Courtesy Photo | Troops, Department of Defense personnel and contractors crowd the stage to watch...... read more read more
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By Sgt. Shawn Miller
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 United Service Organization concert at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, Iraq, 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 marked the third trip to the Middle East for Adkins, who said he felt humbled by the response from the soldiers, who are deployed to U.S. Division-North in support of Operation New Dawn.
“I support the soldiers, period. I will always be ‘Steadfast and Loyal’ for you,” stated Adkins, echoing the 4th Infantry Division’s motto to the soldiers of Task Force Ironhorse.
For one soldier, the USO concerts provided a welcomed break from the daily grind of life in Iraq.
“It provides a stress free atmosphere and kind of helps you get away from everything that you’ve been doing,” said Pfc. Aimee Bendle, a multi-transmissions systems operator and maintainer from Alexandria Bay, N.Y., assigned to Company C, Division Special Troops Battalion, 4th Inf. Div. USD-N.
The concerts help keep morale high and offer a sense of normalcy, explained Bendle, who calls Alexandria Bay, N.Y., home.
Once the country performer took to the stage, the Iraqi desert winds ushered in gusts of cold air mixed with a little flying sand. As the wind and dust picked up, the cheers from the audience grew louder.
Adkins, kept the mood light by joking with the soldiers about the weather and keeping the songs coming.
“So it’s raining in the desert right now? That’s cool,” said Adkins, with an ironic laugh, setting up for another song.
The country music superstar ended the night on a more humble note expressing his gratitude for the troops’ 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, and I will say, ‘I didn’t have a hand, personally, in shaping history; but I shook the hands of the people that did,’” Adkins said.
| Date Taken: | 11.01.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 11.14.2010 12:44 |
| Story ID: | 60118 |
| Location: | CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, IQ |
| Web Views: | 75 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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