CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait – When the headlining artist fell ill, three DJs from Houston, Texas, stepped in and kept the energy alive during a high-spirited concert hosted by Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) at Camp Buehring on October 20, 2025. Their dynamic sets transformed the desert night into a dance floor, giving deployed troops a much-needed break from daily operations.
Far from home and family, deployed service members rely on morale events like this to reconnect with a sense of normalcy. Organized by MWR in partnership with Armed Forces Entertainment (AFE), the concert aimed to give Soldiers and civilians stationed in Kuwait a brief moment of release and unity.
“Events like these help bring Soldiers together,” said Darius Charitan, Camp Buehring MWR event coordinator. “It’s about giving them something familiar, laughter, music, and a reminder of home, even while they’re serving thousands of miles away.”
The three DJs, DJ T. Gray (Teryl Gray), DJ Marco (Marco Torres), and DJ Hawk (Alex Haq), all hail from Houston and are touring several bases across the Middle East, including stops in Bahrain, Djibouti, and Qatar. Each came with a different story, but a shared mission: to bring a little piece of home to those serving overseas.
“My father was an MP in Vietnam,” said DJ T. Gray. “When I got the call to come out here, I asked him what he thought. He said, ‘Go take care of my people.’ That was all I needed to hear.”
Throughout the night, Soldiers gathered near the stage, clapping, laughing, and dancing as the DJs blended R&B, Latin, and hip-hop hits into one vibrant celebration.
“I’m grateful to be here,” T. Gray added. “It humbles you when you see what these men and women sacrifice. Using my talent to give back, even for one night, feels like the least I could do.”
“It’s more than a gig,” said Marco. “I’m a photographer and journalist, too, so I love hearing people’s stories. Every Soldier has one. Being able to connect through music is powerful.”
DJ Hawk, who organized and led the tour, has been performing for deployed troops for six years. “We don’t do this for the money,” he said. “We do it because giving you all a piece of home, even for two hours, that’s worth it.”
Events like these are made possible through coordination between MWR and Armed Forces Entertainment.
“AFE handles the contracts and routes the artists through bases across the region,” said Charitan. “We just make sure everything on the ground runs smoothly, lights, sound, logistics so the Soldiers can relax and have a good time.” He added that after eight years in Kuwait, he’s seen firsthand the impact morale events have. “It might seem small, but these shows change the energy around here,” he said. “You see Soldiers smiling, talking, connecting, it really lifts them up.”
At the close of their sets, each DJ shared a heartfelt message to the families back home supporting deployed service members.
“Thank you for sacrificing your sons and daughters,” said T. Gray. “They’re not just protecting America, they’re protecting the free world. Your strength makes their strength possible.”
DJ Marco added, “The world’s not perfect, but seeing people out here still fighting for freedom gives me hope.”
DJ Hawk echoed the sentiment: “Stay strong and stay connected. You’re the reason they push through out here.”
As the last beats faded and the Soldiers dispersed into the desert night, laughter and conversation filled the air.
The DJs may have come to perform, but what they left behind was something deeper, a reminder that even halfway across the world, home isn’t always a place. Sometimes, it’s a sound.
| Date Taken: | 10.20.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 12.18.2025 07:13 |
| Story ID: | 553842 |
| Location: | KW |
| Hometown: | HOUSTON, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 3 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Three Houston DJs Bring the Beat and a Piece of Home to Troops at Camp Buehring, by SPC Doniel Kennedy, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
