In the fall of 1944, MG Norman D. Cota, Division Commander, decided the Division should have its own march and song. He challenged the members of the Division Band to develop from which would be selected the official march. This contest was won by Sergeant Emil Raab who was a talented band member, before and after the war, he was a music professor and accomplished violinist. Raab retired to North Carolina.
In December 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge, the Band was placed on the line to defend the Division Headquarters at Wiltz, Luxembourg. In this action, for which the Band was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation, all but thirteen of sixty members were killed or captured. Of the thirteen, eleven were wounded. Sergeant Raab avoided capture and helped re-form a new band after the Ardennes campaign.