Courtesy Photo | Learning a new tune. The band learns and practices new songs to add to their...... read more read more
By Maj. Sherri L. Shadrock
264th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion
CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq — It was New Year's Eve and the air was filled with electricity generated by five fellow Soldiers praying and singing at the Dragon Chapel's New Year's Eve service.
Although this band did not have an elaborate sound system or stage hands, their message of joy, hope and praise was no less appreciated by the parishioners. Though the band has no official name, it may well be called the 2025th band since four of the five band members are assigned to the 2025th Transportation Company, 264th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 15th Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), here.
The 2025th Trans. Company hails from Jacksonville, Ala.
Their music and message can be categorized as contemporary Christian praise and worship with a heavy guitar influence.
The band consists of five members. On vocals and especially melodic is Sgt. Jannette Calderon, a personnel administration sergeant with five years of service.
Calderon was born and raised in the Michoacán, Mexico, but now calls Jacksonville, Ala., home.
She and Spc. Mark Hicks attend similar churches at home and have shared their passion for musical ministry prior to the deployment
For Calderon, the band was a good opportunity to minister here. Not only does she gain satisfaction from performing her military mission, she has a personal mission to share her talents and energy with others. The musical ministry is the perfect instrument for doing just that, she said.
On guitar is Sgt. Joseph Armstrong, a truck driver with 12 years of service.
Armstrong was born at Fort Rucker, Ala., and is from an area in the southeast corner of Alabama known as the Wiregrass area.
Armstrong said he was playing one evening at the chapel when Hicks joined him.
Hicks's talents tended to make everyone feel better about playing. That was all the group needed to solidify their start.
"If you can you do," Armstrong said. Playing was uplifting and something he enjoyed doing and sharing with others.
On vocals and a six string acoustic guitar is Specialist Mark Hicks, a truck driver with five years of service. Hicks hails from Talladega, Ala., and has been playing with the band for two months.
Most of the band considers Hicks to be an excellent guitar player and credit Hicks with solidifying the band and giving it momentum.
"It's all from above," Hicks said, downplaying his role in the band.
Hicks dedicates his music as worship to the Lord and said he enjoys reaching out to others through the music ministry.
On a 12-string acoustic guitar is Spc. Joshua Hargrove, a mechanic with three years of service from Odenville, Ala.
Music has been a part of Hargrove's life since the fifth grade. Music is an excellent way to reach out to others and is something he enjoys sharing with the other band members.
Hargrove is new to the band and has played with them for a few weeks prior to the New Year's Eve service.
All of the band members agreed that the deployment helped bring them together musically and they were all happy for it. They have all benefitted by joining together to worship and minister.
Their personal connections made on a spiritual level is also something that is good for the environment here.
| Date Taken: | 12.24.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 01.19.2010 08:37 |
| Story ID: | 44104 |
| Location: | TIKRIT, IQ |
| Web Views: | 161 |
| Downloads: | 138 |
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