R Dow Maine Stein Song

Cpl. Russell Dow Surprised By Maine Song Heard at Native Dance

Hearing the Maine Stein Song played in a bamboo hut in India is one of the interesting experiences related by Cpl. Russell E. Dow of Dover-Foxcroft in the following letter:

I believe that I am allowed to tell you that I have moved from the last place, and this time we didn't fly but went by convoy. I was glad in a way as it gave me a chance to see some of the country, but I swear I never had a bumpier ride. Along the way we passed plenty of jungle, tea plantations, rice paddies and went through many native villages, which are hard to describe. They are composed of bamboo houses crowded together, with black people running all over the place. There are cows, goats, etc. in and around all of the shacks, dust, and what-have-you. In the larger places you see markets, which are made up of little stores or shacks about eight feet square, completely open on the side facing the road. They are dark and dingy looking and look sort of pushed together and ready to fall down. The wares for sale vary, none of them any good and all covered with dust from the road. The only food I'd eat would be a banana or an orange.

All along the way one, sees about a dozen cows for every human being and they are always in the road. I have made one big sling-shot, and all the way I shot and shot, but only managed to hit a few sacred cows.

The night we arrived a few of the boys and myself went to a native dance just off the field, and what a mess that was! It was pitch dark when we started and after 10 minutes walk we came to the place where the dance was to be held. Again we found we were in the native surroundings, in a little square of bamboo huts, lit up by candles and lanterns. Altogether there were about ten buildings, two of which were having a good business in a gambling game where Limeys were shooting darts with air rifles and numbered boards. There was a dingy little restaurant which none of us would patronize and a couple of beggars. The place where the dance was to be held was another shack about 40' by 30' with a small stage, wooden benches, and a dirt floor. The only thing modern were the prices, $ .30, to three ruppees, $ .90, all according to where one sat (as if that made any difference).

Just before it started I noticed 3 natives, sitting in the middle of the square – two with cornets, one with a tenor horn, and one of them handling a bass drum with his foot. All of a sudden what should they strike up but "The Maine Stein Song!" No kidding, you could have knocked me over backwards.

The rest of the show was native all right. A few native girls sang weird songs accompanied by a native orchestra, or whatever you want to call it, there was a magic act, pretty corny, a trapeze act by a kid and more singing. We finally left because all the songs sounded the same. Funny part of it was that they brought in the three-piece native band who played between numbers and they ground out "My Sunshine", "Sierra Sue", and a couple others. I interrupted now and then with my harmonica and we had quite a time.

Thanks to Tom Dow, son of Cpl. Russell E. Dow for suppling the above which was published in the Piscataquis Observer in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine circa 1946 6/2000

I am looking for former members of the 3rd Combat Cargo Group, 1st, Combat Cargo Group, 2nd Combat Cargo Group and the 4th Combat Cargo Group. In fact I would like to hear from anyone who flew over the Hump during WW II, or flew any Combat Cargo Missions at any time (Berlin Air-Lift, Korea, etc.)

Please e-mail comment, suggestions, corrections,etc to: bill@comcar.org

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