Soldier takes top singing honors in Taji

Courtesy Photo | Cpl. John St. Germain, a native of Elkhart, Indiana, and Soldier of the 1538th Trans. Co., 419th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, shows off his first-place plaque following his triumph as the top vocalist on Camp Taji. St. Germain competed with nearly 40 other singers during a competition sponsored by Camp Taji MWR. His rendition of the Blues Brothers' "Sweet Home Chicago" electrified over 200 spectators.  

TAJI, IRAQ

06.05.2009

Courtesy Story

3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command

CAMP TAJI, Iraq — Soldiers find many ways to unwind and fill up their down-time when they're not on missions or working away to support missions.

Recently, one Soldier from the Indiana National Guard's 1538th Transportation Company, 419th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, raised one of his favorite ways to a new level, not only blowing off some steam but blowing away the audience and all competition at the Camp Taji Karaoke Championship.

Cpl. John St. Germain, a resident of the 1538th's hometown of Elkhart, Ind., recently garnered top honors, June 5, during a competition sponsored by Camp Taji Morale, Welfare and Recreation, vanquishing a very-talented field of 40 other vocalists vying for the title of Taji's best.

The event not only brought out a large field of singers but an enthusiastic audience of more than 200. "It was quite the turnout - I really didn't expect that large of an audience. They were a great crowd," said St. Germain.

St. Germain is no stranger to the stage or to wooing the crowds. In addition to being a former Marine rifleman turned Army supply specialist, St. Germain hosts and sings karaoke back home in the States. "I love to sing and I love to meet new people. Karaoke gives you the opportunity to do both," according to St. Germain. His winning song was "Sweet Home Chicago," a Depression-era blues standard made popular by Dan Akroyd and John Belushi in the 1980 film "The Blues Brothers."

For St. Germain, this is one of the crowning achievements in his deployment. "I'm still in a state of shock that I won," he said. For his efforts, St. Germain is taking home a foot-tall glass plaque, engraved with "First Place, Camp Taji Karaoke," an item which when you see him with it, he holds with a cautious white-knuckle grip. "It's really heavy but it's a very nice plaque," said Spc. Jerry Vanest, a native of Elkhart, Ind., St. Germain's co-worker in the company's supply section, visibly proud of his friend's achievement.

"We're very proud of his achievement. To represent our unit and the Indiana National Guard like this and to highlight the diverse range of talent that our Soldiers have is particularly special," said the unit's commander Capt. Phillip Anderson, a resident of Plainfield, Ind.

This past year, another Indiana National Guard Soldier was a semi-finalist in the 2008 Army-wide "Operation Rising Star" competition. Maj. Lisa Kopczynski, a native of Indianapolis, with the 76th Infantry Brigade appeared among 12 semi-finalists on the program televised on Armed Forces Network and cable's The Pentagon Channel.

The Hoosier State's rich musical history includes such noted artists such Cole Porter, Hoagy Carmichael, Stephen Dresser, Michael and Janet Jackson, John Mellencamp, Steve Wariner, Bill and Gloria Gaither, Axl Rose, David Lee Roth, and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, so it comes as little surprise that Soldiers such as St. Germain and Kopczynski excite audiences wherever they go as well.

"We've got a lot of talent in this company — Soldiers, carpenters, singers, musicians, artists, actors, truck drivers and mechanics. It's great to see our troops recognized for doing what they love to do," said 1st Sgt. Jeffrey Spencer of Westport, Indiana.

The 1538th redeploys home to Camp Atterbury in late June. Shortly after that, Cpl. St. Germain anticipates being home, among friends and family, belting out the tunes in more-relaxed and very-familiar surroundings. "I'm looking forward to getting home," he said. "I once sang a certain song to a lady, and she's been with me ever since. I can't wait to see my wife again."

• Date Taken: 06.05.2009
• Date Posted: 06.20.2009 04:36
• Story ID: 35385
• Location: TAJI, IQ