The Cool Blue Blog

Toby Keith in Baghdad

Country star tips hat to troops

Thursday, 24 May 2007

By Sgt. Sky M. Laron
Combined Press Information Center

BAGHDAD — Country music star, Toby Keith, visited troops stationed in Baghdad Tuesday.

Singing songs and playing guitar are a few things Keith, an Oklahoma native, does quite well. Visiting troops in combat is another activity he takes pride in.

Keith’s visit to Baghdad is part of his fifth United Service Organizations (USO) tour.

If you are going to talk the talk, then you’ve got to walk the walk and that is why he is back in Iraq and performing for the Soldiers, he said.

USO celebrity entertainment tours bring volunteer celebrities to entertain, lift morale and express the gratitude and support of the American people, according to the USO website. (www.uso.org)

A strong supporter of the military, Keith has always respected the sacrifice and dedication to duty that Soldiers display when they are far from home and their families.

Keith says that it is easy for him to come over to Iraq for a few weeks every year because he does not have to stay the entire year. The Soldiers are the ones making a huge sacrifice with their long deployments.

Keith has seen some of the same Soldiers several times, sometimes two or three years in a row, he said.

“It’s a huge sacrifice for the families too,” he said.

The high opinion he has for the troops started early in life and serves him well today.

“My father was a Soldier, and I was raised in a family where if your dad was a Soldier, you’ve got to respect your veterans,” he said.

Having sold more than 30 million records, success is something that Keith knows a little something about, but performing for the military and shaking hands with Soldiers is what motivates him.

Keith will continue his USO tour throughout the Persian Gulf and later into Germany.

“It doesn’t matter where in the world our Soldiers are, I’ll be there,” said Keith.

Shinedown in Iraq

Rock Group Makes Stop at Camp Taqaddum

Musicians perform for troops, visit with wounded servicemembers.

By Lance Cpl. Ben Eberle,
1st Marine Logistics Group

CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq, Nov. 29, 2006 — It was a classic example of mutual benefit. Servicemembers and civilian personnel received a refreshing dose of stateside entertainment while a platinum-record band had a small taste of Iraq.               

Shinedown, a high-charged rock group from Jacksonville, Fla., finished their tour of the country with a United Service Organizations-sponsored performance here Nov. 11.               

“The USO’s been great, and it’s great to see you guys in action,” said Guy Sykes, tour manager for Shinedown. “We plan to do this again in the future.”               

Not many would try to stop them. Shinedown rocked the stage for about two hours and signed autographs for hundreds of Marines after the show.               

They also spent time with servicemembers before the show. Lt. Col. Sean C. Killeen, commanding officer of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364, said the band “hung out” with his Marines and learned about their jobs, which is to conduct and support casualty evacuations.               

During the visit, a casualty siren went off and squadron personnel rushed to the helicopters. Killeen said the members of Shinedown expressed both appreciation and admiration of Marines at HMM-364, especially after seeing the squadron in action. “They were surprised to see how quickly we (had the helicopters off the ground).”               

“It’s been amazing seeing you guys in action … (and it’s important for us) to give you guys a little release, a break from everyday life,” said Jasin Todd, guitarist for Shinedown.               

His advice to servicemembers attending their performance: “Just leave it all  outside the stage.”             
The band first performed for a military audience at Fort Bliss, Texas, in August. Todd said the crowd’s response and the professionalism of the base commander encouraged them to continue performing for troops.

“We're not a political band, … (but) one thing we can all agree on, is that we are Free (sic) to bring the world music and this freedom is upheld by these brave men and women,” wrote Todd, on Shinedown’s website.                  

The band members also visited Taqaddum Surgical. The facility is responsible for stabilizing and treating American and Iraqi casualties.                  

“I respect everyone that comes out here,” said Senior Chief Petty Officer Donald W. Clark, training and operations chief for TQ Surgical Detachment, “but the fact that these guys took the time out of their busy schedule to come see wounded patients in the ward, it’s great.”               

The four-member band formed in 2002 and released their first album, Leave a Whisper, the following year. The debut album sold more than 1 million records, powered by hit singles “45” and “Burning Bright.” The band released their sophomore album, Us and Them, in October 2005.

Good Morning Baghdad!

Comedian Robin Williams teams with model Leeann Tweeden, former Denver Bronco quarterback John Elway, and actor-comedian Blake Clark for a holiday USO tour.

By U.S. Army Erin Robicheaux
256th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs

CAMP AL TAHREER, Baghdad, Iraq, Dec. 14, 2004 — “Nanu, Nanu! Good morning, Vietnam! Carpe Diem!” Today it was clear that the best one-liners of Robin Williams’ career did not come from Mork and Mindy, Good Morning, Vietnam,” or Dead Poets Society. According to those who were there, his greatest words of impact came on a chilly December morning in Iraq, when the comedian graced an outdoor stage and, in the presence of hundreds of American soldiers, shouted “Goooood Morning Baghdad!”

From the word “go!” Williams was all about giving the troops a good show. As part of a United Service Organization (USO) tour, he teamed up with model Leeann Tweeden, former quarterback for the Denver Broncos John Elway, and actor and comedian Blake Clark to give the soldiers of Camp Liberty something to write home about.