A tuba, two trumpets, a trombone, and a French horn are all it took for five soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division Band to speak to 25 Iraqi music students, with the Peace Through Arts program, at the United States Embassy.

A tuba, two trumpets, a trombone, and a French horn are all it took for five soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division Band to speak to 25 Iraqi music students, with the Peace Through Arts program, at the United States Embassy.

The students sat on the edge of their seats holding their instruments and mimicking the soldiers’ movements as they played. They listened intently, learning from every note produced by the instruments of the Cantigny Brass Quintet.

Once the quintet finished playing music that ranged from classical to movie themes, they gave one-on-one classes to the students to improve their playing skills.

The band members showed the students breathing techniques and proper hand placement on their instruments to play louder and longer.

“We showed them classical music, American marches and rock ‘n’ roll,” said Chief Warrant Officer Jeremiah Keillor, a native of Los Fresnos, Texas, 1st ID band commander and band master.

He said that the student’s musical skills are based on a good foundation. They only needed to hear the songs and they could play them back.

Mohammed Saad, one of the students from Baghdad, said they will benefit from the band member’s experience to help them be better musicians.

This is the first time a musical exchange between soldiers and young Iraqis has happened at the Embassy.

“I’m able to get a point across and communicate through the music,” said Sgt. Matthew Johnston, a native of Ellicott City, Md., and a trombonist with the band.

“We did some of the Iraqi folk songs together,” said Johnston. “We were able to produce music together for their enjoyment and ours.”

“Hopefully the students will take this experience and see that the band is made up of not just soldiers, but musicians too,” said Keillor. “We’re like them. We can play the same music, we can open the same book, we can read it side-by-side,” he said.

Ambassador James F. Jeffrey, United States Ambassador to Iraq said although the students associate soldiers with Humvees and protecting them against terrorists, it’s great to see the soldiers share with them their love of culture and music.

“We’re really proud of these soldiers from the Big Red One, and proud of their cooperation with these young Iraqis,” he said.

“By working with the children, we are able to collaborate and share a piece of their culture as well ours,” said Johnston.

The soldiers from the quintet will continue to reach out to the Iraqi students. The band has invited them to Contingency Operating Base Basra to play together again and to continue to develop a bond based on the language of music.

“It’s all about small steps,” said Keillor. “Hopefully it will shape the lives of the 25 kids that were here today.”

DVIDS
Story by Spc. Joseph Vine

Hammer of the Broads performed for service members at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, Iraq, Sept. 8. Hammer of the Broads is an all-female tribute band to Led Zeppelin, playing songs such as 'Highway to Heaven' and 'Heartbreaker.' Photo by Spc. Ry Norris

Hammer of the Broads, an all-female tribute to Led Zeppelin, sent a special message to the troops of Contingency Operating Base Speicher, Iraq, hours before they performed at the Main Gym, Sept. 8.

“Take care of yourself, get the job done, and come back safe,” said Dyna Shirasaki, the lead singer who emulates Zeppelin’s singer, Plant.

Dyna Shirasaki, with Hammer of the Broads, performs at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, Iraq, Sept. 8. Hammer of the Broads is an all-female tribute band to Led Zeppelin. Photo by Spc. Ry Norris

The Los Angeles based group began the second stop of their tour with a meet and greet at the Division Main Headquarters, where they remembered some of their fans.

“We meet a lot of soldiers that have seen us in Afghanistan, Bosnia, and Iraq,” said Tina Wood, or “Page.” “It’s such a trip!”

This is not the group’s first time in Iraq. All four musicians were here earlier in the year as the band known as Thund ‘Her’ Struck, a tribute to AC/DC. Nikki Lane Taylor (Bonham), who is not originally part of Thund ‘Her’ Struck, filled in as drummer for that tour.

The crew’s motto, when playing AC/DC, is “Let there be rock.” That motto resonated through the Led Zeppelin-fan-filled gymnasium as the first note struck a chord. The crowd rocked to hits like “Stairway to Heaven” and “Heartbreaker.”

