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Courtesy
of Jim Cantale
Day One - June 29, 2006:
The flight from LAX to Boston Logan is fairly routine except for the
clouds that blanket the Eastern US scrolling by below us. I say a short
prayer that the weather does not delay the departure of our group from
Boston to London Heathrow in the morning.
In Boston, I check in to the Airport Hilton and immediately log in to the
$9.95 high speed internet connection in the room to catch up on a few
emails. In just a few hours I will trek back to the airport to meet JS and
company.
I get to the airport early and monitor the incoming flight that has been
delayed by an hour killing the time wandering the baggage area, securing a
luggage cart, and purchasing a bottle of water for my parched throat.
Finally the onscreen display shows flight 5626 from Nashville has landed,
baggage to be claimed at carousel #4.
As I people watch the claim area and new arrivals, I spot a young man on the
opposite side of the carousel making a cell call and miraculously my pocket
begins to vibrate. I raise my hand and laugh as Jessica, her manager, and
soundman, and me discover one another.
The Baggage collected and stacked on the cart, Performer in tow, we head for
the courtesy bus stop across the street to meet the Hilton Shuttle.
Later that evening, at a brief dinner in the Hotel Pub, I find Jessica and
company to be nice bunch of young folks and I begin to look forward to the
adventure ahead and the faces of the US Service men and women they will
entertain.
One group down, one to go. A 6:30 Lobby call is set for the morning.
Tomorrow we hook up with the OSB band at the American Airlines terminal
prior to our departure to Kuwait via London.
Day two - June 30, 2006:
Right on time and ahead of schedule (6:30 am) I receive a cell phone
call from Jim Brindisi of OSB as Jessica and co and myself board the shuttle
bus to the airport.
We arrive ahead of schedule and somehow miss the OSB Boys, but check JS & Co
in from the Business Class line and spot the band as we finish. I get a
counter person to check them in as a group and they are checked in with no
additional bag costs, we head for the gate and two 6 hr flights to London
and then Kuwait.
Day 3 - July 1, 2006:
Both flights go off without a hitch and we arrive in Kuwait 10 mins
early. Small snafu at customs when OSB tech is unable to find his passport.
I send him and the TM back to the gate and it is finally located on the
aircraft.
In baggage we discover that the brown duffle and one of Ed’s bags are
missing. Ed is kind enough to file the report while I get everyone on the
bus and off to the hotel for check in.
I wait for Ed and we transport back together.
Back out the hotel we learn that the bag will arrive on our same flight
tomorrow, first thing in the am. The hotel, God love ‘em, are all over it
and will facilitate the transfer. It turns out that I have stayed here
before and the Desk Manager and Bellman remember me and give me a warm and
Royal Welcome.
Jessica and I have breakfast together, then Jessica, Ball of Fire,
instigates the movement for some band and crew to hit the pool. I pull Ed
and Jim into a meeting to discuss the Arifjan Day ahead with our escorts and
all ends well. The bulk of us settle in to rooms and naps.
After a few hours Nap time I round up the tech guys and we bump in to Jim B
in the lobby and go through all the possible tech scenarios based on my past
experiences. We sit for several hrs in the lobby casually talking tech and
getting acquainted. I give the crew pointers on how to make things happen
with KBR. The two OSB crew are young but eager and excited. With my input
they should be able to push the right buttons onsite to make things happen.
I have a high confidence level there. More on that after our first show.
Later JS & Co opt for sleep and the OSB Boys and me go to dinner and read
through the itinerary, once again reiterating the rules regarding shoes,
shorts, day flow etc. More on that too with one under our belt. Very High
level of excitement from everyone so far.
PS: Everyone ecstatic over their rooms.
End of Day
KUWAIT – CAMP ARIFJAN
There is and air of excitement emanating from the performers as I load the
last of the OSB band and Jessica Sierra entourage on to the MWR bus that
will take them to Arifjan, the base in Kuwait that they will perform at
tonight to kick off the following weeks Iraq tour. I look around at
the faces of the performers, managers, and crew that I will guide through
the tour of US installations in the Iraqi desert during the coming week and
at this point I feel a genuine warmth and affection for them all.
In my heart though I know that touring, especially in rugged conditions such
as these, can be a roller coaster ride covering the full range of emotions.
Having done similar routings in the past,I can't help but wonder how they
will hold up in the coming days, since our itinerary is gruelling at best
even for the old salts like myself and the local Kuwaiti sound crew. For now
I give them all the benefit of the doubt and pledge to myself that I will do
my best to be a positive influence and keep them all on track and in focus
this on the task at hand which is to bring a little bit of joy and home to
the men and women of the US armed forces in the field. This iis the mission
we have have all accepted and I am here to keep it all on track and make it
happen.
