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Phantom News Vol. I, Issue 12 Telling the TF Phantom story March 11, 2007 Country music artist Chely Wright sings to an audience at the Camp Victory Sports Oasis dining facility concert stage Feb. 28. The Wellsville, Kan., native is on her third tour to Iraq. Wright publicly made a promise that she will continue to entertain the troops as long as they are in Iraq. Lighting up the night Wright puts on show for Victory troops Story, photo by she was. her to finish singing. Spc. Laura M. Bigenho “Who here doesn’t like country mu- Sgt. Terry Farr, operations center 28th Public Affairs Detachment sic, but I’m the only show in town to- force protection NCO, Kansas Army night, so you showed up?” she asked. National Guard, said her performance She may not have come to Iraq to In addition to singing hits “Single was a genuine tribute to everyone serv- gain more fans or fame, but country White Female,” “Jezebel” and “It Was,” ing in the military, past and present. music artist Chely Wright left Camp Wright tested unreleased songs on her “To see her get emotional while Victory with more than a few new fans audience and asked them to be the “Si- singing ‘Bumper of My S.U.V.’ showed following her performance here Feb. mon Cowell of Baghdad.” Other high- what a true patriot she is,” he said. 28. lights included a giveaway of signed Sgt. Michele Adkins, administrative Her third trip to Iraq was made pos- guitars and a Soldier singing onstage NCO, Inspector General Section, III sible by Stars for Stripes, a non-profit with Wright. Corps, has been a fan for more than 10 organization headed by Judy Seale and Wright also sang “Bumper of My years and respects Wright for waiting Morale, Welfare and Recreation. S.U.V.” — a response to an altercation to release the song. Energetic and personable, Wright she had with an irate woman who no- “(Wright) said she did not want it to charmed the audience with her music, ticed a Marine Corps bumper sticker be blasted across television, and I re- jokes and sentiment for the troops and on Wright’s car. spect her on that,” Adkins said. “There their service during a 90-minute con- She wrote it in June 2003 with no in- are a lot of people who are just money cert. tention of recording, but changed her hungry, but Wright actually shows her “I am so honored and thrilled to be mind after playing it for the first time heart on her sleeve.” here with you guys and gals,” Wright for troops in Afghanistan 16 months Before leaving the stage to meet the said. “I have a better time performing later. audience, Wright made the troops a when I know my audience, so you’re “It has been good for my career, but promise. going to know a lot about me, because more importantly, it has very special “I am committed to coming here as I’m a woman and I talk a lot.” meaning to me,” she said. long as we have troops in Iraq,” she After opening with her hit “Shut Up During the song, a tearful Wright said. “The folks back home pray every and Drive,” Wright acknowledged not paused to regain her composure as the day for you, and I just want to thank everyone in the audience knew who audience applauded and encouraged so many who have asked me to come Page 2 Commentary March 11, 2007 Motivation should not be held back Sgt. 1st Class VeShannah Lovelace me into their web of they choose I have to tell them yes. MNC-I Public Affairs fervent epithets. After I have to tell them that some times a month, I noticed I missions will require Soldiers to per- What does it take to get you began to look forward form duties or tasks outside of their through the day? How often have you to entering the Oasis prescribed job title. Then, I have to gotten out of bed, only to realize you and exchanging hoo- reinforce the fact that all those duties woke up on the wrong side? Is every ahs with the dynamic are mission essential and we could not Lovelace day a glorious one that makes you duo. So it saddens me be successful without them. revel in another opportunity to wake to see how those two boisterous voices In 2004, I was asked to volunteer up in beautiful Baghdad? If you’re have been silenced. to deploy to Iraq with my unit as a anything like me, it usually takes As a recruiter, I know there are over provost marshal because public affairs a little something extra to get you 200 military occupational skills in the Soldiers were not needed. I quickly let excited about the job you’re doing for Army. Everyone who joins chooses it be known that if I wanted deploy your country, the job that takes you the job they want and is afforded the as a provost marshal, I would have thousands of miles away from fam- opportunity to go to AIT to learn how joined the Army as one. I was given a ily and friends for 365 days or more. to do that job. I also know that none of choice and no one rebuked me for the When I walk up to the Sports Oasis those jobs are entitled security guard. one I made, but I have often won- for breakfast and hear the boisterous Soldiers don’t join the Army in hopes dered how others would react in that chants of the security duo who have of standing guard outside a dining situation if not given a choice. Would become affectionately known as the facility or inside a palace checking IDs they come over here begrudgingly and Hooah Boys, I am instantly rejuve- in a war-torn country. So the mere fact do things to make their bad situation nated. Their motivation instantly that the Hooah Boys can do that job worse? Through their duty, the Hooah overshadows whatever funk I walked with a smile on their faces and joy in Boys have shown me the definition of up to the DFAC with. their hearts is inspirational to me. selfless service. I admit when I first arrived I As a recruiter, I pride myself in I say hooah to the Hooah Boys! thought their enthusiasm was a bit honesty. When future Soldiers and I say take the muzzle off! I say let’s much that early in the morning. But their parents ask me if they will be put them back out front and let’s get as weeks passed by, they had drawn forced to do a job other than the one Camp Victory excited again! Chaplain’s Corner without-video games generation! show. Looking for God in Let’s play that game now. The The crisis must turn out as they sought-after object is God. want it. If it does not, they angrily the wrong places Some are searching for God in the tear up the ticket. They give up the Chaplain Robert F. Land big events of their lives. They seem search, concluding that God is cruel, MNC-I Chaplain’s Office oblivious to His presence during the powerless or nonexistent. God really routines of life, but when someone is is there during such times, but they Did you ever play the game Hot or sick, or there is a financial crisis, the are looking in the wrong direction. Cold? The object was to find a certain search is on! Cold! object, hidden by one person. They approach Him like the Ken- Others hope to stumble over God The person would call out “Hot!” or tucky Derby. God must win, place or See PLACES, page 5 “Cold!” depending on how close the searchers were to the hunted item. Correction While lacking the mental challenge Last week’s front-page story, “Proper weapons practices key to ending negli- of chess or the intrigue of Clue, it did gent discharge incidents in Iraq” stated an incident ended in death in Baquba. The pass the time for the how-did-we-live- incident referred to was at Camp Cropper. The Phantom News regrets the error. Phantom News is an authorized electronic publication for MNC-I Commanding General: Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno Phantom News welcomes columns, com- members of the Department of Defense. Contents of this MNC-I Public Affairs Officer: Lt. Col. James Hutton mentaries, articles and letters from our electronic publication are not necessarily the official views of MNC-I PA Sergeant Major: Sgt. Maj. Eric E. Parris readers. Send submissionsor comments or endorsed by the U.S. Government or the Department of MNC-I Command Info Chief: Sgt. 1st Class Terrence Hayes to [email protected]. The Defense. The editorial content of this publication is the respon- Editor: Sgt. Jacob Boyer editorial staff reserves the right to edit for sibility of the Public Affairs Office of Multi-National Corps-Iraq. Staff: Spc. Laura M. Bigenho, Spc. D. A. Dickinson, Spc. Beatrice Florescu Vila-Verde, security, accuracy, propriety, policy, clarity Spc. Stephanie Homan, Cpl. Jess Kent, Spc. Abel Trevino and space. March 11, 2007 Page 3 Paul Brinkley, deputy undersecretary of defense for business transformation, discusses a plan to revitalize Iraq’s indus- trial base with assembled members of the media during a press conference at the Joint Visitors Bureau March 3. Defense undersecretary discusses Iraq’s economic future with press Story, photo by laborate with Iraqi ministries, connect economy as well.” Spc.