Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy Of Company 'B'

He's part of Americana and he lives Oklahoma. The "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B" is getting ready to celebrate Independence Day with his friends and family in Broken Arrow. <br/><br/>News

Friday, June 30th 2006, 11:29 am

By: News On 6

He's part of Americana and he lives Oklahoma. The "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B" is getting ready to celebrate Independence Day with his friends and family in Broken Arrow.

News on 6 anchor Scott Thompson says when the Andrews Sisters were looking for inspiration for their "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" hit; they stumbled across a "Bugle Boy" from Oklahoma in basic training.

That was more than 60 years ago. 83-year-old Bill Arter taught himself how to play the trumpet. The bugler from "Company B" would sneak over to "Company C" to play with other Army musicians. His career in the US Army as a medic brought him to the beaches of Normandy on D-Day.

During his three years in the Army, he cared for wounded soldiers and says he spread even more healing through his music. "I just happened to be on the job right there when they really needed somebody and I tried my best to entertain them as best I could, there was just a lot, a lot of people there, some would sit there and just cry, and tears would come out their eyes as those songs would come over."

Bill will honored this weekend at World Outreach Church at 91st & Memorial, as they pay tribute to America's armed forces. They'll have three patriotic services, one Saturday evening at 6:30, and two more Sunday morning. Bill will be a featured guest at the 11 AM service on Sunday.

Bill, by the way, is still playing the trumpet.