Freddy Guerra, 79; Youngest in Glenn Miller’s Army Band

Freddy Guerra, who as a new Army draftee in 1944 became the youngest musician to be assigned to Capt. Glenn Miller’s Army Air Force Band during World War II, has died. He was 79.

Guerra died May 17 in Mesa, Ariz., where he had retired after living in Boston for many years.

While a member of the Miller’s Army band, Guerra was one of four saxophonists who played “Moonlight Serenade,” “String of Pearls” and other signature Miller tunes. He traveled with the band around Europe performing for U.S. soldiers.

After Miller was killed on Dec. 15, 1944, when the single-engine plane in which he was riding to get to a performance went down in the English Channel, Guerra played with the band for two more years under various leaders.

After the war, Guerra led an orchestra, taught and did studio work.