By Sgt. Tracy Ellingsen
311th Sustainment Command
CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait -- When the Soldiers of the 311th Sustainment Command left Los Angeles for their year-long deployment to the Middle East, they thought they were also leaving behind their favorite music artists and radio personalities. But that all changed Friday night.
Baby Bash, Big Boy and DJ E-Man began their eight-day tour of the Middle East with a 90 minute set for the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines currently deployed to Kuwait. While the troops rocked out to hits like "Cyclone," "Suga Suga," and "As Days Go By," the performers produced buckets of sweat in the 100-degree temperatures.
"I think I already lost 15 pounds," said Baby Bash after only the third song.
The trio, along with Paul Ramirez, Rich Ricapon, and drummer Curtis Byrd, will continue on to military bases in other countries to perform for service members supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"It was nice to have a little piece of Los Angeles brought to Kuwait," said Pfc. Casey J. Cashen, an ammunition specialist with the 311th Sustainment Command. Cashen, who lives in Ontario, Calif., enjoyed Friday night's performance with hundreds of other service members, including a few dozen from his Los Angeles based unit.
"It's wild that I didn't meet you in LA and that I meet you in Kuwait," said Big Boy about his deployed listeners. "I've done a lot with the troops but I've never touched turf; I've never been here."
"More artists need to come out here too" said Big Boy.
"The ultimate goal is to meet some troops and salute the troops out here," said Baby Bash. "And whenever there's a Baby Bash show in the United States I get to see them again and they say 'hey remember us?' and I'll definitely remember because I'm going to remember this my whole life."
Friday's performance provided a brief respite from the day-to-day operations of supporting the war effort. And while the troops may have been screaming for the artists, the performers were just as excited to see their military fans.
"We came out here for you all. I know you thank us for coming out," said Baby Bash. "But we should thank you. You make it so we can sleep and rest our head on our pillows safely at night."