November 1, 2006

Big Band Swing Dance Scheduled for Nov. 10

Veteran’s Day 2006 again will feature a Big Band Swing Dance on Nov. 10 at San Jose’s Wyndham Hotel, 1350 North First Street. The doors to this year’s nostalgic look back to the end of World War II will open at 6:30 p.m. followed by four hours of Big Band Music and entertainment provided by the Moonlight Swing Big Band from Sacramento and San Francisco-based Swing Cats dance group.

“It’s important to remember the heroes from our foreign wars, and how through their work, these men allowed us to continue to live in a free country with all the privileges that provides,” said Gary Vecchiarelli, whose company—Gary Vecchiarelli Productions LLC—is producing the evening dance. “It’s also a great time to look back and relive—especially for those of us who weren’t around—the big band era with its music and swing dancing that represent a much simpler time to be alive.”

Medal of Honor recipients
This year’s dance features two Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients, Sgt. Sammy Davis from Manteca, Calif. and Master Sgt. Richard Pittman from Stockton. Both guests of honor at the event received their awards for their bravery and for saving the lives of wounded soldiers and marines. Biographies of their heroism are attached.

Vietnam War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient Master Sgt. Richard Allen Pittman.

Sgt. Davis served in the army’s Battery C, second battalion, fourth artillery, ninth infantry division in the Vietnam War. Davis (then Pfc.) distinguished himself while serving as a cannoneer at a remote fire support base. The fire support base was under heavy enemy mortar attack and, at the same time, a reinforced Viet Cong battalion launched a fierce ground assault.

The enemy drove to within 25 meters of the U.S. positions separated by a river. Sgt. Davis seized a machine gun and provided covering fire for his gun crew, as they attempted to bring direct artillery fire on the enemy. Despite his efforts, an enemy recoilless rifle round scored a direct hit upon the artillery piece. The blast hurled the gun crew from their weapon and blew Davis into a foxhole. He struggled to his feet rammed a shell into the burning gun, aimed and fired the howitzer, which rolled backward knocking him down. He returned to the weapon to fire again when an enemy mortar round exploded within 20 meters of his position, injuring him.

Despite his injury he loaded and fired three more shells at the enemy, then picked up a mattress and went into the river to rescue three wounded comrades on the other side. He provided cover while the most seriously wounded soldier was taken across river and continued firing at the Viet Cong until the two other wounded were helped to safety. Back on the other side, he refused medical help to join another howitzer crew, which fired at the enemy force until it fled.
Like Davis, Master Sgt. Pittman also served in Vietnam. However, Pittman, a Marine served in Company 1, third battalion, fifth Marines, first Marine Division (Rein) FMF. He too risked his life above and beyond the call of duty. Leading elements of Company 1 were suffering numerous casualties during an operation on a narrow jungle trail. Suddenly they also were under fire from a larger, well-concealed enemy force. When he heard the fighters calling for more firepower, Pittman exchanged his rifle for a machine gun and ammunition and rushed to help his comrades.

Under intense enemy small arms fire at point blank range, he returned the fire until he silenced the enemies and continued to move forward to aid leading members of the platoon. He came under heavy fire from automatic weapons and destroyed them, but continued to move forward—under heavy enemy mortar and small arms fire to reach the fallen marines.

Under attack by 30 to 40 men, he established a position in the middle of the trail and raked the advancing enemy with machine gun fire. When his weapon become ineffective, he picked up a submachine gun and pistol and continued to fire until the enemy withdrew. With no ammunition left, he hurled a grenade at the enemy and rejoined his platoon. Pittman was able to inflict many enemy casualties and save the lives of many of his wounded comrades.

Parade
The two medal-of-honor recipients also will be present at the 88th annual Veteran’s Day Parade on Nov. 11. The two will join the parade’s grand marshal, retired Air Force Lt. Col. Frank Kappeler, who was navigator on B-25 bomber aircraft number 11 during Army Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle’s 1942 raid on Tokyo. The parade has been conducted annually in San Jose since 1919. The United Veterans’ Council of Santa Clara County and its 31 member veteran organizations sponsor it.

The 20 performers in Moonlight Swing, a not-for-profit Swing era band, will take you back to the 1930-40s. Each performance is billed as a living history experience emphasizing the music of Capt. Glenn Miller and his 418th Army/Air Force Training Command Band of World War II. The performers, which include musicians and solo and group vocalists, always dress in swing era costumes. The band’s on-stage choreography and arrangements are taken directly from the original records.

It's the Swing Cats Rhythm Review posed and ready to begin their entertainment.

The band has traveled to some of its performances by vintage aircraft including the historic 1943 DC-3 “Rose” operated by “DreamFlight” based in Corona, Calif. It’s performed for Bob and Dolores Hope at the “Wings Over Stockton” air show in 1998, the Jimmy Doolittle Raiders Reunion in 2003 and members of the Tuskegee Airmen in 2005. It also has performed at a number of Northern California locations, Palmdale and Rancho Cordova, Calif., as well as Carson City and Reno, Nevada

The Swing Cats Rhythm Revue, from San Francisco, also will entertain. The eight-year-old group, founded by Rob and Diane van Haaren specializes in Swing Era dances including classic jazz, flapper-girl Charlestons, crazy-legged Shag, fast-paced Lindy Hop with heart-stopping aerials and everything in between.

The troupe has a mission to bring Swing Era dances to audiences worldwide Beyond their hometown of San Francisco, the Swing Cats have performed at some of the most prestigious swing gatherings in the world, such as Camp Hollywood and Camp Catalina in Southern California, the Herrang Dance Camp in the hub of the modern Swing Revival, Sweden. They also have danced at Stanford University and in Sunnyvale, Oakland, Antioch, Belmont, LaHonda, Concord, Walnut Creek, Redwood City, Cupertino, Palo Alto, Saratoga and San Mateo.

The Swing Cats showcase some of the best dancers in the Bay Area. Its members have trained with the very best in the world, such as Norma Miller, Chester Whitmore and members of The Rhythm Hot Shots, which have contributed to the choreographies and stunts in the group’s repertoire.

The group focuses on rejuvenating the traditional swing dances such as Savoy-style Lindy, Shag, and Charleston making their repertoire unique. No other group can offer such a breadth of swing knowledge and performance. Their focus on precise execution and performance training has won them the respect and admiration of those in swing communities worldwide. Best of all, their focus on fun and creating an enjoyable dance experience has made them one of the most well received groups for audiences everywhere!

Ticket prices for the event are $38 each in advance and $43 at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased via e-mail at BigBandSwing@Cox.net or by phone at (800) 584-1555. For more information, call the 24-hour hotline at (408) 294-4444.