The Sounds of WWII:A local veteran shares his time in the Army Band

With every veteran you meet, there’s a story to tell, and for one Yuma veteran, he’s sharing his story of serving in World War II over 70 years later.

At 95-years-old Bill Wardle remembers his time of service like it was yesterday, where it began with his of his love of music at the age of five.

“When I think about what some guys had to do, I’m so fortunate to be able to be in the Army and do basically what I did as a civilian.”

During the war, Bill played the trumpet in the Army Band stationed in Normandy, France. Whether he was the outlet for soldiers playing for Officer Dances or setting the tone for prisoners of War returning home. He shares with 13 On Your Side in why his love of music saved his life during the harsh times of war.

“It’s a rare thing, not many were able to do that and I think about the guys who were not unfortunate,” said Bill. “The ones who came back not quite as good as condition as they went over, and of course, those who didn’t come back at all and I give ‘thanks’ for that very often.”

After his time of service, Bill was part of a small traveling band playing the piano across the country. He then later landed a position at a Chicago radio station where he was a radio personality for WTAQ and bought station a few years later.

He now lives at Desert Lakes in Yuma with his wife he’s been married to for over 70 years.