Aaron Tippin performs for Service members

Photo By Staff Sgt. Patrick Moes | CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait -- Country music singer Aaron Tippin brought some honky tonk to more than 2,000 servicemembers on camp Monday night.  

CAMP BUEHRING, KUWAIT

11.20.2006

Story by Staff Sgt. Patrick Moes 

40th Public Affairs Detachment

by Staff Sgt. Patrick N. Moes
40th Public Affairs Detachment

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait – More than 2,000 service members brought out their country spirit Nov. 20 to welcome one of Nashville's famous country singers.

The crowd, dressed in various military uniforms, carrying their weapons, battled the unseasonably cold desert weather to watch Aaron Tippin perform his many hits with a little honky tonk.

Tippin said it's important for performers to show their support for the service members stationed overseas.

"I grew up in the Vietnam era," Tippin said. "I saw troops come home to a sad welcome."

Tippin saw his opportunity to help the service members when he was invited to perform on the Bob Hope Show in 1990. His first trip to the Middle East brought him to the Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he realized he "wasn't going to let troops come home to a sad welcome."

Staying true to his word, Tippin has traveled extensively throughout the Middle East in support of service members. His music has brought him to Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan and many other countries.

This tour will take Tippin from Kuwait to Afghanistan for Thanksgiving Day. The tour was made possible by the nonprofit organization Stars for Stripes.

His motivation for these tours is simple.

"My freedom," Tippin said with an enthusiastic response. "It's as worthy of cause as I've ever seen."

The service members agree.

"I think it's great," said Army Staff Sgt. Larry Butler. "Anytime someone does something for the troops, it boosts our morale."

"It shows that we're in his thoughts," said Army Sgt. Jeff Cox.

Tippin reached out to the service members after the show by signing autographs for more than 500 service members. A few opted to have him sign something more nontraditional.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Duncan had Tippin sign a U.S. Navy cowboy hat. Duncan was going to send the hat back to his wife, Tori, in Milwaukee, Wis.

Duncan waited more than 45 minutes to have his hat signed but remained energetic about the experience and wanted to say "thank you" to Tippin.

"He's a great American," Duncan exclaimed.

Tippin said if there were one thing he could say to all the service members stationed in the Middle East it would be a "great big thank you from me and my family."

• Date Taken: 11.20.2006
• Date Posted: 12.05.2006 09:33
• Story ID: 8484
• Location: CAMP BUEHRING, KW