I have been searching the net for old friends who I played with in the Marine Barracks Drum and Bugle Corp Yokosuka, Japan...and friends I knew in the FMF PAC Hawaii, and 8th and I Marine Barracks D&Bs...some of the guys made the rounds.

I played with the Yokosuka "Rainmakers" D&B under SSGT. Bill Cox back in 1956-58. I had been in the MP Company working town patrol and the main gate when the FMF PAC D&B paid the Barracks a visit in 1956, and blew us all away! SSGT. Bill Cox was playing snare drum for them then, and he stole the show. He inpressed the C/O so much that he was transefer to Yokosuka Marine Barracks to take over our Drum Corps. A few days after he took over the D&B he found out that I had played trumpet in my High School Band, next thing I knew he had me in the Head for an audition, after which I was transfered to the D&B. I have some old photos of the D&B from 1956-1958 if you could use them? I think I might have an old photo of the 3rd Marine Div. Band at Camp Gify Japan (around 1953-54) also if you want it.

Last night I found a website for FMF PAC D&B, but I could not make contact...today I can't find it with the same Google search info?

I also visited the 8th and I D&B website and found the names of a few old friends there, Vern Strieby, Richard Edinger. My friend Sgt. Epperson played there in 1958-59 but could not find his name on the roster. I visited the Barracks and the D&B back around 1962, and tarveled with them for a few gigs...they were so great I was ready to reinlist (ha ha) Too bad they have no way to dialogue with anyone on there site.

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Ron Bowren ron.bowren@gmail.com

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