1 CARMINE SOLOMBRINO 1917 U.S. Army 10th Field Artillery Band, 3rd Division. He played oboe, flute and piccolo. He was a graduate of a music conservatory in Naples, Italy before coming to the U.S. He gained his citizenship by joining the U.S. Army in 1917 during the rush to build up forces after entering WWI.
2 CARMINE SOLOMBRINO 1917 U.S. Army 10th Field Artillery Band, 3rd Division. He played oboe, flute and piccolo.
3 1917 U.S. Army 10th Field Artillery Band, 3rd Division. I believe this photo was taken in France in 1918. He played oboe, flute and piccolo. He is first in the second row on the left with a piccolo. Carmine saw a lot of action in France. The bandsman were stretcher bearers during actual combat. The 10th Field Artillery Regiment was formed at Camp Douglas in 1916. It served in France during World War I, specifically in the Champagne-Marne, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne and Champagne-Marne campaigns. Its motto "The Rock's Support" was bestowed on it due to its support of the 3rd Division ("The Rock of the Marne") at the Second Battle of the Marne.
4 1917 U.S. Army 10th Field Artillery Band, 3rd Division. This photo was retouched by the photographer. I'm not sure where it was taken. Circa 1917 He played oboe, flute and piccolo.
5 U.S.S. PENNSYLVANIA After returning from France and WWI, Carmine joined the U.S. Navy. He served upon the U.S.S. Pennsylvania as a bandsman. (It was a steady gig and he got to travel and get a pension.) Here on January 19, 1921 en route to Callao, Peru for training with the joint fleets of both the U.S. Pacific Fleet and the U.S. Atlantic fleet.
6 CARMINE IN THE NAVAL RESERVE BAND Probably sometime after 1921. He played oboe, flute and piccolo. He's in the second row, second on the left with a flue.
7 CARMINE IN A CIRCUS BAND Yet another steady gig with travel. Circa post 1922. He played oboe, flute and piccolo. I think Carmine is first on the left in the back row.
8 101ST INFANTRY BAND-26TH YANKEE DIVISION 101ST INFANTRY-26TH YANKEE DIVISION BAND Perhaps the 1930s or just before WWII. He played oboe, flute and piccolo. By this time he was working as a shoe worker in Lynn, MA. Carmine is on the left. "Thanks for posting this! My great-g..." View Comments...
9 CARMINE WITH THE FAMILY Circa 1946 L to R Carmine on oboe, Al Solombrino (son) on trumpet, Carmine "Happy" Sciraffa (nephew) on vocal (graduate of Schillinger House, later Berklee School of Music) and Euplio Sciraffa (brother in law) on guitar. This is a Christmas celebration at what looks like the Sarno/Sciraffa family home. As of 2010 this house has been in the family for 105 years and counting. Carmine was an Army Reserve translator during WWII at a POW camp on Pedocks Island in Boston Harbor. The POWs were Italian (of course) and they were sometimes allowed to go ashore with Army personel to visit Italian/American families in the Boston area. Carmine and his wife Jennie hosted some of these POWs at their home in Revere.
10 NORTH SHORE PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA This is circa 1948. The first year of this orchestra which still performs today. He played oboe, flute and piccolo. He is in the middle standing behind the woman with the cello.
