U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. William J. Gainey, second from right, senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has a Thanksgiving Day meal with servicemembers on Forward Operating Base Gardez, Afghanistan, Nov. 23, 2006. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Christopher DeWitt
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, Nov. 23, 2006 – U.S. troops serving in Afghanistan are the embodiment of the Army values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage, country singer Michael Peterson told troops here today during a Thanksgiving concert.
Michael Peterson, a country music singer here courtesy of the USO, speaks to servicemembers at Forward Operating Base Gardez, Afghanistan, on Nov. 23. Peterson performed songs and gave thanks for the sacrifice and inspiration of all those in the military. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Christopher DeWitt, USAF.
Peterson, here courtesy of the United Service Organizations, accompanied Army Command Sgt. Maj. William J. Gainey, senior enlisted advisor for Gen. Peter Pace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as he visited U.S. troops at three different bases in Afghanistan today. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel R. Wood, the top enlisted member in Combined Joint Task Force Afghanistan, accompanied them on the trip.
“General Pace wants me to tell all of you that he’s very proud of you and to stay focused,” Gainey told a group of servicemembers in Forward Operating Base Gardez, his first stop of the day.
After eating a traditional Thanksgiving meal with soldiers from the Connecticut National Guard, Gainey spent time explaining his role as senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and thanking the troops for serving far from home on Thanksgiving. He also told the troops their mission is as important as that of servicemembers in Iraq.
Peterson, a Grammy Award-nominated singer and songwriter, then had the group alternating between stitches and tears as he combined deep-rooted patriotism with sometimes-ribald humor in his remarks and songs. He’s sold more than a million records, but doesn’t travel with an entourage -- just an acoustic guitar and a cowboy hat.
Peterson’s heartfelt respect and admiration for servicemembers was evident in every remark. “I’m like a lot of others: When our country was hit (in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks), I knew I wanted to do something, but I didn’t know what to do,” he said before launching into a patriotic song about the value of veterans and the American Legion. He’s donating half the profits from the song to the Legion’s Legacy Scholarship Fund, which takes care of college scholarships for students whose parents have been killed in action.
“So I’m doing what I can with what I have and where I’m at,” he said. “That’s why I’m out here, just trying to be one team, one fight with you guys and trying to close the gap between the military and the civilians.”
He also thanked the troops for their service. “More than anything, I say, ‘Thank you’ on this Thanksgiving Day,” Peterson said. “My hat’s off to you.”
Johnny Mathis ~~ It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
Johnny Mathis ~~ Sleigh Ride
Mannheim Steamroller ~~ Deck The Halls
Johnny Mathis ~~ We Need a Little Christmas
...... HERE
