By Spc. Stefanie Strong
1120 Ordnance Company Public Affairs Office
CAMP CROPPER, Iraq – There are those who just have the ability to bring others together. They are natural, if not accidental party planners. Sometimes it's their friendly persona or their talent as a storyteller. Other times all it takes is a round table and a few jokes. For 25 year-old Spc. Joe Frazier, it's singing, playing music and a big smile.
"I can remember singing as soon as I could talk. I can remember trying to sing with the radio," explained Frazier.
Frazier is one of those individuals who, no matter what the circumstances, can always find a reason to keep singing. Joe can captivate any audience, whether he's singing, playing his guitar, or just talking about life. He's the type of friend everyone wants and those lucky enough to know him will never forget him.
Frazier joined the Oklahoma Army National Guard almost nine years ago. Initially, he signed on the dotted line with some of his buddies. It was not just the camaraderie, however, that he was looking for. "I joined for the college money," said Frazier. As of yet, he has not used the National Guard's Tuition Assistance Program, however, he plans to take advantage of the benefits and start school once he returns home. Joe plans to study criminal justice.
For now, Frazier is serving in the 1120th Ordnance Company. Part of the 45th Infantry Brigade for the deployment, the 1120th's mission is Detainee Operations in southwest Baghdad.
Back home, Frazier's drill weekend mission is a little bit different. He spends his weekends as a mechanic working on military vehicles. Here, however, Frazier is part of the Immediate Response Force. Basically, he is a member of a team similar to a police department's SWAT team. They react to any disturbances and supplement the existing guard force on the theater internment facility. For the length of his 12 hour shift, Frazier and his fellow IRF team members are put through serious training. He explains, "Our whole job is actually based on readiness. [There is] a lot of hand-to-hand [combat training], combat- lifesaver training, and waiting for something to happen." On his days off, however, is when the real Joe Frazier comes out, and leaves the hardships of war behind.
He loves to pull out his guitar and sing a few songs. Often, his music is his most effective way of coping with stress. For him, singing "does about the same as someone who went out and yelled for a while, just to get it off their chest." He continues, "To me, if I can get it out through playing and singing, I'm better off."
The uses of his talents don't stop there. Frazier also takes time out of his already exhausting days to teach others how to play the guitar. When asked about why he enjoys teaching he pauses, smiles, and says "I can remember how frustrating it was and how fun it was, to learn to play." He goes on to describe the feelings associated with being a guitar novice, "You learn something new every day when you start out, I guess I kind of like being a part of that."
To watch Frazier sing and play music is to watch him leave Iraq and go home, however brief. He sings songs that remind him of his wife, his family and his friends. When asked what it was like for him to leave home, Joe looked me straight in the eye and gave me an honest answer.
"I knew it would be hard being away from my family, my wife especially, but I really didn't expect it to be as hard, and I thought I'd be a little stronger with it."
Being away at war is an infinitely different experience than being back in the United States. Those little things that most of us take for granted become sweet privileges that are revoked once soldiers land in the theater of operations.
"I took for granted being able to go to the store for something I need and not having to sign a roster or let two or three other people know where I'm going" he explains. "I miss the actual freedoms that you have at home."
As he reminisces about the everyday happenings and fun times back home, Frazier wanted to let his family and friends back home know that they have to do all of those things he can't.
"Live it up! Live it up! I'm here so they can get a chance to enjoy that stuff! Do everything I can't do right now!"
It won't be long now before Joe and his fellow Thunderbirds will head home. Until then, Frazier will continue to smile, sing and play his guitar. To so many here in Baghdad, Joe has the ability to boost morale on even the toughest days. Joe exemplifies the attitude and spirit of Oklahoma, doing what he can to make this part of the world a better place.
| Date Taken: | 06.30.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 07.18.2008 11:39 |
| Story ID: | 21615 |
| Location: | IQ |
| Web Views: | 91 |
| Downloads: | 73 |
This work, Guard Soldiers Sings, Provides Security, by SPC Stefania Strong, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
