8/5/2010:
Tucked in a plastic sleeve among many other objects and many other shelves in the State Historical Society of North Dakota museum lower-level, is a piece of sheet music. Entitled "Our Fighting Chaplain," the music was written and played by the 116th Engineers Band. The band was no ordinary band and the chaplain, no ordinary chaplain.
The chaplain, Herbert G. Markley, entered federal service on this day in 1917. Not long after, he got to work fundraising for the State Chaplains Fund, which provided soldiers with extra supplies. In a few days, Markley raised 4500 dollars, and for his efforts gained a new a name: the "Fighting Chaplain." Working overseas, he loaned the soldiers money, but mostly he just gave them what they needed. These things included soap, towels, razors and at Christmas time, candy.
As the fund dwindled, the Fighting Chaplain left the front to replenish it. He crossed North Dakota, speaking of the soldier's conditions. To raise money, he sold or auctioned off copies of the music dedicated to him. The extra funds bought special equipment and conveniences for the men. When the war ended a few months later, the rest of the money went to support veterans.
The money-making piece of music was written for the Fighting Chaplain by a member of the 116th Engineers Band. Just as Markley had a nickname, so too did the band. They were known as the "Million Dollar Band." Hailing from North Dakota, the band was a morale-booster for the army. They helped fight off the greatest enemies on the battlefield, those of "loneliness, fear and fatigue."
Raising men's spirits with a lively beat was one of the things they did best. After a Christmas day program, Lt. General Hunter Liggett was quoted, "...that band is worth a Million Dollars to the United States Army." And that is how the band got its name.
The band played concerts that included marches, popular music and classical pieces. They played at recruiting events, religious services and at military funerals. The band never turned down requests to play taps for fallen soldiers.
After the war, the "Million Dollar Band" continued making music at homecoming concerts. Their scheduled 3 to 4 week tour soon became 33 weeks! With this success, they took the show on the road and played until the Great Depression ended the era of the traveling band.
Still, the band first became a hit playing for tired soldiers, longing for home. With the support of the fundraising Fighting Chaplain, the band helped boost tired soldier's spirits. Among the military, it was often said of the "Million Dollar Band" and the Fighting Chaplain, "Surely North Dakota has given us the best she had!"
Sources:
"The Great Western War March, Our Fighting Chaplain." From the State of North
Dakota Historical Society Museum.
"The Million Dollar Band: The story of an army band in World War I and of the
professional concert band which succeeded it," by Harold B. Bachman - 1962.
Dakota Datebook written by Alyssa Boge