36th Infantry Division Band

The 36th Infantry Division Band was first formed on April 1, 1937 in New Braunfels, Texas as an element of the historic 36th Infantry Division, Texas Army National Guard. The band was federally activated for WWII along with the entire 36th ID, becoming the first American Division to touch European soil during the invasion of Italy. After serving in Europe for the remainder of WWII, the unit was deactivated from federal service on February 15, 1946 in Europe, and was later reorganized in New Braunfels, Texas in 1947. 

On June 1, 1968, the band moved from New Braunfels to Camp Mabry in Austin, Texas, at which time both the 36th Infantry Division Band and the 49th Armored Division Band were combined to become the 236th Army band, Texas Army National Guard. In 1973 the 49th Armored Division Band was reactivated, continuing the unit’s visibility with tours of Italy, Australia, Bosnia, and the Czech Republic. 

In the summer of 2004, the 49th Armored Division was deactivated, and the unit returned to its original designation as the 36th Infantry Division Band, Texas Army National Guard. The 36th ID Band’s most recent honors include the awarding of the prestigious Colonel Howard Award for Military Concert Bands, both in 2008 and 2012. Since returning from Basra, Iraq in 2011, the “Lone Star Band” and its citizen soldiers continue to be the most visible public element of the Texas Military Forces, representing the Texas Army National Guard in both military and civilian events across the great state of Texas.