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Marines

Unit HomeAboutOur HistoryHistory of the Drum MajorsAugust Gaeckler

Marine Band Drum Major August Gaeckler
Biography of Marine Band Drum Major August Gaeckler


August Gaeckler

Drum Major, 1886-1895

August Gaeckler was born on Dec. 12, 1847 in Pirmasens, Bavaria, Germany. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on Aug. 9, 1864, and served first in Philadelphia. His career included service on numerous U.S. ships and at Marine Barracks Brooklyn, N.Y. He was appointed Drum Major of the Marine Band on May 24, 1886, and he served as the band’s Drum Major until his retirement on May 16, 1895. After retirement he moved to Philadelphia and then back to Germany where he died on Nov. 15, 1826.