Allow me to introduce you to Staff Sergeant (SSG) Dan Updegraff (Ret.). He is an Army veteran, a grandfather, a retired teacher, and my father. It is my honor to write and tell you his story.

My Fathers story before Enlisting

 My father was born in 1953 and raised in Richmond, Indiana, by his parents (my grandparents), Dale and Doris Updegraff. He grew up with two younger sisters (my aunts), Joyce and June. In 1965, His father, Dale, got a job with Delco Electronics and the Updegraff family moved to Kokomo, Indiana. My father married in 1978, and they continued to live in Indiana until I was born in 1981. By the following year, 1982, his wife Cindy (my mom) was pregnant with their second child (my sister), Heidi. At that time, my father was a high school band teacher. However, the pay was not enough to support a wife, a son, and a daughter on the way. So, while seeking out a better-paying job and the ability to continue playing music, my father joined the Army.

YOU’RE IN THE ARMY NOW

In August of 1982, after just turning 29 years old, my father enlisted and shipped off for basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. While in basic training, my sister Heidi was born. After completing basic training, he went through his Advanced Individual Training (AIT) and completed the 02C course. My dad became a certified Euphonium player. During his time in the Army, he played trumpet, valve trombone, and even got to sing from time to time. He loved it. 

A TYPICAL LIFE IN THE BAND

My father’s first assignment was at Fort Harrison in Indianapolis, Indiana. While there his unit performed numerous official functions. It all depended on the mission requirements. For example, his unit would perform outside in a marching band parade. Sometimes, they would perform at indoor events such as a concert hall, and the band would perform while seated. Another common assignment would be Combo performances. A combo’s repertoire is a combination of jazz songs and top 40-hits. Usually, no more than 5-6 soldiers were in the combo. He continued to do these functions during his following two assignments as well, in Germany and Georgia, respectively.    

GETTING STATIONED OVERSEAS

After one year at Fort Harrison, my father and his family received orders to Heidelberg, Germany. During the next four years, his unit performed across Europe, and for many high-ranking individuals. For example, in June 1987, his unit was sent temporarily to Berlin for a special VIP. They performed in front of President Reagan on the tarmac on June 12th upon his arrival to deliver the famous “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall” speech. That same year his unit went on Temporary Duty Travel (TDY) to London. His unit, along with numerous European bands, performed in front of then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher at Wembley Stadium. In 1988, after four years in Germany, My father and his family went back stateside to his final assignment at Fort Gordon, Georgia.

33rd Army Band Combo playing at a Beer Fest in Germany. My father, Dan, is the singer in the middle. Circa 1986.

THE END OF ONE CAREER

While stationed at Fort Gordon, my father started developing breathing problems. After undergoing numerous exams over the next two years and a medical review, the Army determined that my father was no longer fit for Active Duty. So, on 16 August 1990, my dad was medically retired from the Army after eight years of service. Had it not been for asthma, he tells me that he would have made a career out of the Army. During his short-lived Army career, my dad completed numerous Army leadership schools, he garnered an Army Achievement Medal and an Army Commendation Medal.

THE CONCLUSION

After the medical discharge, my father moved his family to Kokomo, Indiana, where he got a teaching job. With no band positions available, he took a 1st and 2nd-grade music teaching job, and he loved it. In 1993 while still teaching, he went back to school for his Master’s Degree in Education. He graduated from Indiana University of Bloomington in 1995. My father went on to teach at the same school district until 2019, at which point he retired. In his free time, he still enjoys playing music at home.