Abby Mayer

Abby Mayer was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1928. He believed he was born to be a musician, but that events prevented him from pursuing his passion as a civilian. Mayer was able, however, to achieve his dream through the United States Army. He honorably served in the 7th Army Symphony Band in Germany from January 1952 to February 1955, with a break. Mayer went then into the United States Military Academy Band from March 1959 to September 1976. The break came when he played in the National Symphony Orchestra part-time. Mayer found that he could not make a full-time living as a civilian musician, so he returned to the military. The highest rank he achieved was Master Sergeant.

Before Mayer joined the military, he graduated from James Madison High School in Brooklyn, New York, listing his chosen profession as a French horn player. His high school offered students tickets to the opera in Manhattan, which he used, and he also went occasionally to shows at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

After high school, Mayer was accepted by a music school in Boston. The Korean War was at its height, but he thought it unlikely that he would be drafted. To ensure that, Mayer joined the Army Reserve in New York, and then transferred to a Massachusetts National Guard unit to avoid being drafted and sent to Korea, because he had goals of going to college as well as attending a school for music. In Boston, he was taught by well-known musicians and learned the basics of the music trade.

When he graduated from the school of music after a year, Mayer was accepted as a horn player by the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington DC. He left the Massachusetts National Guard, but was then vulnerable to the draft. Mayer was drafted in January 1951, received basic training at Fort Devens, outside of Boston, and was temporarily assigned to the United States Military Academy Band. He was then shipped to Stuttgart, Germany, where he spent several years playing in the Seventh Army Military Band. Military life was a tough adjustment for Mayer, because he still wanted to be a civilian musician.

During his time in Europe, Mayer believed that his band did more for German-American relations than any other group within the Army. He felt that playing music brought the German people together, as well as gave them something to take their mind off the destruction of their country and homes during World War II. Mayer played all over Germany, and was in a different city almost every two days. The band played the classics and was composed, at various times, of forty to sixty men and no women.  On one occasion, one of the men’s wives who played an instrument joined temporarily as a civilian player, which the soldiers all enjoyed. Playing was very gratifying for Mayer, as he loved every minute doing what he did. His solo performance in Lintz, Austria, received accolades.

In Germany, the economy was weak. There was a rumored threat that the Soviet KGB was engaging in espionage, and trying to extract information from soldiers during the Cold War. American soldiers were under strict rules, had to wear uniforms most of the time and had a midnight curfew. Mayer married a German woman. He remembered a story about his wife’s father, who was in the German army during World War II, and was captured by the Soviets. The family did not hear about or from him for sixteen years, when the Red Cross informed them that he had died in a Soviet prison camp.

Mayer had completed basic training years before, but never had to carry a gun on duty. He had married in Germany; and, after his discharge, he and his wife and two sons were living in Cornwall, New York. Mayer could see no way to become a full-time professional civilian musician, and he did not want his wife to struggle moving around with him in the army. Playing at West Point, which involved parades, clubs, and any big events relevant to the Academy, seemed like a good position, so he auditioned, was accepted and returned to the Army.

At West Point, Mayer became an event organizer and helped some of his band mates go to school and get educations. With service interruptions, Mayer eventually achieved a BA in Music, and two MA degrees in education and administration from Colombia University while serving at West Point. He took classes at Colombia, but it was hard to manage the schedule, while still serving and doing his duties for his service, so he took classes on his comp days, but it took a while. It was about a 60-mile drive to go to class.

Mayer became an education NCO for the band. He enjoyed all of his duties and performed them with pleasure. Mayer was awarded many letters of admiration from his fellow soldiers and commanders. The West Point Band was like a family. The soldiers always helped each other, and Mayer loved what he was doing. He felt extremely sad however, during the Vietnam war, when he had to play at many funerals and see the grieving families of the deceased, who had died so young. Mayer played at one to two funerals a week and remained professional, but moved people emotionally with his French Horn solo play. Music is therapeutic.

Mayer did not write his own music because he felt that it would never live up to the greats of the music industry. He retired after twenty-three-years and took a vacation. Mayer went on to work as a music teacher, a Dean, and an Education Supervisor. At the time of his interview, he was a free-lance musician and music teacher.

Mayer did not like the idea of going into the Army; but, when he finally accepted, it became a wonderful career for him. He did not know what his life would have been like if he did not join. Ironically, it gave Mayer the career he always wanted, and he became a better player who gave back to the world. He advised younger generations, who do not know their path in life, to go somewhere where they can give back. Mayer said to the interviewer: “all great men have been great, strong, and help other givers. Our world today is more stressful, but we must be strong and help each other.”

Abby Mayer was awarded the German Army of Occupation Medal, The Meritorious Service and Good Conduct Medals, and the National Defense Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster for his service.

Abby Mayer passed away on May 9, 2014 at the age of 85. The US Army Band played at the graveside service when he was interred at West Point Cemetery with full military honors.

Additional Resource: 

• Life in the West Point Band