader ever appointed to the regular army. He had received extensive music training in Europe and ranked high as a composer, conductor, cornetist and arranger. Captain Darcy installed several new features into the band programs, especially in the radio performances. He also originated many attractive special ceremonies in connection with governmental functions. During World War II, Captain Darcy and his band sailed on a tour of the combat area to carry music and entertainment to the men on the actual battle fronts. From Casablanca to Algiers, Tunisia, Italy, France, Germany and the British Isles, the U. S. Army Band traveled through two full years. They played more than 500 concerts to hundreds of thousands of lonely GI’s and unhappy civilians. They were brought home on army planes just in time to welcome General Eisenhower on his return June 18, 1945. And at the Washington airport, the Army’s own band greeted their victorious General with four ruffles and four flourishes and the triumphant _General’s March_. On the twentieth anniversary of the first radio broadcast by the U. S. Army Band the following commendation was received by Captain Darcy. “It gives me real pleasure and no small degree of satisfaction, that this outstanding musical organization was created by my orders, issued when I was Chief of Staff of the Army. It was my hope then, that in due course, it would come to be unsurpassed by any similar organization the world over, and I feel that none can today deny it this recognition....” “John J. Pershing.” Captain Darcy retired in September, 1945, relinquishing the office to the former Chief Warrant Officer, Hugh Curry. The new bandleader was a thoroughly trained musician, a professional violinist and a well-known singer. Forsaking a career successfully begun in light opera, Officer Curry had joined the U. S. Army Band in North Africa, in 1943. In his post as assistant bandleader during the European tour, he became perfectly acquainted with the needs of the band. Upon Curry’s accession to leadership he reorganized the band. More members were desired and applicants poured in from every part of the United States. Each one was carefully examined, tested and auditioned and a band of one hundred was selected. Within this number a marching band, a concert band, several small ensembles, a complete dance orchestra and a chorus of twenty-five fine voices were organized.