Thread by @USArmyCMH

MUSEUM MONDAY ARTIFACT HIGHLIGHT - HARBOR DEFENSE MUSEUM, FORT HAMILTON, NY

Here is one of many historic objects held in the collections of the Harbor Defense Museum, Fort Hamilton, NY and highlights women in the Army.

#Armyhistory @USArmy #MilitaryHistory #WomensHistoryMonth

This is a necklace of twenty-eight (28) foreign coins joined together with wire through holes drilled in the coins. The donor, Technician Fourth Grade (T/4) Ruth Tenzer (bassoonist) was a member of the 401st Women’s Army Corp (WAC) Band stationed at USAG Fort Hamilton. @TRADOC

During WWII each branch of the military had all-female bands, performing with morale boosting music. The U.S. Army fielded five such bands: the 400th, 401st, 402nd, 403rd, and the 404th WAC Bands. The 404th being the only all-female, African American band in military history.

In February 1944, the 401st WAC Band arrived at USAG Fort Hamilton, New York. Afterwards, it was redesignated as the 401st Army Service Forces (ASF) Band, which consisted of twenty-nine (29) professional musicians, possessing considerable musical experience in civilian life.

The 401st ASF Band often performed from greeting vessels, as troopships arrived in NYC, lifting the spirits of homeward-bound Soldiers. As the men cheered, a few Soldiers tossed coins towards the band. Mrs. Tenzer collected some of the gifted coins and made this necklace.

Soon after the end of WWII, all women’s military bands were deactivated except for the 400th ASF Band, which was re-designated the 14th Army Band (WAC) in 1948. The 14th Army Band (WAC) lasted until 1976.

#HarborDefenseMuseum #ArmyBands #ArmyMuseums #WAC #FortHamilton #WWII