Posted on 12/22/2003 8:37:51 PM PST by witnesstothefall
TIKRIT, Iraq - The brass section strikes up a fiery tune, the congas set the beat and Sergeant Cesar Castro belts out a fast-paced salsa. It's Latino night in Saddam's palace, proudly brought to you by the U.S. forces occupying Iraq.
Behind the band, a huge mural displays combat troops in action, a US flag and the words "God Bless Taskforce Ironhorse." Standard issue M-16 assault rifles are placed against the wall, and dress code is DCU -- desert camouflage uniforms.
The musicians are all from the U.S. army's 4th Infantry Division, deployed since April in Tikrit, a hotspot of anti-coalition activity and the hometown of ousted dictator Saddam Hussein, 180 kilometers (110 miles) north of Baghdad.
Their inaugural gig a few days ago drew a small crowd of soldiers longing for the sounds of their native Puerto Rico, Mexico or Colombia after putting their lives on the line patroling the badlands of Iraq.
The mood was a little subdued, perhaps because of the lack of rum or tequila, but the band managed to gradually warm up the cold hall in one of the three dozen palaces that dot the landscape of the Ironhorse military base.
"The music connects us with our past, with the culture we miss out here," said Sergeant Juan Garcia, 37, who plays the congas in the band, called Fierro Caliente (hot iron.)
The 3,000 troops at the base include many Latinos, most born in Puerto Rico, Mexico or Colombia, but also in Peru, Ecuador or Venezuela.
While they are all U.S. citizens or permanent residents, they say they miss the sounds and flavors of the lands of their forefathers.
Sergeant Crespin Lopez says that most of all he longs for the spicy food of Mexico, Garcia misses the fried plantains of Puerto Rico and Castro would give anything for a Colombian arepa, a type of cornmeal pancake.
But most of all, they all miss their loved ones.
Above his cot, Lopez has hung a flag of Honduras, the native land of the girl he plans to marry when he returns from Iraq.
While they long for the lands of their parents, the soldiers say they are proud to be fighting under the American banner.
"The colors I defend are the U.. colors," said Castro.
"The United States has given me everything I have, it has made me what I am," says Castro, who has lived in the United States for 23 years.
To the tune of a Mexican bolero, Castro introduces the band he says has come to "celebrate that we are here in Iraq defending freedom."
"The United States has given me everything I have, it has made me what I am," says Castro, who has lived in the United States for 23 years.
Here's to legal immigrants assimilating, and making good Americans.
Sic semper tyrannis.
Big smile over that image. Locked in the bathroom, lol.
'Tis true. I served under a Lt. Carlos Ramirez in Air Defense Artillery. He had come from Mexico, legally, with his parents when he was 12 years old. After HS he joined the Army and became an Air Defense Artillery Officer. Carlos was instrumental in my getting over the "Draftee Blues" and helped send me to OCS. I owe a lot to Lt Ramirez, I hope he's now a General or whatever he wanted to be. Merry Christmas Carlos, wherever you are.
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