Zac Brown Band Misses Academy of County Music Awards for USO Tour

Courtesy Photo | Soldiers with the Regimental Fires Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) enjoy a concert performed by the Zac Brown Band Saturday during a USO tour.  

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE MAREZ, IRAQ

04.18.2010

Story by Capt. Kevin Levesque 

278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Tennessee Army National Guard

CONTINGENCY OPERATING LOCATION MAREZ, Iraq — Soldiers from the Regimental Fires Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) were treated to a live concert here, on Saturday evening, April 17, by the Zac Brown Band. The band opted to go on a Unit Services Organization tour in Iraq to entertain Soldiers, even though it meant they would miss the Academy of County Music awards in Nashville, Tenn.

"I feel very honored to be here personally, said Chris Fryer, the band's drummer, from Gardendale, Alabama. "It's not a sacrifice at all to us, what the men and woman here do is the real sacrifice ...it means more to be here than sitting at an awards show."

The concert was appreciated by the troops, who volunteered to help unload the band's equipment and set up for the evening's performance. As the sun set, the band played many of the Tennessee soldiers' favorite songs including, "Toes" and "Chicken Fried." More than two thousand Soldiers attended the concert.

"It means a lot to the troops to have them here," said Lt. Col Warner Holt, RFS commander and a Winchester, Tenn., resident. Holt presented the band with an American flag that had been flown over the base near Mosul, Iraq.

After the concert, the band spent more than two hours signing autographs and taking pictures with the troops.

"Hopefully, this will bring a little bit of home," said Zac Brown, the band leader.

• Date Taken: 04.18.2010
• Date Posted: 04.18.2010 17:14
• Story ID: 48310
• Location: CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE MAREZ, IQ