These four veteran troupers, all past their 40th birthday, had completed six weeks of basic training (required for those going into a combat zone) then shipped from Shangri-La (America) on Aug. 25, 1943 and by July 1944 when they reached Yangkai they had given better than 625 performances in North Africa, Italy, the Persian Gulf Command and India-Burma.
The group started with five men. The fifth, Tano Cutelli, became ill while entertaining troops in a combat area of North Africa. He insisted on continuing to perform inspite of a high fever, until the others realized he was near death. He was evacuated to a hospital outside the combat zone. Unfortunarely, Tano died there. As he wished, his four partners continued on.
Group leader was Jack Cavanaugh, a 56-year old cowboy specializing in cowboy comedy, rope spinning tricks and just plain fun. Basil Fomeen is 44-year old Russian immigrant, former society band leader in NYC, accordionist, and composer, best known as the leader of the Basil Fomeen Orchestra. Joe Tershay, a Syrian immigrant and Chicago-based immigrant magician, and Gene Emerald, emcee and guitarist.
Following their CBI tour, in December 1944 USO Camp Shows forced the four committed entertainers to take a 30-day break, although all of them complained, before allowing them to proceed to the Philippines to continue entertaining GIs.
