Page 8 THE BATTALION THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 1978 focus Muster legacy rich; tradition continues leai Wartime, ex-cadets in Muster history By PAIGE BEASLEY Battalion Staff The sound of the “Aggie War Hymn” was smothered by blasts from Japanese artillery and the guns of Corregidor Island in the Phil- lipines. Voices roared in the dim recesses of “The Rock” (Corregidor), as 25 Texas A&M College men met on April 21, 1942, to answer “here” for dead classmates and to toast cups of water to the Texas heroes of the bat tle that made Texas an independent Republic. A radio message sending word that the Texas A&M Corregidor com rades were alive and still had the spirit of San Jacinto brought national recognition to the Aggie tradition. The Rock fell to Japan 15 days later, but the spirit and loyalty of these Texas Aggies added inspiration and significance to the annual Muster tradition. Corregidor was a loss for America, but it’s reported that people at home renewed their confidence by saying, Although recognition wasn't gained until 1942, the Aggie Muster can be traced back to 1883. “As long as our boys have the cour age and nerve to hold a college mus ter in the fall of defeat, we are bound to win in the long run.” Although recognition was not gained until 1942, the Aggie Muster can be traced to 1883 when “ex cadets” returned to college during June for commencement exercises. A statement of objective for the As sociation of Ex-Cadets concluded, “In the reunion we meet and live over again our college days, the victories and defeats won and lost upon drill ground and in classroom. Let every alumni answer roll call.” Early mustering of Aggies usually took place at parties or banquets held during commencement activities. These gatherings were used to rec ognize and honor Aggies who had died the previous year. The Associa tion of Ex-Cadets was discontinued a few years later, but the tradition of roll call of deceased comrades has been preserved. Since its founding, Texas A&M has observed April 21, commemorat ing the defeat of Santa Anna’s army by Sam Houston and his “Army of the Republic of Texas” on the San Jacinto battlefield. Houston com manded about 700 men who were beaten in all ways but one — the spirit of freedom. This patriotism was to be respected forever, as were the lives of Texas Aggies. During the 1890s, the Corps of Cadets visited the San Jacinto battlefield near Houston on April 21 to participate in sham battles and When these American fight ing men sang that Aggie War Hymn to the accompaniment of a dam good band. . . . this war was forgotten — Wick Fowler, war correspondent. maneuvers with the Texas National Guard. A parade down Houston’s Main Street follwed the event. In the early 1900s, April 21 was set aside as a “Track and Field Day” for competitive athletic events similar to intramurals. When the events were cancelled in 1930, “A determined student body, 300 strong, marched in or derly military precision through ‘Old Main’ and thence to the home of President David F. Houston, to in sist upon some observance of the an niversary of the Battle that won Texas’ independence,” states an old list of Aggie traditions found in Uni versity Archives. “The campus battle ended in a draw — the student body returning to classes after lunch. Those students vowed then, however, that the greatest day in Texas history should never again be forgotten by A&M or its sons.” In addition to honoring the free dom of Texas, Aggies began recog nizing deceased comrades by an swering “here” for the absent during the roll call at April 21 gatherings. “If there is an A&M man in one hundred miles of you, you are ex pected to get together, eat a little, and live over the days you spent at the A&M College ofTexas,” directed the March 1923 edition of the Texas Aggie. The Association of Former Students of the A&M College of Texas, as it was once called, did much to institutionalize “Muster” that year. State and nationwide rallies of former students provided Aggies an opportunity to “meet old friends again and live over the old days at College Station.” A special program by the association was broadcast by the student radio station WTAW. D.X. Bible, head coach of athletics addressed the radio audience, ac companied by Aggie yells from cadets and a medley of A&M College songs. Music was furnished by the “Aggieland Six.” Wartime reunited Aggies all over the world, as men from Texas A&M fought and died on every battlefield of World War II. Aggies mustered in the trenches and towns of France, met in foxholes all over Europe and gathered at Army posts in America. In 1944, war correspondent Wick Fowler wrote: “Those Fighting’ Texas Aggies — well, they swarmed into Naples (Italy) from miles around for their annual San Jacinto Day get- together and 85 Kyle Field-trained throats turned husky in a hilarious evening of song, cheering, and re miniscence. “The lights in the second-floor ball room went out, but the situation didn’t dim the spirit of the celebrants who ranged in rank from buck pri vate to Major General. It’s not often In the early 1900's, April 21 was set aside as a “Track and Field Day" for competitive athletic events similar to intra- murals. that you see enlisted men and offi cers with their arms around one another, but when these American fighting men sang that Aggie War Hymn to the accompaniment of a darn good band from one of the di visions this war was forgotten,” cor respondent Fowler concluded. Two years later, more than 400 former students ofTexas A&M Col lege stages their annual Aggie Mus ter at the Special Service Hotel in Bad Hamburg, Germany. The event was reported in Stars and Stripes, the soldiers’ newspaper in WW II. “Coming by jeep, train, place, shank’s mare and practically every other type of transportation availa ble, the 400 Aggies came from almost every zone in Europe where Ameri can troops were stationed.” The Aggies “gathered first for a bull session that reunited numerous buddies for the first time since the war had parted them in their classes at College Station, Texas,” the paper reported. And so it has been over the years, the loyalty and unity ofTexas A&M University students as expressed at Muster. Remembering also the heroes of San Jacinto and the dead Aggies who established “a tradition of duty to freedom and duty to home, which every A&M man preciously holds,” we may always mark them “present in our hearts. Corregidor Island in the Philippines fell to the again four years later to honor those Texas Japanese in 1942, but that didn’t stop the Ag- A&M comrades who died on Corregidor. Ag gies. During Japanese bombardment of the gies also mustered in Honolulu, making toasts island. Aggies read the roll call of the absent to A&M and other WW II heroes, and sang the Aggie War Hymn. Aggies met Photos courtesy of University Archives TEXAS TEXAS AUGIK [. XMr- [/ A._. a q q i e MUSTER 4 2 ■ Jr •1 A MUSTER A P K11. 21. I'Mr. SPECIAL SERVICE HOTEL FRANKFURT GERMANY 21 APRIL I 9 4 G They came from miles around by jeep, plane, train and other means of transportation to renew friendship, relive college days, and recognize those who had lost their lives in the war. They mustered in Corregidor, Germany, and any placfc there were Aggies. Photos courtesy of University Archives Corregidore survivor to speak Campus gears up for Muster In this ceremony we honor the memory of fellow Texas A