CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM Marine 1st Lt. Justin Stodghill, shown here in June, is fighting to gain recognition for Marine Corps bagpipers who have played in unofficial groups since 1943. Being an unofficial bagpiper means Stodghill has to schedule his music around his duties as a logistics officer.

Proud pipers

A Kaneohe Marine campaigns
for the formation of an official
Marine Corps bagpipe band

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By Gregg K. Kakesako
gkakesako@starbulletin.com

A Kaneohe Marine says the time is right for the Marine Corps to give recognition to bagpipers who have been playing unofficially since 1943. Marine 1st Lt. Justin Stodghill recognizes that he faces an uphill battle to win recognition because "Marine Corps resources at this time are so limited."

While the Marine Corps Band is the oldest military band in the country, there has never been an official Marine Corps bagpipe band. But Stodghill, 31, said Marines since World War II have had several unofficial groups of bagpipers, first in 1943 and again in 1948.

Stodghill, who enlisted in 1995, has asked his superiors if the Marine Corps could create permanent jobs for bagpipers at its headquarters and larger commands. Stodghill said the Marine Corps has never officially recognized bagpiping or bagpipe bands. However, that is not same with the other services, he said. The Air Force Reserve maintains a bagpipe band, while there is at least one bagpipe band at the Army's West Point and the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis.

FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Justin Stodghill, 31, has taught more than 50 students, like Sgt. Nicole Jarvis (in foreground), to play the bagpipes. They practiced at Fort Hase Beach at Kaneohe Marine Corps Base in June.

He said the first unofficial Marine Corps bagpipe band was made up of 30 pipers, drummers and trumpeters by members of the 1st Provisional Battle that was stationed in Londonderry, Ireland and was formed in May 1943. The Marines then did not don kilts, but supplemented their winter field uniforms with beige-colored drapery cord and tassels.

Stodghill stresses that he wants to see "the Marine Corps to establish such a skill permanently for the benefit of the enlisted Marines."

He said a Marine Corps pipe band, located either in Washington, D.C., or Camp Lejeune, N.C., would greatly benefit the Marine Corps.

"It would tour the operating forces, act as a recruiting tool and perform for official functions each year," Stodghill said.

The Marine Corps Band, stationed in Washington, D.C., was established by Congress in 1798. Its primary mission is unique: to provide music for the president of the United States and the commandant of the Marine Corps.

Stodghill became interested in the bagpipes in 1975 when he attended the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in Linville, N.C. Through high school and college he studied on his own, taking some lessons from time to time until he joined the Marine Corps.While performing, Stodghill wears the Leatherneck tartan that was presented to Marine Corps by Lord Lyon in Great Britain in 1986. He hopes the deep blue, scarlet and gold striping underlaid by the forest green pattern will be recognized by the Marines as its own. His outfit includes the black feather bonnet, kilt sahs and brogues.

Being an unofficial bagpiper means that Stoghill has to work his musical commitments around his duties at Marine Helicopter Training Squadron 301 at Marine Corps Base Hawaii where he serves as the logistics officer.

As an instructor, Stodghill has taught more than 50 students to play the bagpipes and has given lectures on the art and history of bagpiping. At Kaneohe Bay, he organized the "Marine's Own Highlanders" which consisted of 12 bagpipers and seven drummers. "But after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, it was disbanded since a lot of people were deployed out of Hawaii," he said.

He has performed at more than 400 military functions. Stodghill said one of the highlights of his career as an unofficial Marine bagpiper was in 1998 when he was requested to perform at the 53rd anniversary of the invasion of Iwo Jima.

During World War II at the invasion of Iwo Jima in 1945, Stodghill said, "among the first waves of Marines to hit the black sand beaches was Capt. Joe Cason and several other Marines with their bagpipes. They began piping out a weird tune called 'Cock of the North.'

"The ear-piercing tenor and bass drones of the bagpipe sounded above all else. There was a mad scramble of Marines ashore, and it is said that the Japanese couldn't take it either."