Courtesy Photo | Sgt. Gregg Kunkle (center), a native of Harleysville, Pa., who serves as a team leader...... read more read more
By Pfc. Samantha Schutz
Multi-National Division - Baghdad Public Affairs Officer
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Soldiers with the 4th Infantry Division and Multi-National Division – Baghdad can no longer tune in to their favorite radio stations while they're deployed to Iraq, two enterprising disc jockeys decided to bring the show to them.
Zack Owen and Jim Cody are the hosts of a popular morning show on "Waco 100," a country music station based near Fort Hood in central Texas, and they are proud to be broadcasting live from the media operations center at Camp Liberty from March 10 to 21.
"The Morning Show with Zack and Jim" has been the top-rated music-based morning show in the area, including Fort Hood, for 15 years, so the duo had plenty of listener support behind them as they prepared to "deploy." With the amount of calls and e-mails coming in from fans in Texas and – thanks to the Internet – throughout the world, it's difficult to determine who was more excited about the show: the hosts or the faithful listeners.
Neither Zack nor Jim ever had the opportunity to serve in the military, so they said they wished there was something they could do to show their support and patriotism. They knew bringing their show overseas would represent a chance for them to serve their country.
"We've talked for years about wanting to come over here," explained Jim. "We knew by virtue of our job, broadcasting, we could come over and be a venue for Soldiers to get in a little piece of home. We said on the air a few times that if anyone knew how to get the ball rolling, we'd appreciate their help."
Toward the end of November, the DJs were attending a fundraiser in central Texas and were introduced to Delena Kanouse, the chief of community relations for III Corps, the headquarters unit in charge at Fort Hood. It was she who initiated Zack and Jim's "deployment" process.
"We've been taken excellent care of. The Army really bent over backwards to get us here," Jim said.
Just like a military unit, Zack and Jim had three months to prepare for their trip. Kanouse helped them complete the required paperwork and set them up to "deploy" with Soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div.
"We wanted to get the whole feel of the thing," said Zack, "so we went through the whole (Soldier Readiness Program) process and everything."
Zack and Jim gladly donned the Army Combat Uniform, received the standard pre-deployment shots and boarded a military flight alongside the 1st Brigade Combat Team Soldiers, Zack said. Most members of the media who visit deployed troops wear civilian attire and fly on a luxury commercial jet.
As they boarded the flight, which departed from Robert Gray Army Airfield at Fort Hood, Zack and Jim received handshakes, hugs and enthusiastic thank-yous from supportive Ironhorse Families. Zack said they were treated like the any other Soldier – like part of the 4th Inf. Div. family.
The 18-hour flight finally brought the pair to Kuwait, where Maj. David Olson, the public affairs officer for 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., kept them under his wing. Zack said Olson helped prepare them for the excitement of their tour.
"(Olson) said there wasn't much going on (in Kuwait), but to two guys who have never done this before, it seemed a little scary to have guys with guns all around you on the bus you're riding," Zack joked.
"Honestly, I have full faith and confidence in the ability of these military men and women to keep me safe from harm," Jim added in all seriousness.
During their stay, the two had the opportunity to visit downtown Baghdad and tour the MND-B area of operations with the bird's eye view from a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.
"I expected to see more of the bombed-out rubble, but you can really see the progress of the past five years. A lot has been rebuilt," said Jim.
"People are out shopping, kids are playing," Jim continued. "It seems like business as usual out in the streets."
Although both hosts agree their sightseeing trip was an incredible once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, they remain wholly focused on completing their primary mission: telling the Soldiers' stories.
Zack and Jim were able to interview nearly 200 Servicemembers within MND-B during their tour, said Zack. Each Soldier had a story to tell and they were able to send their love back to central Texas.
Brig. Gen. Mike Milano, a native of Fort Carson, Colo., who serves as the deputy commanding general in charge of support for the 4th Inf. Div., MND-B, was happy to welcome the DJs into the division's home away from home.
"I think there are lots of ways people can demonstrate their commitment to supporting what our Soldiers are doing," Milano said, "but there is no more sincere way anyone else can do it than what these two gentlemen are doing."
Milano was not the only member of the 4th Inf. Div. Command Team to take on the airways, Command Sgt. Maj. John Gioia, the senior enlisted leader for the 4th Inf. Div. and MND-B stopped by and shared a few stories, a few laughs and his take on the Zack and Jim show, broadcasting live from Iraq.
"They are communicating, for us, the hardships our Soldiers face daily – and what better way to do that than to come see for themselves," Gioia said. "You can tell they truly care for, and support, our Soldiers – and what more can you truly ask for. I truly appreciate the smiles they have brought to the faces of our Soldiers and their families."
Zack said the live show from Iraq is very different from the show they put on back in Waco. Here, they focus less on entertainment and more on getting to know individual troops from MND-B.
With many Soldiers returning to the war zone on multiple deployments, Zack and Jim wanted to give a few of them a chance to connect with their families over the airwaves and have a few laughs in the process.
"We're just trying to bring a bit of home to the guys," said Jim. "We try to make it lighthearted."
Ivy Soldiers flooded the MOC for a chance to go on the air with Zack and Jim, each of them eager to send a shout out to their loved ones.
"It's very peaceful to be able to get away from work for a while and reach out to my family back home. This definitely boosts my morale," said Sgt. Gregg Kunkle, a native of Harleysville, Pa., who serves as a team leader with Company D, Special Troops Battalion, 4th Inf. Div.
Lt. Col. David Yebra, a Tucson, Ariz., native, said his wife and son in Harker Heights, Texas, e-mailed Zack and Jim to thank them for their support. His wife mentioned how she'd love to hear her husband's voice on the radio, so the hosts had him tracked down while he was working in the division's headquarters.
Yebra serves as the deputy fire support coordination officer for the 4th Inf. Div., MND-B.
"These guys had a lot of fun with it," said Yebra, referring to his family, as well as the radio disc jockeys.
"It's great that the support from the central Texas community reaches all the way out here to Iraq," Yebra added. "That's the one thing that has never changed (since my first deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom I): the incredible amount of support from the community."
Although Zack and Jim seem undeniably glad to be here, they remain humble and grateful to the community – civilian and military – who helped bring them to Baghdad. Without everyone's help and cooperation, their trip wouldn't have been possible.
"It has been an incredible opportunity," both hosts declared.
Zack and Jim's show airs on "Waco 100" every morning from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the central Texas area. Ivy-supporting Families at Fort Hood can tune in to 99.9 FM if they want to show their support by listening in. Supporters around the globe can listen to the show at http://www.waco100.com, where they can also e-mail Zack and Jim to share their thoughts and thanks.
| Date Taken: | 03.20.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 03.20.2008 17:42 |
| Story ID: | 17610 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 135 |
| Downloads: | 95 |
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