Photo By Staff Sgt. Shawn Miller | Hundreds crowd near the main stage as country music star Trace Adkins performs during...... read more read more
CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq – Rain and blowing dust could not drive country music fans away as hundreds gathered to see Trace Adkins perform during a USO concert, Nov. 1.
Adkins spent the day meeting with servicemembers signing autographs and posing for photos before taking the stage to sing past hits and a selection of songs from his new album, Cowboy’s Back in Town.
This USO tour through Iraq and Kuwait marks the third trip to the Middle East for Adkins, who said he felt humbled by the response from the soldiers here.
“I support the soldiers, period. I will always be steadfast and loyal for you,” stated Adkins, echoing the 4th Infantry Division’s motto.
For the troops and contractors, the USO concerts are a welcome break from the daily grind of life in a war zone.
“It provides a stress free atmosphere and kind of helps you get away from everything that you’ve been doing,” said Pfc. Aimee Bendle, 4th ID Special Troops Battalion, and Alexandria Bay, N.Y., native.
For Bendle, on her first deployment, the concerts help keep morale high and give a sense of normalcy, she explained as she gathered with friends for photos in front of the stage.
As the wind and dust picked up, the cheers grew louder. Adkins, on his second visit to COB Speicher, kept the mood light by joking with the soldiers about the weather and keeping the songs playing.
“So it’s raining in the desert right now? That’s cool,” he said with a laugh as he set up for another song.
The country music superstar ended the night on a more humble note, however, expressing his gratitude for the soldiers’ service. There was also no need to thank him for making the visit, he explained.
“Someday I’ll be able to look at my grandkids,” Adkins said, “And I will say ‘I didn’t have a hand, personally, in shaping history; but I shook the hands of the people that did.’”
| Date Taken: | 11.01.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 11.03.2010 10:13 |
| Story ID: | 59354 |
| Location: | CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, IQ |
| Web Views: | 268 |
| Downloads: | 6 |
This work, Trace Adkins entertains COB Speicher, by SSG Shawn Miller, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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