A Sargeant in Iraq to 52Best

52Best

The Friday Morning Story

July 27, 2007

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Click to Enlarge Photo - Dan is Center on Right

* A Sergeant in Iraq to 52Best *

I am currently in the Army deployed to Iraq. I wanted you to know that I appreciate the birthday wish you sent me. My grandmother started forwarding your weekly emails to me when I got here to Iraq back in November 2006. I look forward to reading the stories every week. I liked them so much that I subscribed myself.

It is difficult sometimes to find the strength of will to do what needs doing here in Iraq, but your stories remind me that there are things worth fighting for. I don't like wars. I think they are a waste of the world's most precious resource: the people. What a soldier prays for more than anything else is peace.

I pray for peace every day, but while I am here, I will do what needs doing. My wife and son understand why I have to do these things. Your stories remind me that things like basic human kindness still exist. I just wanted to thank you for that and for remembering me on my birthday.

[I then wrote Dan and asked how I could best support him and the 1st Cavalry. I mentioned I could put his story before my group of 52Best friends on a Friday morning and those of us who wanted to, could send him and his buddies Care Packages to show our concern and support for them. He wrote me back.]

Thank you for the offer of support. Due to operational security requirements, anything I submit to you that might be posted as an open source has to be approved by our Public Affairs Office first. As soon as I have an answer from them, I will send you more info and photos. I am sure I will not have any problem getting permission due to the nature of your site. As a former Marine, you understand the need for OPSEC in a war zone.

[After receiving permission, Dan then sent me the above photo and following information:]

I am currently assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division Band. I am not however a bandsman. I am actually a Bradley Mechanic but am assigned to the Band as a vocalist to sing in their premiere variety group, "Amber Tight." I know that, with everything going on over here, being assigned to a band while deployed may seem like a cushy assignment to some people. This could not be further from the truth.

In the Band, we take our job very seriously. What is our job, you ask? We play music for the troops to help raise moral. 1st Cavalry Band has 51 members in it and has been deployed since October 2006. We have 15 smaller groups made up from people in the Band.

To date we have accomplished over 1600 missions playing for the troops here in Iraq. Our trumpet players also have the duty of honoring our fallen comrades at memorial ceremonies all over the place. I would sincerely love to see the buglers unemployed, but we are in a war zone and that takes its toll.

We also have a large Latin Band called "El Grupo K-Lor." They draw, by far, the most people to a concert. They are very good and the music has a passion that people here want to feel.

We also have Jazz ensembles, brass quintets, woodwind quintets, and even a small group with just two people in it called "Ready, Set, Steve" which is made up of our two bass players. They are both talented musicians, if a little on the nutty side.

Now, as I mentioned earlier, I am actually a Bradley mechanic. I auditioned for the vocal slot because I really believe in what the Band is doing here. I have had people walk up to me and tell me after a concert to tell met hat they really enjoyed the show and it was good to hear some live music and that it reminded them of home. I sing primarily country music, so I get to do all the good Toby Keith stuff and other good tunes that touch people here.

As you might have guessed, we don't get many live bands here from the states although we have had Toby Keith and Tito Ortiz play here. It is a little dangerous for civilians to come here, no matter how well intentioned they may be. Sometimes people just want a little piece of home. That's what we try to give them.

Different people in the band have their ways of dealing with stress from being here. Some go to the gym and take it out on the heavy bag. Others retreat into their hooch to unwind. Still others play video Games on the company X-Box which is my way of relieving stress. We love to play HALO 2 and actually have gotten pretty good at it. Some people read. Others surf the Web.

I am including a photo of "Amber Tight." I will try to get some of the photos of the rest of the people here and get those off to you. If anyone would like to support us, my address is as follows and I will share whatever I get with the others in my group:

Sergeant Dan Coursen
Unit 43210
1st Cavalry Division Band
APO AE 09344

You need to put my name on the box or it might not get delivered. They are a little suspicious of things with no personal names. Anything you send will be graciously received. Service members just like to know that they are being supported by folks back home. If you want specifics, you can't go wrong with DVDs and non-perishable foodstuffs.

We appreciate your support of the troops here in Iraq.

Sincerely, Dan

1. Care Packages - Introduction - Click Here

2. Care Package Information - What Goes in and How to Mail - Click Here

3. Wall of Fame - Readers Who Have Sent Care Packages - Click Here

4. Request from Sergeant Dan - His Second Letter - Click Here

Sergeant Dan's Mailing Address:

                  Sergeant Dan Coursen
                  Unit 43210
                  1st Cavalry Division Band
                  APO AE 09344