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    Soldier hopes to be in Army band

    trumpet1

    Photo By Sgt. Marshall Thompson | Pfc. Richard Morgan, a orderly room clerk with Headquarters and Headquarters Company...... read more read more

    03.16.2006

    Courtesy Story

    207th Public Affairs Detachment

    Pfc. Richard Morgan spends his days helping Soldiers with their paperwork, but he spends his nights playing hard on the trumpet he brought from Germany.

    Actually, it's not just at night. Morgan, from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Corps Support Command, plays his trumpet during days off, right after work and even on lunch breaks.

    "He plays all the time," said Spc. Kimberly Hale, an orderly room clerk from HHC, 3rd COSCOM. "He plays here. He plays there. Whenever he has free time, he's playing."

    Morgan, often described as enthusiastic and motivated, was Soldier of the Month in his company for the last two months. He is studying to compete for Soldier of the Quarter this month, but his plans in the Army go far beyond.

    "I"d like to stay in the Army if I can get into the Army band," Morgan said.

    Morgan started playing the trumpet when he was nine years old. He got in trouble in school and faced either detention or music classes after school. The choice was easy for Morgan.

    The music teacher had the children look at all the instruments and then let them pick which one they wanted to play. Morgan said he was lucky to choose first.

    "Give me the shiny one with the three things on it," he said to the teacher more than 15 years ago. "Years later," he said, "it's the one thing I really love to do."

    He said that he didn't take naturally to practicing and his mother had to force him to practice until he first heard Maynard Ferguson, one of the great jazz trumpet players.

    "Maynard Ferguson was the first trumpet player that I listened to that really impressed me," he said.

    As the years passed, Morgan learned how to play the trombone, French horn and other instruments, but the trumpet will always be his favorite.

    "I like the trumpet because of the joy people get when I play it," he said.

    Morgan has shared his talent by playing bugle tunes for his company back in Germany, playing for the Gospel choir on Sundays at the Sustainer Theater, and even playing for a memorial service at Logistical Support Area Anaconda.

    His fellow Soldiers enjoy hearing him play during breaks and after work.

    "Seventeen hundred hits and he's out there blowing and practicing," said 1st Lt. Mark Reed, HHC, 3rd COSCOM executive officer. "He just puts a mute in and starts blowing away."

    Reed said that Morgan gives 100 percent to everything he does as a Soldier and musician.

    "He shines when he plays the trumpet, but it doesn't stop there," Reed said. "It reflects off of him and warms everyone around him."

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 03.16.2006
    Date Posted: 03.16.2006 09:55
    Story ID: 5751
    Location:

    Web Views: 83
    Downloads: 21

    PUBLIC DOMAIN