MNBG-E’s ‘Bondsteel Band’ rocks Kosovo US Embassy event

Photo By Staff Sgt. Casey Hustin | PRIŠTINA, Kosovo - Soldiers with Multi-National Battle Group-East represented Camp Bondsteel in a performance for the United States Embassy in Kosovo at their Fourth of July Celebration June 30. The ‘Bondsteel Band’, Soldiers serving with the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, California National Guard and the 44th Medical Brigade and Iler Geci, a Kosovo native, played classic hits including 'Brown Eyed Girl' by Van Morrison and 'Drift Away' by Mentor Williams. (US Army photo by Sgt. Casey Hustin, 19th Public Affairs Detachment)  

CAMP BONDSTEEL, KOSOVO

07.04.2018

Story by Sgt. Casey Hustin 

KFOR Regional Command East

Spc. Kesimy Martinez, a Human Resources Specialist from Orlando, Florida who serves Multi-National Battle Group-East with the 44th Medical Brigade headquartered in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, began technical training in high school, but grew up in a family of musicians.

“I was born to perform,” said Martinez. “Being in Kosovo has definitely made me more susceptible to learning new genres and working with musicians of different backgrounds. Sharing my talent is always a pleasure, but the best part was being able to share it with musicians that are just as passionate about making good music.”

During their performance, the band members, Soldiers serving Multi-National Battle Group-East with the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, California National Guard, the 44th Med. Bde. and Iler Geci, a Kosovo native, played classic hits including 'Brown Eyed Girl' by Van Morrison and 'Drift Away' by Mentor Williams.

“The Department of Defense staff mentioned that they were having issues in booking one of the armed forces bands for the Ambassador's Fourth of July event, said Maj. Mark A. Correa, a staff officer with the 79th IBCT CANG, from Calimesa, CA. “We offered to put a band together based on the musical talents we had discovered at our first open mic night at Camp Bondsteel.”

The ‘Bondsteel Band’ was selected to audition for the event during a coordination meeting at the Embassy and began practicing together in early May.

“Performing was definitely fun,” said Correa. “We all had a variety of musical influences and styles that led to a great sound, which was on display at the event. The best part was just being able to finally play music after working so hard in such a short amount of time.”

• Date Taken: 07.04.2018
• Date Posted: 07.04.2018 14:37
• Story ID: 283277
• Location: CAMP BONDSTEEL, ZZ