by Sgt. Lorraine Sian
CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq – Soldiers with the 8th Ordnance Company, 749th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, elevate their well-being and happiness through their musical talents on Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq.
One of the beauties of music is that it can accomplish more than one goal at a time. Music can distract soldiers from unpleasant thoughts and release the hard emotions they experience during stressful working days. It can also provide uplifting music to divert, entertain and help revive their minds after a day in Iraq.
Soldiers with 2nd Platoon, 8th Ord. Co., have many hidden musical talents to help them forget the stresses of work.
Spc. Travis Duval, an ammunition specialist and a Glendale, Ariz., native, is a pianist who has his own keyboard in Iraq and practices on a regular basis after work.
Spc. Joshua Harris, an automated logistics specialist and a Baltimore, Md., native, can be found singing gospel music in the detachment’s motor pool when he is not engaged in any missions. Harris was also a member of the 82nd Airborne Division's All-American Choir and sings in many unit events.
“The talent within the platoon continues to amaze me,” said Staff Sgt. Cynthia Mason, the platoon sergeant of 2nd Platoon, and a Glendale, Ariz., native. “I enjoy watching the soldiers come together.”