Army's First Female Bugler Has Passed Away

Being the first at something is always hard. Donna Mae Smith began her career as an Army bugler in 1942, back before women were integrated into the Army as a whole. She was a member of the WAAC, Women's Army Auxillary Corp. She passed away recently at the age of 90, but left behind a profound legacy.

In 1942 while working in a Minnesota plant inspecting .30-caliber cartridges a young 22 year old Donna-Mae Baldenecker –(Burr-Smith) heard the military was accepting recruits for the Woman' Army Auxiliary Corps. She wrote a letter expressing an interest in joining the first W.A.A.C. training center's band. She got a telegram telling her to report for duty as soon as possible!

She was stationed at Des Moines, Iowa and served as both a drum major and the bands only trumpet player for a while. Awakening the troops with reveille and playing taps were an every day duty for the young recruit. Every morning she arose early to start her duty by receiving a wake-up from Cpl. Robert Burr. They were married in 1943.

In those days all of the bugle calls were done by real people, not recordings blared over loudspeakers like they are today.

She continued to play Taps at military funerals until 1996, when health issues forced her to retire. Her life was mixture of tragedy, with her suffering the loss of her 2 sons due to exposure to radiation from the military's bomb testing, back before all of the effects of these type of weapons were known, and triumph.

She and her husband, Robert, had two sons, Craig and Kevin. The family settled in the San Fernando Valley in the 1950's. Tragedy struck while the family was camping in the Utah mountains. They were exposed to a toxic cloud from government bomb testing's. Young Kevin became sick immediately and died within weeks. He was only seven years old. Robert Burr also became sick and later died of cancer in January of 1964.

Rest in peace Donna.

Day is done,
               gone the sun,
               from the lakes
               from the hills
               from the sky,
               all is well,
               safely, rest,
               God is near.

               Fading light,
               Dims the sight,
               And a star gems the sky
               Gleaming bright,
               From afar,
               Drawing, near,
               Falls the night.

               Thanks and praise,
               For our days,
               Neath the sun
               Neath the stars
               Neath the sky,
               As we go,
               This, we, know,
               God is near.