Mickey Gravine

I was privileged to serve with Mickey in The Southeastern Signal School (TSESS) Band during 1955-56, at Camp Gordon, Georgia, not Ft. Benning. He bunked next to me, and we shared lots of happy, fun, times together. Mickey hated KP (Kitchen Police), so when he was called to 'pull KP', he would pay me $25 to do it for him. At the time, our pay was $96 a month, but that was chickenfeed for Mickey. I loved the guy, and I think of him almost every day now.

MICKEY WAS 10 YEARS MY SENIOR, AND WAS VERY KIND AND HELPFUL TO ME, A YOUNG TROMBONIST THAT WAS TRYING TO BREAK IN TO THE MUSIC BUSINESS!

He was a gifted, accomplished and widely respected musician.
He was a brilliant storyteller, especially when expressed through his horn, which never failed.
He was occasionally irreverent.
He sometimes misbehaved.
He was imperfect and flawed, as is common to all humankind.
He was charming.
He was handsome.
He was wholly human.
He loved and was loved.
He was my brother.
------------Anita Gravine