"Irving Burgie, who co-wrote the Harry Belafonte hit Day-O (The Banana Boat Song) and helped to popularise Caribbean music in the 1950s, has died aged 95. Burgie also penned the lyrics to the national anthem of his home nation Barbados, called In Plenty And In Time of Need. He has been called one of the greatest composers of Caribbean music. His death was announced by the Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley at the country's independence day parade. Burgie's songs, which also included calypso tracks Island in the Sun and Jamaica Farewell, have sold over 100 million records worldwide. Burgie served in an all-black US army battalion in World War Two and used military benefits to pay for his music studies. He studied at the Juilliard School of Music, University of Arizona and University of Southern California. He then became a folk singer using the stage name Lord Burgess." Irving Burgie: Composer who co-wrote Harry Belafonte hit Day-O dies aged 95
All I can find is that he served in China and India, and his unit built a road in Burma. Can't seem to identify his unit.