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Marine bandsmen strike a chord with donated ukuleles

Marine bandsmen have a new instrument to add to their musical repertoire.

Introducing the Marine ukulele.

Gunnery Sgt. Jay D. Dalberg strums his ukulele during a brief performance for Regimental Combat Team 5's staff recently. Fifteen ukuleles were donated to Col. Larry D. Nicholson, RCT-5's commanding officer by 'Ukes for Troops.' Nicholson passed them to Marines from 1st Marine Division Band, assigned to the Regiment's Headquarters Company. The ensemble played tunes including 1st Marine Division's song 'Waltzing Matilda' and 'Marines' Hymn.'

That's right. Marines from 1st Marine Division Band, assigned to Regimental Combat Team 5's Headquarters Company, debuted their latest ensemble of ukuleles. It was all possible by a donation from "Ukes for Troops." Now, the Blue Diamond band is trading their brass, blues and lock-step marching routines for the easy, laid-back tunes with a more tropical feel.

It was a new experience for the Marine bandsmen who are versed in a variety of instruments, though none had played a ukulele until they arrived in Iraq.

"When I first opened the box, I asked myself, 'What are these things doing in Iraq?'" said Gunnery Sgt. Jay D. Dalberg, a euphonium and electric bass player for the band. "These are usually related to tropical beaches like Hawaii, not Fallujah, Iraq."

Fifteen ukuleles found their way here by way of "Ukes for Troops," a group of ukulele enthusiasts who donated the pint-sized instruments to Col. Larry D. Nicholson, RCT-5's commanding officer. Nicholson passed the instruments along to the bandsmen with one simple rule. They had to perform for the regiment.

"I had never picked up a ukulele before," explained Dalberg, a 32-year-old from Chicago. "It wasn't difficult to learn at all. If you've played guitar, all it takes is about a half hour with the book and you could do the same on a ukulele."

Dalberg, along with Master Sgt. Robert L. Hufford, Staff Sgt. Michael J Maschmeier and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Joshua A. Stone, had evening jam sessions on their ukuleles for a couple weeks until everyone had the hang of strumming the four-stringed mini-guitars.

For their featured performance, the ensemble played "Brown-eyed Girl," "Waltzing Matilda," the 1st Marine Division's song, and "Marines' Hymn."

Read more at: http://192.156.19.109/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/13C9CD8FBEA6B9DF852571EF0028540D?opendocument