Army broadcaster’s morale boosted with call from Adrian Cronauer
By Karla L. Gonzalez
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 Sgt. Sandra L. Mercado, American Forces Network
Courtesy Photo
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LOS ANGELES (Army News Service, Aug. 20) --What started out as a routine radio interview in mid-July ended up as a chance-of-a-lifetime meeting for one U.S. Army Reserve broadcast journalist.
Sgt. Sandra L. Mercado, 22, with the American Forces Network, Iraq, spent the first six months of her deployment as the radio station’s morning show disc jockey -- so doing an interview with a Los Angeles radio station seemed old hat to her.
“I’ve done a few interviews with several radio stations,” said Mercado, a native of San Gabriel, Calif. “While we were doing the interview I heard someone come on and say, ‘Goooooood morning Baghdad!’ It was Adrian Cronauer.”
Cronauer was an AFN morning show DJ during Vietnam and was portrayed in the movie Good Morning Vietnam. Robin Williams played Cronauer.
While Mercado didn’t open her show with a catch phrase, Mercado said she and Cronauer do have a few things in common.
“We share very similar experiences,” said Mercado. “We both know what it’s like to wake up so early, get the show going, and act like you’ve been up for hours even though you’re really just waking up like everyone else.”
Mercado’s time with Cronauer was a treat and she walked away with some tips from the disc jockey turned lawyer.
“The main bit of advice was to be personable, remember what the troops are going through out there and just have fun,” said Mercado.
Mercado’s morale got a boost from the call, which in turn increased her motivation.
“It is one thing to be deployed,” she said. “It is another thing to be deployed to a combat zone. Although I may have sounded happy on the air all the time, some of the things I’ve seen and experienced would bring me down just like any other service member. Hearing from (Cronauer) just let me know that people back home cared about us very much.”
Being deployed isn’t new to this five-year Army veteran. She was also deployed to Kosovo, from May 2002 to November 2002, with the 302nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment. She did television and radio stories from the area with Soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division.
Compare that deployment with this one and she has many different stories to tell. Mercado remembers the good stories like the capture of Saddam Hussein and the signing of the constitution as well as the not so good – seeing the aftermath of a car bombing.
“I was filming the press conference announcing the capture of Saddam. That was crazy. Grown Iraqi men were crying because they were so happy – so relieved. I also witnessed the signing of the constitution. Both events were very memorable moments,” she said. Mercado has also been able to witness the transfer of power to the Iraqi people.
Following a car bombing, Mercado interviewed and aired a radio story about an Army private who was 20 feet away from the car but survived with no injuries. Mercado said the Soldier attributes his survival to a concrete wall put in place two months prior.
Good or bad, Mercado does what she does for the others stationed in Iraq than for herself.
“A lot of service members would tell me they liked listening to me because I knew how to relate to them. They said I would keep them awake during their guard shifts, because I was full of energy. It was definitely cool hearing what people thought,” she said.
Mercado’s role has changed some since her encounter with Cronauer. She is now working with the TV team, traveling more and meeting more people. Once her deployment is complete, she plans to take the skills she’s learned and all of her experiences to the “civilian side of the house,” she said.
Although Mercado will be transitioning back to civilian life later this year, she doesn’t regret anything about being a Soldier.
“I’ve grown so much as a person and as a Soldier from all of my experiences,” she said. “I wouldn’t have done anything differently. My family, friends, co-workers and professors are so proud of me. I feel honored and grateful to be serving my country. I thank the Army for giving me so many opportunities to do so much with my life.” |
