How Irving Berlin Kept Us Out of the Brig

Happy birthday, Irving Berlin!

How much more enjoyable it would be if we could sing your "God Bless America" at the start of each game rather than sit through someone trying to hit those painful notes in "The Stars-Spangled Banner."

Whenever I hear "GBA," though, I am reminded of three specific images.

First is simply a full-figured Kate Smith belting out the tune for war bonds (not Ward Bond) and for those hockey games.

Second is the so-called "music" at the old 28 Club in Dennisport. The piano was played by someone known affectionately as "Arthritic Alice," and she was accompanied by an old drummer named Jack Bolinder. After last call, lights would go up, she'd pound out "God Bless America," and the entire place would romp around singing Irving's song. No need to call the authorities, for Miriam (the cop at West Dennis Beach) would be there amongst them. Move along, nothing to see here.

And then, there's the Red Dog Saloon in DaNang, over near the Marine side of the airbase. Sometimes, you could sit there quietly and sip an ice cold beer. Other times, you ran for cover if you saw the barmaid had left the building. That was usually a good sign that the VC were about to blow something up. In between, there was the shoulder-to-shoulder mingling of members from all branches of the U.S. Armed Services. 

After a beer or three, there could be some bragging or some blaming about recent events, and it wasn't unusual for tempers to flare and fists to fly. On one occasion, it began to look like a saloon scene out of a John Wayne western. Fists, chairs, and sirens. 

Sirens? Did someone say "sirens"?

Fear not, bar mates, the MPs and the SPs were on their way, so you might want to knock off this horseplay.

No one, of course, was paying any attention to those warnings, and it was obvious that heads were going to get busted by the arriving peacekeepers.

But wait.

Is that someone trying to stand atop a table? And is that someone trying to sing?

Huh?

Why, indeed. There's some JG in khaki slacks and Hawaiian shirt busting out "God Bless America."

At first, it looked so stupid that some people stopped hitting one another simply because they could not believe their eyes. Then, seemingly one-by-one, everyone began to chime in on the song.

By the time the Jeeps and wagons had pulled up outside, everyone in the Red Dog was singing Irving Berlin's anthem, and a good time once again was being had by all.

Thanks to Kate and Alice and Jack and, of course, Irving for a totally brilliant idea.

BRILLIANT!

Here's Kate Smith's introduction of this song to the world, even though it had been written by Berlin a generation before. If you do watch it, please keep in mind that we have members of our own community serving in active duty overseas at this very moment. Say a prayer for their safe return.