Steve, I discovered VOA a year or so prior to army service, but I listened in all throughout army years. The billet radio was situated right above my bunk!!
Willis Conover talked slowly and clearly for the benefit of a largely non English speaking audience. Many east Europeans tuned in, illegally, and, some of them who later became jazz musicians paid tribute to the programme. In fact, many still spoke in broken English but when talking about jazz they became fluent speakers in the language when virtually talking in the slow deliberate and clear tones of Willis Conover. Great days, and swinging nights!!
Another jazz show I never missed every Friday night was 'Hot House' on AFN Munich. It was presented by 'The Baron Of Bounce', army corporal Ken Dunnagan, who talked quite a lot of GI Jive!!
Mostly a be bop show and his intro was 'Undercurrent Blues' by Benny Goodman's Bop Band, Benny's first try at bop. I liked this track, great trumpet by Doug Mettome. Every time I hear this intro it takes me back in time. I exchanged e -mails with Ken Dunnagan a few times, about fifty years later !! Quite a guy and a good laugh. He always opened the show with, "This is the Baron Of Bounce coming right at you from the cool castle...throw all your pop records in the bin a dig the sounds of....jaaaaazzz" I once asked him if he played any instrument he replied, "Sure! I play a mean Aeolian Harp man".
No video of this show though, this is the track only.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=40o_ja6e4ig