At Arifjan we make a quick stop for a fast bite to eat before meeting the
general and learn that the general is otherwise engaged and the Colonel will
now greet and brief us. In a large meeting room, the entire troupe listens
intensely to the brief as the Colonel goes through the do's and don'ts of
the desert and interactions with the military: Drink lots of water, don't
hesitate to ask for help from the medics, picture taking etiquette, local
customs, and on and on. In the end he passes out certificates of thanks and
he and his Sergeant Major's coins as a token of appreciation to those who
have made the trip. Noticing that no one is wearing a hat, and myself
having been quarantined by medics on my last visit for not drinking enough
water and almost passing out, I request the Sergeant Major issue "boonie"
(US military issue floppy) hats to the troupe. In a matter of minutes
each member is issued a regulation "boonie" hat which they cherish among
their first souvenirs of the coming adventure.
Sound Check is completed routinely and we move on to showtime and an
excellent performance by both groups. The evening ends a bit awkwardly and I
make a mental note to speak to the entertainers about finding an ending
that works well without causing "dead air" or lengthy "stage waits".
However, the length of the autograph line proves the show was extremely well
received regardless of my constructive professional criticisms and there is
excitement and high energy on the bus ride back to the hotel.
Jim Cantale
FOB Sykes
I was able to get Jessica a ride in the "jump" seat of the C-130, with Chief
Pace's help of course. The Flight crew loved it. They don't get much in the
way of entertainment. We arrived at the FOB, were received grandly and
escorted directly to the Show site. Jessica and the band were given a tour
of the Apache flight line and many of the ground crew guys got some
unexpected contact with her and were quite surprised.
The crew had a bit of difficulty which was soon overcome. The show was
extremely well received. Jessica was a big hit with the guys and posed for
pictures long after the autograph line died down. Mostly with young guys
her age who were thrilled to see her and couldn't get enough. The band, at
my suggestion, began relating more to the audience and soon got them going
as well. Many lingerers after the show. Mission accomplished.
Baghdad
Arrived in Baghdad and were met by a young Captain and his crew who were
very organised and had us on our way and in Billeting in no time. Billeting,
as it turns out, was one of Saddam’s palaces turned DVQ. The Band stayed in
the main building and we the crew, (me, Chief Pace, and our Security Escort,
Marine Gunny Mark) all bunked out in the guest house which was quite
comfortable. We can now say “We have relieved ourselves in Sadaams personal
bathroom”. And,taken showers there too.
Show in Baghdad was in a little town Park area outside the DFAC that had a
nice little stage and some bleachers in a sort of Grove of trees. Crowd was
small, about 300. Jessica was taken ill and walked off after 3 songs. I
called in the medics to try and give her a b-12 shot and an I-V. Neither
was recommended and she was released back in time for autographs which went
extremely well....tons of Pix.
Balad - Camp Anaconda
I hardly recognized this place as it has changed much since I was
here last. More permanent structures give it a "permanent" feel.
Performers get a tour of new technology that allows a protective coating to
be sprayed on tanker trucks enabling them to withstand a direct hit with a
50 cal round and seal themselves up with one hour....impressive. Also see
new stryker vehicles with automated turrets and ride over to the show in
them....good shots of that.
The show here is in the theatre and gives all the performers a boost to be
playing indoors again and not in the heat. This is by far our best show to
about 450 appreciative people.
Jessica does her full set and in the end everyone is Jazzed. Autograph line
runs out in to the lobby and a good time is had by all. Good crowd and
autograph line shots.
2:19 am and I just find out that we may have to roust everyone early to be
on a 6am flight. I will continue to check emails until I get the word. If
so, I will stay up and just knock on doors at the appropriate time.
More from the next stop.
Things smoothed out here again last night as they always do and the Balad
show was great. There is a new DOD rep at Balad and she says she met Judy
in Germany. Forgot her name in all the madness.
The Balad MWR staff and crew are EXCELLENT and took good care of everyone.
Al Asad
The flight into Al Asad is the most interesting
of the tour. A lot of Rockin and Rollin and moving and turning and all the
other stuff including heavy air breaks on the landing. Good young crew that
are thrilled to get the pictures I always give the flight crews. MWR is
right on time and takes everyone directly to lodging and then to the DFAC
for lunch. I must say the food on this trip has been plentiful and tasty
Moms home cooking type of fare.
