The Aggie War Hymn
PROGRAM: “IN A WORD”
EPISODE: THE AGGIE WAR HYMN
[5 TO 10 SEC OF MUSIC]
[FADE MUSIC]
I’m Candace Schaefer with “In a Word,” your weekly communication tip.
It’s Veteran’s Day, when we stop to honor those who’ve served our nation. So in honor of the day, we’d like to remember a veteran whose words have been inspiring Aggies for decades. I’m talking about James Vernon “Pinky” Wilson, class of 1920, the man behind the Aggie War Hymn.
Wilson started at Texas A&M as a student in 1915. But, in 1917, when the United States joined the Allies, Wilson joined the Marines. He was eager to join the fight and didn’t want to waste time in Army officer training. He eventually wrote the lyrics to the “Aggie War Hymn” in 1918 while in a foxhole in France, writing on the back of a letter from home. He called the song, “Goodbye to Texas University.”
Wilson’s time in France wasn’t easy. He worked as a “muleskinner,” a dangerous job bringing supplies to the troops. He was present at the Battle of Belleau Wood, where the Marines suffered terrible casualties. Then, in 1918, his company joined the Meuse-Argonne offensive. And that’s when he ended up in that fox hole, cold and wet and hungry, having just lost two close comrades, and thinking of his beloved Aggie football team.
After the Armistice was signed and he was leaving France, Wilson was quartered on an estate in Germany. In the caretaker’s house, he found an upright piano and finally set those lyrics to music. Eventually, he ended up back at Texas A&M, where he would perform the song with a group called the Cast-Iron Quartet. In 1920 they sang the song in Bryan to an audience that included some Aggie Yell leaders. They convinced Wilson to enter the contest for a new fight song. The Cast-Iron Quartet performed the song for the contest outside Sbisa Dining Hall and it was officially adopted that fall as “The Aggie War Hymn.”
The success of this song has much to do with the heart and history behind it. It’s about striving, about pride, and about a young man keeping music and home in his heart amid the horrors of war.
If you wish to honor James Vernon “Pinky” Wilson, you can visit his statue in front of the Sanders Corps of Cadets Center on the Texas A&M University campus. Today we remember Wilson and his comrades, and say thank you to all of our veterans for their service and sacrifice.
This has been "In a Word," a program made possible by the Texas A&M University Writing Center and a production of KAMU FM on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station. For more writing and speaking tips, visit our website at writingcenter.tamu.edu. I’m Candace Schaefer, helping you make every word count.
[5 TO 10 SEC OF MUSIC]
EPISODE: THE AGGIE WAR HYMN
[5 TO 10 SEC OF MUSIC]
[FADE MUSIC]
I’m Candace Schaefer with “In a Word,” your weekly communication tip.
It’s Veteran’s Day, when we stop to honor those who’ve served our nation. So in honor of the day, we’d like to remember a veteran whose words have been inspiring Aggies for decades. I’m talking about James Vernon “Pinky” Wilson, class of 1920, the man behind the Aggie War Hymn.
Wilson started at Texas A&M as a student in 1915. But, in 1917, when the United States joined the Allies, Wilson joined the Marines. He was eager to join the fight and didn’t want to waste time in Army officer training. He eventually wrote the lyrics to the “Aggie War Hymn” in 1918 while in a foxhole in France, writing on the back of a letter from home. He called the song, “Goodbye to Texas University.”
Wilson’s time in France wasn’t easy. He worked as a “muleskinner,” a dangerous job bringing supplies to the troops. He was present at the Battle of Belleau Wood, where the Marines suffered terrible casualties. Then, in 1918, his company joined the Meuse-Argonne offensive. And that’s when he ended up in that fox hole, cold and wet and hungry, having just lost two close comrades, and thinking of his beloved Aggie football team.
After the Armistice was signed and he was leaving France, Wilson was quartered on an estate in Germany. In the caretaker’s house, he found an upright piano and finally set those lyrics to music. Eventually, he ended up back at Texas A&M, where he would perform the song with a group called the Cast-Iron Quartet. In 1920 they sang the song in Bryan to an audience that included some Aggie Yell leaders. They convinced Wilson to enter the contest for a new fight song. The Cast-Iron Quartet performed the song for the contest outside Sbisa Dining Hall and it was officially adopted that fall as “The Aggie War Hymn.”
The success of this song has much to do with the heart and history behind it. It’s about striving, about pride, and about a young man keeping music and home in his heart amid the horrors of war.
If you wish to honor James Vernon “Pinky” Wilson, you can visit his statue in front of the Sanders Corps of Cadets Center on the Texas A&M University campus. Today we remember Wilson and his comrades, and say thank you to all of our veterans for their service and sacrifice.
This has been "In a Word," a program made possible by the Texas A&M University Writing Center and a production of KAMU FM on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station. For more writing and speaking tips, visit our website at writingcenter.tamu.edu. I’m Candace Schaefer, helping you make every word count.
[5 TO 10 SEC OF MUSIC]