43rd Army Band
Nebraska Army National Guard

MARCH 3, 1948 - PRESENT

    The 43rd Army Band of the Nebraska Army National Guard, is one of the more colorful units in the State of Nebraska. Steeped in Nebraska military history, the 43rd  Army Band indirectly dates back to 1884, when it was located in Lincoln, Nebraska and known as "Band,  Second Regiment." In 1902, during the reorganization of the Nebraska National Guard, it was re-designated "Band, First Regiment", and in 1916 it was again changed to "Band, Fifth Regiment".
     Officially the band traces its history back to 1924 when it was born in Crete, Nebraska, as the "Band Section, Service Company 110th Medical Regiment." The unit remained there until 1933 when it was reorganized as the "110th Medical Regiment Band," and relocated to Lincoln, Nebraska. In 1940, with the war in Europe going badly (France had fallen, Britain was isolated, and the Russians were retreating from the German onslaught) Congress authorized the calling up of the National Guard for a period of one year of active training duty. The Nebraska Guard units entered active duty on December 23, 1940, at Camp Robinson Arkansas, just outside of Little Rock Arkansas. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Band was relocated to Fort Ord California a few days before Christmas and re-organized as the Div Artillery Band. The band was re-assigned to the Los Angeles area of the West Coast Defense Command were they engaged in public relations activities in the Los Angeles area performing war bond rallies, awards for war production, "Salutes" to allied countries, and public concerts. At the end of March, 1943 the Band was re-assigned to Camp Rucker Alabama, re-organized with the 138th Infantry Regimental Band as the 35th Division Band, to make ready for its deployment to Europe. On March 3, 1948 the band was federally recognized, as the "43rd Army Band." The mission of the Band is to provide musical entertainment for the morale of soldiers and support the local communities when possible.  The Band has a wide range of musical capabilities from: Ceremonial band, Marching band, Concert band, Dance band, Stage band, Combo, and a variety of small musical groups. The band is comprised of some 50 "citizen-soldier" musicians from Lincoln and the surrounding area. Many of the members are students, music teachers, or otherwise associated with the music field in their civilian pursuits.
       The 43rd Army Band was the only Nebraska Army National Guard unit to see active duty during the Korean conflict in 1950 through 1952. The unit entertained soldiers at Fort Richardson, Alaska, with soldiers shows of popular music, dance numbers and a variety of acts. Buddy Hackett, Ray Milland, and Ann Blyth were among the stars who performed with the Band.     Following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the United States, several members of the 43rd Army Band were called to active duty on February 17, 2002 in support of the Homeland Security Force, providing armed security to airports, training sites and military facilities.  July 13, 2002 the 43rd Army Band conducted their first training deployment to Southern Germany where they support the United States Army European Band and Chorus for two weeks.

       As the only musical unit of the Nebraska National Guard, the 43rd Army Band represents the National Guard at a variety of civilian and official military functions throughout the State of Nebraska.  The band performs at parades, concerts, dances and receptions for military dignitaries. Musical variety shows are often on its schedule.
    The band is comprised of "citizen-soldier" musicians from Lincoln and the surrounding area. Many of the members are students, music teachers, or otherwise associated with the music field in their civilian pursuits.  The 43rd Army Band replaces an Active Duty Army Band during its two weeks of annual training at least every three years. During alternate annual training periods, they perform concert tours throughout the State for the civilian communities or provide entertainment to the Nebraska Army National Guard units during their annual training.

       Even though the 43rd Army Band is a part-time Army band and only operates about 48 days out of the year, it continues to rank among the best of all Army Bands in the country.  June 1970 found the 43rd leading the Pageant Parade of the Rockies in Colorado Springs. In January 1973, the 43rd Army Band was called to duty to support President Nixon's Inaugural Parade.  Eva Gabor joined the ranks of the 43rd Army Band during the Mrs. America  and the Mrs. U.S. Savings Bond Pageant in June 1977.  In January 1985, the 43rd was once again called upon to support the Presidential Inaugural Parade for President Bush.  Other performances include replacing Active Duty bands such as The United States Army Band and Chorus - Europe in Heidelberg Germany, TRADOC Command Ft Monroe, Virginia,  the West Point Military Academy. 

            Setting the standards, the 43rd Army Band, in 1991, became the first National Guard / Reserve band to enter the international competition for, and receive, the COL George S. Howard Citation of Musical Excellence which is awarded by the John Philip Sousa Foundation. The 43rd was one of only three Army elements to receive this award. In 1997, the 43rd Army Band set the standards again by being the first National Guard / Reserve band to ever receive the award for a second time.  In 2001 the 43rd became the only band to every win the citation three times under the same commander and an unprecedented fifth award in 2006. Following Chief Warrant Officer 5, Jeffrey Klintberg's retirement in June of 2007,  (26 years as the commander of the 43rd)  Chief Warrant Officer 2 Brian Anderson assumed the command and continued the building the award winning unit where a seven Howard citation was awarded in December 2007.   Competition by the 43rd is not bound to music only; in 1998 the 43rd was awarded the COL Don Hatten Award for Supply Excellence and became the first Army Band to receive the Chief of Staff, Army Supply Excellence award and again in 1999, 2005 and 2006.  The unit continued setting higher standards in supply excellence by wining the COL Hatten citation in 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2007

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