Music to veterans' ears

POST FALLS — Eighty-eight is a key number to Kathryn Robison these days.

It's her age and also the number of keys on a piano, which the Post Falls woman continues to love to play for veterans and area seniors citizens.

"They seem to enjoy me playing, so I play for them," Robison said with a smile.

At 14, Robison began playing the accordion for World War I veterans at military hospitals. She continued to perform during World War II and the Korean War.

Today, unable to physically play the accordion, Robison sings and plays the piano at area senior facilities and Kootenai Health.

"I love playing patriotic songs and I take requests," she said. "Music is good therapy for everybody."

At some locations, Robison is paid, while at others she's a volunteer.

Robison is a member of Eastern Star, VFW Auxiliary, Ladies of Oriental Shrine, Rambling Rovers travel group in Coeur d'Alene and Daughters of the Nile.

"I'm the grand organist of the Eastern Star for the state of Idaho," she said with a chuckle. "Can you imagine this 88-year-old with such a title? It's an honor."

Why do you enjoy playing music for veterans so much?

I'm just so proud of these boys and girls for doing so much to help our country. I want to do everything I can to help them.

Are you able to still get around well?

I go everywhere. I just have to walk slow now. I've had three strokes and I couldn't use on hand at all. But, if you keep working at it, you get it back. It may not be as good as it used to be, but you don't give up working at it. I can't play the accordion today because I have a pacemaker and I'm afraid the strap will jiggle the wires. So I play the piano instead.

How did your entertainment through music begin?

As part of the Women's Ambulance and Defense Corps of America, I played in hospitals during World War I when I was 14. I could not drive, but I loved to play the accordion for soldiers. I also played at gun emplacements along the California coast. They picked me up in a Jeep at night and I never knew where I was going. They'd take me to a quonset hut where there would be 50 to 100 guys so I'd put on a show for them. Many people don't know we had gun emplacements in those days but we did.

As part of the United Service Organization (USO), you also performed during World War II and the Korean War. Tell me about those experiences.

The USO had never tried music therapy in hospitals before, so I was one of the first to do it. I hit almost every Army and Navy hospital in the United States, including Walter Reed, and went to 17 wards a day. I remember one man who had not spoken for 18 months, so they asked me to see what I could do. He said to me, "Can you play 'Red River Valley?'" They were amazed that he said those six words. I played it more than 100 times and two nurses started talking to him. We had brought our boy back home. I had many experiences like that. It was very important to me. I felt like I was doing something worthwhile. During the Korean War, they needed an accompanist to go to Korea and also to play in the Pacific Command. Bob Hope put on the big shows with the stars and we did the small ones.

Do you have any fun memories to share of during your days of performing for veterans?

When I was with the Women's Ambulance and Defense Corps, I got to go on a date with the nephew of General George Patton. But I was raised that you don't kiss on the first date, so I didn't kiss him good night. I always regretted that because he shipped out on the next day. Another time in Korea a soldier handed me the binoculars and told me to look at a clump of trees out in the distance. The enemies were sitting on the branches and listening to the music. They were watching the show along with our guys.

Was it somewhat difficult being an entertainer during wartime?

In Korea, we put on shows 500 yards from the front line, so it was scary. When I was playing, a group of guys would leave all a sudden and grab their guns and, a few minutes later, a whole new bunch who were bedraggled from fighting would come in. It was rough to see this each day, but that's war. You'd perform on a makeshift stage with it being 5-below zero in the snow. Sometimes I'd play the accordion but I couldn't feel it (because of the cold weather). However, the music would still play. At some hospitals, you didn't play for them, but it was your job just to talk with them and listen to them. They would want to see their children and wives, but you knew some of them were not going home.

What were some of your scariest moments?

One night in Korea I had to go to the bathroom and a guy with a bayonet came up behind me and kept poking me to force me around. I just put up my hands and said, "USO." He walked away. I don't know if it was the enemy or one of our own guys because we all wore the same fatigues. I was also on a plane that was sabotaged by officials in Chiang Kai-shek's Chinese Army. Three motors went out and we were supposed to go down over the ocean. The song "Comin' in on a Wing and a Prayer" kept coming to mind. The fourth motor was conking out, but we landed in Formosa, China. The good Lord had something more for me to do. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here today.