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Toby Keith Entertains Troops in Afghanistan
(May 2, 2009) | 
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| | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan, April 28, 2009 – Country
singer and troop supporter Toby Keith finished up a 15-show tour in
Afghanistan yesterday as he drew near the end of his seventh tour with the
United Service Organizations. Keith spent
five days criss-crossing the war-torn country visiting bases large and small
in a whirlwind of handshakes, autographs, photo-ops and of course – country
music shows.
Whether it's hundreds of Marines at Camp Bastion or a
crowd of thousands at Kandahar Air Field, countless hours of preparation and
manpower go into making each show special.
“It's a three-pronged attack,” said Rachel Tischler, USO vice president of
entertainment operations. “The crews get to work setting everything up for
the larger shows as most of the band goes to see people at the larger bases.
While they are doing that, [Toby] and a few others visit the more remote
locations.” |
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| Service members crowd the stage April 27, 2009, at Bagram Air Field, to catch a photo of Toby Keith during his concert in Afghanistan. This was Keith's seventh tour with the United Service Organizations. |
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Keith's tour visited Forward Operating Bases Tillman and
Boris, near the Pakistan border, in addition to the larger bases, like FOBs
Sharana and Salerno.
“It was important to Toby and the crew to visit as many of the smaller,
remote locations as possible,” said Tischler. “Never mind getting
entertainers – some of them don't have running water!”
Keith, was taught early on to respect the military and those who serve in
it.
“My father was a soldier. He taught his kids to respect veterans,” said
Keith. “It's that respect and the thank-you that we have a military that's
in place and ready to defend our nation; our freedom.”
Since 2002, Keith and company have visited war zones, military bases and
ships at sea to bring a little levity and light into the lives of those in
harm's way. He loves his job, he said.
“It's a break from the monotony in their life,” Keith said of his duty to
the troops. “They're under fire and tremendous workloads trying to
accomplish their goals, so when we show up, it changes that for a little
while. We try to put smiles on their faces.”
According to the roaring crowd in the “clamshell tent” on Bagram, he
succeeded.
“The energy level was so high,” said Army Spc. Jennifer Cook. “It brought
all the soldiers in, no matter what kind of music they liked.”
Keith's forte is playing country music. He's been doing it for more than 23
years. Some of the hits he poured into the night sky over Afghanistan have
been staples of country music for years – as well as favorites of those in
uniform, such as “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue” and “American
Soldier.”
Written after his first visit to Iraq, “American Soldier” is a tribute to
service members everywhere. Keith salutes military mothers, fathers,
brothers and sisters -- ordinary people all over who volunteer to serve
their country and give their lives for it if necessary. Keith took many of
his first interactions with the military in Iraq, such as a remembrance
ceremony for a fallen service member, and turned it into something many
could understand.
“Those kinds of things just bore into your soul,” Keith said. “I would have
never been able to complete ‘American Soldier' if it weren't for the
experiences I had.”
The troops appreciate Keith just as much as he appreciated them.
“This show was awesome,” said Air Force Senior Airman Patrick McGuire. “I
saw Toby Keith stateside and it was smoky and the crowd was just different.
Here, it's like he was here for us, not just a show. It just felt like he
was here for us.”
Keith doesn't just raise spirits though, he raises awareness too.
“It's great to be supported by someone in the music business,” Cook said.
“It also keeps us on people's minds back home.”
Keith ended more than an hour of guitar whompin', foot stompin' music with a
promise he's echoed over 150 times: “I'll see you next year.”
After departing Afghanistan, Keith and company head to Italy to finish their
seventh USO tour. | |
Article and
photo by Army Capt. Michael Greenberger
5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
Copyright 2009
Reprinted
from American
Forces Press Service / DoD
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