The following letter was sent to me by Rita
Chesterton, daughter of Lawrence Chesterton, who served as a cook
with the 725th FA Bn. It was written to his wife.
June 16, 1945, Germany
Dear Hon,
Last night we put on the show and it was a big hit. The
orchestra opened the program with "Dark Eyes." Then quartets from
each Battery sang a few numbers, followed by a Mexican fellow
playing a guitar and singing. The next act was a fellow from "B"
Battery doing a one man skit on how a civilian, a high school boy, a
college boy, and a GI would ask a girl for a dance. Then I came on
and whistled "Ave Maria" and it went over big. Then a fellow from
Philly, who was inducted with me at New Cumberland, sang that crazy
song "One Meat Ball" and then he came out and did a strip tease,
taking off his dress, then slip, then brassiere, ending up in white
panties, to the tune of "Ain't She Sweet" and "A Pretty Girl is Like
a Melody." He used a mop for hair. It really brought down the
house. Then we had a "community sing" with "Working on the
Railroad" and "You are my Sunshine."
Next came a fellow from Service Battery who did Frank
Sinatra, and then another fellow from Service singing some cowboy
ballads. Then another selection by the orchestra playing "Lady Be
Good." Then I came out again and whistled "The Indian Love Call"
accompanied by a guitar and clarinet. The first number I whistled I
had a piano accompaniment. The next act was a comedy skit featuring
3 men from "C" Battery--a private getting permission from the 1st
Sgt to see the Battery Commander. The whole cast came up on the
stage and sang our Artillery song "The Caissons Go Rolling Along,"
and then "The Star Spangled Banner" to end the show. We had a real
good MC, he's a Sgt in the medical detachment--we also had a
spotlight and a microphone. I guess almost every officer from the
Battalion was there including the Lt. Colonel.
