Phil was also delighted to have increased opportunities to join Ross[1] and his men [as part of the ceremonial details] at White House soirées [formal state dining events, ceremonies, or parties].[1]

After the guests had departed, they would be invited downstairs to the White House kitchen to enjoy any leftover food or wine, of which there was usually plenty.

From time to time, President Truman would join them and seemed to enjoy hanging with the servicemen away from the hustle and bustle of his responsibilities.[3]

Before long, President Truman recognized Phil and some of his men by sight. One evening, after all the guests had left, the President sat down at the piano in the East Room and led the soldiers in a rousing rendition of “As the Caissons Go Rolling Along.”[4]

FIRST CHORUS:
First to fight for the right,
And to build the Nation’s might,
And the Army goes rolling along.
Proud of all we have done,
Fighting till the battle’s won,
And the Army goes rolling along.
REFRAIN:
Then it’s hi! hi! hey!
The Army’s on its way.
Count off the cadence loud and strong;
For where’er we go,
You will always know
That the Army goes rolling along.
SECOND CHORUS:
Valley Forge, Custer’s ranks,
San Juan Hill and Patton’s tanks,
And the Army went rolling along.
Minute men, from the start,
Always fighting from the heart,
And the Army keeps rolling along.
REFRAIN:
(same as above)
THIRD CHORUS:
(slower, more freely)
Men in rags, men who froze,
Still that Army met its foes,
And the Army went rolling along.
Faith in God, then we’re right,
And we’ll fight with all our might,
As the Army keeps rolling along.

The President would cajole them into a game of poker, which he said was his favorite leisure activity and pastime. [His favorite game was five-card stud.] The game was accompanied by rounds of Kentucky bourbon.

The President would ask his head butler, Alonzo Fields, “an accomplished mixologist,” to prepare several rounds of Old Fashioned drinks made according to the President’s tastes—bourbon over rocks with water and nothing else.

Phil decided not to point out that a true Old Fashioned would have included a sugar cube, a couple of dashes of Angostura bitters, and a slice of orange or a maraschino cherry.[5]

Truman liked to deal, left-handed, eight-card hands. Although he played five-card stud for money with friends most Friday nights, he never did so with Phil, Russ, or their men.

“Our country already owes you boys too much,” he would tell Phil.[6]

~~~~~

[1] Ross Calvert was Phil’s best friend and the commander in charge of the Ceremonial Unit and the guardians of the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington.

[2] Larimore, At First Light, 321.

[3] President Truman served as an artillery captain in World War I during the Meuse-Argonne offensive from September 26, 1918, until the Armistice on November 11, 1918. At the time, this was the largest American offensive in history with over a million men taking part.

[4] “The Army Goes Rolling Along” is the official song of the U.S. Army and is typically called “The Army Song.” The original version was titled “As the Caissons Go Rolling Along.”

[5] Larimore, At First Light, 325.

[6] Larimore, At First Light, 321.

Learn more about my book about my father’s heroics and exploits at Amazon’s First Light page here. You can also read more of my WWII blogs here!

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December 24, 1945M