After the DFAC we head out to a Marine Helicopter base for a walk through
with the various crews.
I take some shots of the guys with Jessica and OSB and we head off to sound
check where I email them directly to the kids and download all my shots to
date to a flash drive. We blow off a visit to an officer program graduation
in the interest of time and making the sound check on time. Once again,
back to the DFAC for dinner, a ride back to billeting and some rest for the
performers. I even catch 20 minutes of nap myself!
At present I am sitting in the MWR office outside the show room where 500 or
so people have drifted in and out, a very respectable turn out. For future
reference, I noticed that MWR had people at the DFAC exit tonight passing
out leaflets advertising the show.
Jessica has finished and a fired up OSB has taken the stage and is in the
middle of a good sounding set.
Although I'm looking forward to the return to Kuwait and the final leg of
the trip, I'm a little bit sad to be leaving all the great folks we've met
this trip at every stop. This is a common occurrence with me and it happens
every time I finish one of these. I somehow feel like I'm abandoning my
post. I must have been a soldier in my last life.
One thing I think deserves special attention is our Escort Chris Pace and
Mark our Marine investigator / Escort. I can't say enough about them and
the hard work and attention they have paid to getting us efficiently and
safely from place to place. Chris is absolutely the best and Mark, being a
former white house Marine in the Reagan administration is a consummate pro.
I love these guys and would work with them again anytime, anyplace.
Back in Kuwait tomorrow we will have the day off and I will treat everyone
to the great Buffet Dinner at the hotel courtesy of Stars for Stripes.
Al Asad PS
Returned to billeting last night where Chris Pace
and I share a room with 2 beds with sheets and no blankets. I use my small
duffle for a pillow and a rugged spare shirt for a blanket and sleep the
best sleep, though short, of the tour.
A trip to the shooting range has been arranged and we all arrive and get a
quick weapons brief before the Band, Jessica, Managers, and crew step up to
the firing line. I opt out to act as photographer and get some great
shots. I hear a familiar accent from one of the guys and find that he is
from Brooklyn, NY one of my adopted home town. He sounded a little like the
Actor John Leguizamo and I picked up on it right away. We have a short
conversation as we head to the airport vehicles and I promise to bring him
an "Egg Cream, Kinish, and a Pastrami sandwich hnext time I pass through.
Short drive to the airport where the Plane is waiting, We say goodbye to our
new friends at Al Asad and are airborne in the usual time. A bit of a scare
while loading though...no luggage palllet, which shows up eventually and
easily makes the flight after a little adjustment to the seat
configuration. Addressing Suleimans concern, I tell him that he is
justified since it was me that took him on his first Iraqi tour and showed
him how to count and keep an eye on the aircraft pallets as they are brought
to the plane. I tell him that there will be a pop quiz after each tour.
Suleiman, James, and their new "boy" who I have affectionately named
"Michael Jackson" ( no one including the locals has ever used his real name,
Rahan) have done a great job and the two sound guys from the band have
worked together with them over and above their expectations, even staying
each night to load the pallets. I'm very proud of them all.
Enroute, we stop back at Balad for fuel...I know, Geographically it doesn't
make sense, but that's where the fuel is. A short layover and we are
airborne once again and headed for Kuwait. Great young Crew on this one
including a cute female load master. They are appreciative of the pictures
the performers sign for them as we begin our decent into Kuwait. More
later, and all the best.
Jim Cantale
Last day.....
I'm sitting in a 4 star hotel room in Kuwait enjoying the air
conditioning, clean sheets, and upscale environment, about to leave for my
home in Los Angeles at 0500, thinking about how easy we back home have it
compared to the all the men and women we have just visited in all the camps
throughout Iraq who have given up so much to do the great work they do in
the field. On behalf of Judy Seale, I took Jessica Sierra and the OSB band
for a farewell dinner tonight in the hotel and our conversations reflected
the pride we all have in you all and the sense of satisfaction we receive
from giving up a few of our luxuries for a few days to give something to
you, the men and women of the armed forces, who have given up so much for
us. To the man they all agree that the impact of their Iraqi visit will be
with them for the rest of their lives. Likewise for me who will probably
return with other shows, proudly nonetheless. Please know that we are all
grateful for the work all of you do and that you all remain in all our
hearts thoughts, and prayers. Please feel free to forward or post this as a
general thank you from us to you.
Best Regards for a safe return,
Jim Cantale
Tour Coordinator for Stars For Stripes |
