WAR-ERA MUSIC SPARKS STRONG MEMORIES.

Byline: Gloria Gonzales Daily News Staff Writer

Leonard Zerlin remembers hearing the song ``White Christmas'' over a military public address system in a mess hall during wartime.

``The songs from that period conjure up so many poignant images, for some of them I can remember exactly who I was with and what I was doing,'' said the World War II veteran, who now lives in Thousand Oaks and has compiled memorabilia from the era in a book titled ``World War II Memories.''

``I remember walking into a cafeteria. . . . I had completed basic training and was going on to some additional training. . . . I heard Bing Crosby singing `White Christmas,' and I started to cry.

``I think that's when it hit me that I was very far away from home. I was 19, I had enlisted and I thought, what am I doing here? It was that moment that I realized the mortality of what I was doing, but I also still believed I had to do it.

``Those feelings just came over me. Even today, if I'm alone and I hear that song I get tears in my eyes.''

The songs of the period have the power to evoke war memories for Zerlin and a generation of Americans who can distinguish and define V-E Day, V-J Day, D-day and Armistice Day.

Zerlin's wife, children and several grandchildren will join Zerlin on Tuesday night when he revisits those memories while listening to music from the era performed by the Harry James Band at the Civic Arts Plaza's ``Big Band Salute to the Music that Won World War II.''

``I understand that some of the original members of the Harry James Band will play. I'll be there with my book and some mementos,'' said Zerlin, who served as a turret gunner in a B-26 Marauder during the war. ``The most difficult songs to listen to were the ones like `I'll Be Seeing You in all the Familiar Places.' I can remember hearing that song and thinking that I wouldn't have the opportunity to come back to anybody.''

Zerlin did come back. He returned to his native Brooklyn after the war, and in 1947 he met a Bronx girl named Corinne. The couple celebrated their 50th anniversary in June 1997 in Thousand Oaks, and Corinne will be by his side at the Tuesday night concert.

The Tuesday night program pays tribute to music that inspired passionate patriotism then and stirs memories today. Zerlin hopes the program will include some of the favorites listed in his book: ``Stardust,'' ``Begin the Beguine'' and ``Green Eyes.''

In addition to signing his book, Zerlin will also display some of his personal World War II mementos in the lobby of the Civic Arts Plaza before the show. His collection includes pilots' heavy lamb's wool and leather uniforms, helmets, boots, bayonets and a standard-issue oxygen mask.

``You had to wear that any time you flew above 16,000 feet,'' he said.

``Big Band Salute to the Music That Won World War II'' begins at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 13 at the Civic Arts Plaza. Ticket prices range from $17.50 to $27.50. For more information about the performance, call (805) 449-ARTS. For more information about Leonard Zerlin's book, ``World War II Memories'' call [phone].

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2 Photos

PHOTO (1--Color) (Color in Conejo and Simi only) Leonard Zerlin holds his book about World War II and a photo of himself at 19 as a turret gunner.

(2--Color) (Ran in Simi and Conejo only) A World War II oxygen mask is one of the items collected by veteran Leonard Zerlin.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News