Gen. Richard B. Myers, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, makes a stop at the Tigerland Dining Facility Aug. 17 during a 10-day USO Tour. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Thomas Benoit, 256th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs)
August 21, 2005
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq -- It was a star-studded day for Task Force Baghdad Soldiers.
Gen. Richard Myers, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, brought an unforgettable USO Show to Soldiers on Camp Liberty Aug. 17. NBC-TV’s "Today Show" co-host Matt Lauer also broadcast live from the Tigerland Dining Facility.
Myers was accompanied by Gen. George W. Casey, Jr., commander of Multi-National Forces-Iraq; Leeann Tweeden, from Fox-TV’s "The Best Damn Sports Show Period;" comedians Jeffrey Ross and Colin Quinn; and NFL Chicago Bears football Hall of Famer Gayle Sayers.
"One reason I do this is to thank you," Myers told the troops. "I know it’s tough. We’ve lost a lot of really good men and women, and we’re grateful for their sacrifice."
Myers singled out the reservists, and recognized the lives they left behind in the United States.
"You left jobs, schools, families, and both you and your families are making great sacrifices," he said.
Tweeden, acting as the Mistress of Ceremonies, told the Soldiers how the USO always made a great impact on her life, even as a small child. She said her father was an Air Force pilot in Vietnam, and when she was a little girl she found an autographed photo of Raquel Welch made out to her father. He told Tweeden he met Welch when she visited the troops on a USO tour.
"My dad told me that for one afternoon, she made him feel like he was normal again," Tweeden reflected. "When I got invited a few years ago to be part of the tour, I felt like my life had come full circle."
This is Tweeden’s seventh tour with the USO, and she hopes she is making a difference in the lives of the troops.
"My father still talks about meeting Raquel Welch, and maybe 20 years from now, one of you will be telling your children about me, and I’ll know I’ve made an impact," she said.
Tweeden also took the opportunity to thank the female Soldiers for their service. She said she admires their perseverance and dedication and said they make her proud to be a woman.
Actress Leeann Tweeden on her seventh USO tour, stops at the Tigerland Dining Facility Aug. 17 to boost the morale of troops stationed at Camp Liberty, Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Thomas Benoit, 256th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs)
In addition to two comedy routines by Jeffrey Ross and Colin Quinn, Sayers spoke on the value of teamwork and counting on your fellow man.
"You can’t do it by yourself, you have to rely on your team members," said the former Chicago Bears running back and current motivational speaker. Sayers told the Soldiers to put everything they could into this experience and hold onto it for all that it’s worth.
"Winston Churchill once said, ‘You make a living by what you make, but you make a life by what you give,’" he said. "You Soldiers are making a life right now. Life is measured by donation, not duration."
As the USO events took place, Lauer interviewed Soldiers from Task Force Baghdad, including Spc. Steven Tschiderer of the 256th Brigade Combat Team.
Nearly two months ago, a sniper shot Tschiderer in the chest, but he survived thanks to his armored vest. After a chase which resulted in a few gunshot wounds to the shooter, the terrorist was captured by Tschiderer and his unit. Tschiderer, a medic, started giving medical care to the very terrorist who had tried to take his life
Lauer interviewed Tschiderer about his story and asked him to explain the functions and aspects of the body armor. Because Tschiderer wore his ballistic vest and helmet the day of the attack, he only sustained a large bruise on his chest, rather than the fatal alternative.
Tschiderer, a native of Mendon, N.Y., with E Troop, 101st Cavalry attached to 3rd Battalion, 156th Infantry Regiment, 256th BCT, said meeting Casey was a highlight in his day.
The feeling seemed to be reciprocal.
"You’re not just a hero, you’re my hero," Casey told the overwhelmed Soldier.
Lauer also interviewed Sgt. 1st Class Jamie Wells, from Newark, Ohio, about his two tours in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Wells, a platoon sergeant with 4th Battalion, 64th Armor, 4th Brigade Combat Team, conducted operations during OIF 1 and said over the course of the last two years, the situation greatly changed.
Matt Lauer interviews Chief Warrant Officer Randy Kirgiss from Hector, Minn., with C Company, 4th Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment (Assault Helicopter). Kirgiss founded "Operation Teddy Drop" in his Baghdad area of operations. (U. S. Army photo by Spc. Erin Robicheaux, 256th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs)
"It’s a complete difference in the way we conduct combat operations," he said. "Before, if you saw the enemy, you shot the enemy, but now it’s so hard to tell who the enemy even is."
Capt. Sherman Powell from Newport, R.I., agreed with Wells’ assessment. He was also interviewed about his experiences during OIF 1. During his last tour in Iraq, as a company commander with 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, Powell and his troops fought in central Baghdad and captured what is now the International Zone. Today, he conducts operations in southeast Baghdad and said the focus right now is building up the Iraqi Army, and essentially, the Iraqi government.
"The last time we were here, the government and the military basically collapsed, and this time around, the country is getting back on its feet," he said.
Powell said he is a first-hand witness to the progress Iraq has made in the time since the war began. He said one large improvement is the presence of the Iraqi Security Forces.
"When we were here before, there were no Iraqi Police or Iraqi Army Soldiers, there wasn’t even anyone to collect the trash," he said. "This time instead of being the government, which we were before, we’re helping build it."
Lauer also interviewed Chief Warrant Officer Randy Kirgiss from Hector, Minn., with C Company, 4th Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment (Assault Helicopter). Kirgiss founded Operation Teddy Drop, which has brought more than 5,000 teddy bears to children in the Baghdad area. A recent donation of 15,000 are still awaiting distribution. Kirgiss and his crew receive donations of teddy bears and parachute material from people throughout the U.S. The bears are rigged with parachutes and dropped out of aircraft during routine missions.
"We began taking donations in January and made our first drop in April," he said. The idea was based on humanitarian missions he performed while deployed to Bosnia.
"We do this just about each time we fly, as long as it’s not a combat mission," Kirgiss said. "We can get into areas a lot of the ground troops don’t get to, but we do try to stay out of the urban areas so the kids don’t run into streets."
Task Force Baghdad Soldiers enjoyed the day’s events, and Tweeden had a few parting words for them just prior to leaving the dining facility: "I know that there’s a lot of negativity in the media and the message you guys are getting probably isn’t the greatest, but please know that the people back home love you and support you. You are our heroes."
By Spc. Erin Robicheaux - 256th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:
Spc. Steven Tschiderer from Mendon, N.Y. of E Troop, 101st Cavalry, attached to 3rd Battalion, 156th Infantry Regiment, 256th Brigade Combat Team, shows Matt Lauer a picture of his chest injury after he was shot by a sniper. (U. S. Army photo by Spc. Erin Robicheaux, 256th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs)
Louisiana Soldiers from the 256th Brigade Combat Team hold up a sign for the "Today Show" cameras during a USO tour at the Tigerland Dining Facility Aug. 17. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Thomas Benoit, 256th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs)
