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Staff Sgt. Caleb Green raps while Jacksonville Jaguar Cheerleader Jill Cottingham dances in the background. Green, a vocalist in the U.S. Army Band, was part of the opening act for the Southwest Asia USO tour. (photo by Staff Sgt. Marcia Triggs)
USO brings cheer to soldiers in Southwest Asia
by Staff Sgt. Marcia Triggs
BAGRAM, Afghanistan (Army News Service, Dec. 21, 2002) - A group of U.S. entertainers spent the past week in Southwest Asia saying "thank you" to American military personnel for their service and patriotism.
"I imagine that the passion I have for music is what they feel toward fighting for our country," said country singer Daryl Worley. "Every soldier has a job or specialty, and they do it to perfection, and they do it with professionalism. We're all striving to better ourselves and I would say 90 percent of the guys that are here are better than I will ever be."
Worley is headlining the United Service Organizations tour, which made its first stop in Kuwait. Soldiers have been deploying to Kuwait since 1992 following the Persian Gulf War. Soldiers there say the time spent away from their families can start to take a toll.
"It gets hard to be here sometimes," said Cpl. Katherine Hines, a medic deployed to Kuwait. "But when we get guests who come just because we're here it makes what we do worth it."
Along with Worley was comedian Kathy Griffin, "JAG" star Karri Turner, World Wrestling Enterprise wrestler Bradshaw and cheerleaders from Florida's Jacksonville Jaguars.
Hines said that she was most excited about meeting Griffin. She said it means a lot to her that the female comedian was willing to spend her holidays with troops.
Griffin, who appeared in the movie "Suddenly Susan" and was the host of the 2000 Billboard Music Awards, said she feels an emotional bond with the soldiers while performing.
"I see them laughing and I hear the cheers, but the room is filled with much more. I can tell that they are treasuring the moment just as much or maybe even more than me," Griffin said.
Sgt. Maj. of the Army Jack Tilley escorted the entertainers to Kuwait, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan where they performed four shows. Tilley said the tour would be the first of more morale-boosting shows to come.
"This USO tour was a success because soldiers on foreign land were able to see part of the homeland, Tilley said. It cheered them up and that makes me happy."
Uplifting soldiers and showing that America supports what they're doing overseas was the goal for the entertainers. However, soldiers touched the heart of actress Karri Turner more than she expected.
During Turner's standup routine she told a story about how after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks American flags sprouted up over town, and people were courteous and more considerate of others.
After the show she received a letter from a soldier saying that he use to be the Hollywood-bourgeois type, but after America was attacked he instead enlisted versus buying a flag. Spc. Scott Cherlein appeared in the JAG episode "Web of Lies." But now he can be found featuring in Operation Enduring Freedom.
"Visiting troops is the most rewarding experience I could have," said Turner who was on her second USO tour. "My family taught me that God and Country are the most important things in life and I'm here to give the people who are standing between me and the enemy a pat on the back."
Celebrating a birthday on the tour, Turner surprisingly received a birthday card from Special Forces soldiers while out shaking hands with soldiers in Kabul.
"Being here makes me teary eyed," said Turner. "The word military is so vague, and a lot of people don't know exactly what the military's role is. I've seen the soldiers who have to carry their weapons on their backs. I've seen the faces and a lot of them are kids, but I trust them with my life."
Anyone that crosses the United States hasn't read history, said Bradshaw who motivated troops with his aspiring words. "In every war, we've been tested but we remain undefeated. There is no other military comparable." Bradshaw said. "I'm just a nobody. I don't want to sway anyone's opinion about the war. But what I see is capable soldiers ready to kick butt."
Bradshaw, who was popular with the wrestling fans, was also a crowd favorite among others. "I didn't know Bradshaw before I saw him on stage, but I really appreciate how strong he came out in support of us," said Sgt. Benjamin Castellano, an intelligence analyst from Fort Bliss, Texas, currently deployed to Kuwait.
Getting the crowd psyched up before the entertainers came on stage was the U.S. Army Band (Pershing's Own) from Fort Myer, Va. It was the first time the band had performed in a combat theater since World War II. At the request of Tilley, three vocalists, three musicians from the horn section, a bass guitarist, a drummer, a piano player and two crewmen opened the act.
They got the crowd on their feet with singles like "Respect" by Aretha Franklin and a soulful version of "God Bless America." After opening, the band also played back-up music for Worley. "We added a level of emotion to the tour that is unapproachable by words," said Staff Sgt. Harold Sumney, a drummer.
A lot of people are surprised when they hear the Army Band, some of the band members said. "Our music is comparable to professionals," said Sumney, "and when used by the command we are an asset to motivating and providing esprit de corps."
12/27/02 - U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFPN) -- The Air Force Academy Falcons face Virginia Tech in the 2002 Diamond Walnut San Francisco Bowl on Dec. 31. The 18th-ranked Hokies will take on Air Force at 7:30 p.m. PST in Pacific Bell Park.
Virginia Tech and Air Force will meet for the first time since Air Force defeated the Hokies 23-7 in the 1984 Independence Bowl.
"We feel we have one of the best matchups in the 2002-03 bowl lineup," said Gary Cavalli, executive director of the bowl. "We have two of the premier programs in the country and two of the top coaches in the nation."
Virginia Tech finished the regular season 9-4 overall and 3-4 in the Big East. Air Force ended its regular season with an 8-4 overall mark and a 4-3 record in the Mountain West Conference.
"I have all the respect in the world for Virginia Tech and the job Frank Beamer has done there," said Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry. "We're very excited about the opportunity to play such a nationally respected program."
The game features two of the premier special-teams units in the country. Virginia Tech and Air Force rank first and second, respectively, in blocked kicks since 1990. The Hokies have blocked 85 while Air Force has 79.
The game also features the third- and fourth-longest tenured coaches in the nation. DeBerry has been at Air Force for 19 years while Beamer has been at Virginia Tech 16 years. Only Penn State's Joe Paterno (37 years) and Bobby Bowden (27 years) of Florida State have been at their schools longer.
The bowl game is the 17th in Air Force history and 12th in the DeBerry era. Air Force is 8-7-1 all-time in bowl games. DeBerry has led the Falcons to a 6-5 bowl record.
