Posted on 01/10/2004 6:26:58 PM PST by Ragtime Cowgirl
Band members entertain nationally and internationally
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Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Alex Hernandez U.S. Army Band Soldiers arive overseas during their holiday tour with Sgt. Maj. of the Army Jack Tilley. The tour included stops in Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. |
Staff Sgt. Colin Eaton traveled right before Christmas to most of the same places he visited last year -- Kuwait, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. But this year he added a new locale -- Iraq -- as a member of the Army Chorus's second annual USO trip led by Sgt. Major of the Army Jack Tilley.
Chief Warrant Officer Charles Bollherbst led 15 members of the U. S. Army Band (Pershing's Own) and four vocalists to San Antonio to participate in "A Flag Story" before last Saturday's U. S. Army All-American Bowl high school all-star football game.
Sgt. Dave Gillespie of the band's public affairs office described "A Flag Story" as a "travel through the growth of the nation and the history and role of the Army." More than 100 soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard) dressed in period costumes and dress blues to carry the various states flags.
Eaton was one of three vocalists, 12 band members and technicians and the director of the band Col. Gary Lamb, who joined entertainers such as singer Darryl Worley and comedian Al Franken on the trip.
"It was sad because we had to do it again," Eaton said. "We took phone numbers to call their loved ones. They don't really get much entertainment through there. We'd talk to them before and after the show. We met a lot of Special Forces guys who just got back from doing who knows what."
Last year's performances overseas was the first time the Army Band had performed in a combat zone since World War II. This year's tour marked the last official tour for Tilley who retires Jan. 15.
Eaton was struck by the differences between the opulence and splendor of Saddam's palaces and the people living in hovels directly outside the gates. The sergeant visited the 4th Infantry Division in Tikrit.
"The average soldier was very excited, especially in Tikrit," he said. "They were psyched and pumped and ready to go to the next stop."
Bollherbst and his technicians faced some difficulties getting set to play and sing in a large domed stadium.
"[The sound crew] had the tough job, a lot of reverberation," he said. "The singers use inner ear monitors so they can hear themselves sing. We also performed at an awards dinner the previous night at the convention center."
The Blues director said his show was received by the patriotic San Antonio folks and a large number of service members bussed in from Fort Sam Houston. The Army Recruiting Command also sponsored a band competition that was well attended by recruiters from the Army field bands.
Sgt. 1st Class Caleb Green, a vocalist with the Army Chorus served as the unofficial producer and noncommissioned officer in charge for the international trip. He was responsible for the band members and technical crew, re-familiarizing themselves with basic soldier skills such as: first aid, chemical training and marksmanship.
"We're soldier musicians," Green said. "When you go and visit elite units, you get an elite attitude. They're doing a serious job and they're doing it well."
Worley was so inspired by last year's trip; he wrote his best selling "Have You Forgotten" when he returned home. Green said the tour members traveled in just about every conveyance in the military arsenal: Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters, C-130's, C-117's and KC-10's in the air and Humvees on the ground.
Soldiers from the D.C. National Guard protected the tour in Bagram, Afghanistan.
"It was nice having that connection," Green said. "To see the morale go up, especially at Christmas made it all worthwhile."
"We're soldier musicians," Green said. "When you go and visit elite units, you get an elite attitude. They're doing a serious job and they're doing it well."
Worley was so inspired by last year's trip; he wrote his best selling "Have You Forgotten" when he returned home.
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Good will tour, ping! %
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