Photo By Staff Sgt. Zachary Mott | Toby Keith signs a guitar for a Soldier after performing an hour-long concert at...... read more read more
BAQUBAH, Iraq (May 27, 2006) -- Toby Keith visited Soldiers at Forward Operating Base Warhorse Saturday during his annual trip to play for troops around the world.
"It's a labor of love," said the multi-platinum recording star before taking the stage at his first concert in Iraq this year. "This is my way to show support (to the troops.)"
Keith entertained the packed hangar crowd with new favorites, audience requests and what he calls "bus songs." He has performed more than 60 shows on tours sponsored by the United Service Organizations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Germany.
"We hit the bases wherever the action is," Keith said.
The Oklahoma native, and country music superstar, has made it a point to go to out-of-the-way places. He was quoted as saying, "we were either gonna go up to the remote places or we weren't gonna go at all," during a pervious visit to Iraq.
"It's pretty cool," said Pfc. Christopher Mitchell, a dismount infantryman from Company A, 1-68 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Task Force Band of Brothers, as he stood by waiting for Keith to sign his guitar. "I think it's nice that he comes down here and plays for us."
Mitchell's sentiments were echoed by the crowd as they sang along to the unofficial military anthem "American Soldier." The horde took a decidedly raucous turn as Keith and writing partner Scotty Emerick strummed through the feisty "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue."
"He definitely supports the troops by doing what he does more so than anybody else that's famous," Mitchell said.
After an hour-long concert, a sweat-coated Keith happily signed anything put in front of him: posters, photos, patrol caps, dollar bills, anything, even a guitar.
His continued support of forward deployed troops shows why he will continue to be a servicemembers" choice for entertainer of the year.
| Date Taken: | 05.29.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 05.29.2006 10:43 |
| Story ID: | 6557 |
| Location: | BAQUBAH, IQ |
| Web Views: | 506 |
| Downloads: | 39 |
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