Iowa Public Television

2009 Glenn Miller Festival

312th Army Band (#2009)

The 312th Army Band has performed hundreds of concerts throughout the country including West Point, New York, Atlanta, Denver, Des Moines, Kansas City, San Francisco, St. Louis, and San Antonio among others. The band features a marching band, concert band, stage band, jazz combo, brass ensemble, woodwind quintet, ceremonial detail and a rock band. Alton Glen Miller was born to Elmer and Mattie Lou Miller on March 1, 1904 in Clarinda, Iowa. In 1937, Glenn decided to fulfill his dream and organize his own band. In 1942, at the peak of his civilian career, Glenn decided he could better serve those in uniform by putting one on himself. Finally, on December 15, 1944, Glenn boarded a single engine C-64 Norseman aircraft to travel to Paris, France where he was to make arrangements for a Christmas broadcast. Tragically, the plane never reached France and was never found. Tape in Clarinda, Iowa, June 12, 2009.