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I was a lieutenant in World War II.

It was 1943. The U.S. had already entered World War II, so I decided to join the army.

I was a soldier in WWII. The last couple of months of the war I was actually in combat.

My father and brothers were in the military.

In my day, when I was a young kid, army duty was compulsory in South Africa or you go to jail. I had the choice, so I spent a year in the entertainment unit, and outside of doing shows - and I used to write for, arrange for the big band - outside of doing that, I actually had a rock band in the army.

I always knew I wanted to be in a band.

I was involved in the anti-war movement.

Since I'm allergic to various things, the army wouldn't accept me during the war, and I got into the Office of War Information, which sent music to Europe.