In early 2013, a new initiative called the Story of the Month was launched by the Stories of Service Program at the United States Navy Memorial. The Stories of Service Program is proud to recognize our Nation’s Veterans and preserve their stories for future generations. Each month, the program selects a Veteran’s interview which has been conducted, edited, and archived by the United States Navy Memorial, to be featured as the “Story of the Month.” As we celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Story of the Month, we are entering the new year by continuing to recognize the first 12 published articles which began in April of 2013. The March 2014 published Story of the Month honored, celebrated, and recognized United States Navy Veteran, Musician Second Class Mario Thumudo, Jr. Musician Second Class Mario Thumudo, Jr. served proudly on the battleship USS Missouri BB 63 during the Korean War and shared detailed accounts of the USS Missouri Band which added to morale aboard ship, the fleet, and on shore.

The last 9 videos on this page are actual recordings of the band during the war and pictures from the Mario Thumudo, Jr. collection. We invite you to sit back and enjoy the music!

The importance of archiving this story embodies the values of the Navy Memorial and its unwavering mission to preserve the heritage of the Sea Services for future generations to come.

The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program is honored to announce the March 2024 story of the month has been selected to recognize the service of Korean War Veteran, Musician Second Class Mario Thumudo, Jr.

The following is the original article, first published ten years ago.

"It is very difficult to explain to anyone how a group of young men formed a bond that has never been broken. There are a few guys that never came to the reunion, but those guys had been transferred prior to our vacation in Korea. Life has been a great ride, but the most important part of the ride has been with my Navy family. People can’t seem to fathom the bond of a group such as the members of Unit Band 183," recalled Mario (Marty) Thumudo, Jr., Musician Second Class with great fondness to a United States Navy Memorial film crew at the USS Missouri BB 63 reunion in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in the fall of 2013.

Musician Second Class Thumudo first shared his memories of his entry into the Navy, “My Mother wouldn't sign me up for a kiddie cruise so I had to wait until Korea broke out and I enlisted as a musician with the thought that if I passed my audition…then I went to boot camp, then down to the (Navy) School of Music.” His love of music and talent displayed at the United States Navy School of Music would lead to great opportunities within the fleet. Thumudo recalled his next assignment aboard the USS Missouri as if the experience had happened yesterday, “We were there for nine months and the USS Missouri was coming back from Korea from its first tour and the school formed a band to go up on the ship as one unit, which was called Unit Band 183. There were about 26 of us that went on the ship and we had a ball.” His service on the Missouri would include numerous concerts to boost moral as well as participating in events on shore. He recounted, “My duties were as a musician (aboard ship) and in Korea my duty was a 40 millimeter first loader above turret two.” The bond and strong memories of the band that he played in were incredibly brought to life in vivid detail throughout his interview. To hear the story of Mario (Marty) Thumudo, Jr., Musician Second Class, come alive as well as hear a number of actual recordings of the USS Missouri Unit Band 183, view his detailed experience that has been digitally archived by the Navy Memorial.

The United States Navy Memorial honors Mario (Marty) Thumudo, Jr., Musician Second Class, featured within the series titled, Stories of Service, Story of the Month. Each month, this series honors a Veteran’s story recorded by the Stories of Service Program at the Navy Memorial.