Custom Made Band Energizes 'Grey Wolf' Troops

Photo By Sgt. Serena Hayden | From left to right, Kerwin "Scooter" Williams, Sabrina Price and Bryant McLemore of the Custom Made Band, perform for Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, at Forward Operating Base Warhorse, Baqubah, Iraq, Dec. 19.  

BAQUBAH, IRAQ

12.22.2006

Story by Sgt. Serena Hayden 

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

By Sgt. Serena Hayden
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

BAQUBAH, Iraq – As the sun set on Forward Operating Base Warhorse Dec. 19, more than 200 Soldiers gathered in the Wood Memorial Dining Facility to let loose and enjoy the sounds of the Custom Made Band, a rhythm and blues band with the United Service Organizations Tour.

The band, which travels throughout Europe and the Middle East to perform for troops, raised the roof of the dining facility, bringing the "Grey Wolf" Soldiers of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, a variety of music to include Motown, R&B, Latino and disco.

Little did the Soldiers know, they, too, were part of the show.

From a dance contest to background vocals and salsa dancing to playing the bongos, the Soldiers played a large role in the night's entertainment.

"I like the audience interaction – bringing people in, the dancing, all that," said Sgt. Dewitt Cooper, Forward Support Company E, 215th Brigade Support Battalion. "As far as the performance, it was outstanding!"

Cooper, who participated in both singing and dancing, said he appreciated the band's visit and it helped boost morale.

"It really is a morale booster," he said. "For them to come out here, it breaks the monotony a little bit and shows the Americans care about us over here."

Just as it was an enjoyable experience for the Soldiers, the band enjoyed it just as much, if not more.

"It's been a really wonderful experience," said Sabrina Price, the female lead vocalist for the band. "Everyone is just really great.

"When we come out here, we see the commitment that the Soldiers have and how strong they are," she added. "We feel that a lot of negative information gets back to the U.S., and we get to experience a little bit of what the troops experience and the positive affects they have on the Iraqis – we like to take that information back to the U.S."

Price said the band is as committed to us as we are to them, and visiting during Christmas time is important since most Soldiers will not get to go home.

And while they travel world-wide to perform for troops, Price said, "This is the most close to our hearts because it's the most dangerous."

"We totally support our troops 100 percent," Price said. "We support them and love them and we will not forget what they are doing."

• Date Taken: 12.22.2006
• Date Posted: 12.22.2006 10:52
• Story ID: 8653
• Location: BAQUBAH, IQ