“Led Zeppelin is the best rock and roll band ever,” said Maj. Jim Riely, a G-5 planner with the Division Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division. “They have a song for every mood and every occasion.”

The crowd filled the stadium, including some who counted down the days until the concert.

“When I heard they were coming and I was working security, I was stoked about it,” said Sgt. Jason Keller, a squad leader with the 108th Military Police Company.

The group encouraged the crowd to let loose and sing. Soldiers ran on stage to play air guitars alongside the rockers. A fan presented the bassist, Andrea Zermeno, with a large pair of men’s drawers with “I (heart) U, P.S. these are brand new” across the back, in tan camouflage of course.

Andrea Zermeno, the bassist for Hammer of the Broads, shows off a new pair of men's drawers with 'I (heart) U, P.S. these are brand new' across the back, at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, Iraq, Sept. 8. A soldier gave the gift during the concert where the band paid tribute to Led Zeppelin. Photo by Spc. Ry Norris

“It was absolutely fantastic!” said Rob Gutkowski, a counter-improvised explosive device section personnel. “These guys are so good that they are worth going to see. We’re fortunate to get it for free.”

The road leading to this tour was a long one. The band formed late last year after Moby Chick, another tribute Led Zeppelin band, disbanded. Practice came about once a month, when the musicians had spare time from their full-time jobs. Schedules were cleared so they could perform for the troops.

“For as much as these guys come here and sacrifice, it’s the least we can do,” said Shirasaki.

“There were these firefighters who just recently lost one of their guys,” said Wood of a previous tour. “They told us ‘We were having such a hard time with it and the fact that you girls came out here lifted our spirits.”

While the troops and those in attendance enjoyed more than an hour of Led Zeppelin music, the artists received something in return: gratitude.

“All the fatigue and aches, you forget about all that when you realize what you’re doing,” said Wood.

“It’s hard to realize that for someone like me, who’s a total goofball, can make a difference [especially] when I hear ‘I forgot about where I was for a little bit,’” a misty-eyed Zermeno said.

“That is the greatest compliment of all,” Nikki finished.

DVIDS
Story by Spc. Ry Norris

Petty Officer 2nd Class Kori Gillis, a musician, sings lead vocals for Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe rock band ‘Flag Ship’, during a free concert for the local community at Gorsad Garden, during exercises Sea Breeze 2010. Sea Breeze is the largest exercise this year in the Black Sea including 25 ships, 13 aircraft and more than 1,600 military members from Azerbaijan, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Moldova, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine and United States. Photo by Lt.j.g. Gary Keen

Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe rock band ‘Flag Ship’ performed a free concert for the local Odessa community at Gorsad Garden, Odessa, July 22 during exercises Sea Breeze 2010.

The concert was part of a community relations project designed to share some of the American culture with local community.

“We come out to support the Navy’s positive image and share the American culture with the Ukrainian people,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Brian Wirt, a musician, lead guitarist and leading petty officer. “Sea Breeze is wrapping up and we want the Ukrainian people to learn a little more about Americans than what they see on T.V. and read on the Internet.”

Flag Ship performed for one hour and for a group of more than 100 people. During their performance they played some recent songs and some favorite classics like, ‘Walk this way’ by Aerosmith.

“The crowd was amazing, they really got into the music,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Kori Gillis, a musician and lead vocalist. “There was a lot more excitement because there was so, much media. It gives us an adrenaline rush… the audience got the same rush and it made the performance that much better. ”

It was not long before the crowd began to cheer and sing along to the music. For many of the people this was the first time they saw a U.S. band perform live.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Brian Wirt, a musician and guitarist for Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe rock band ‘Flag Ship’, during a free concert for the local community at Gorsad Garden, during exercises Sea Breeze 2010.

“They played one of my favorite songs, ‘I Gotta Feeling’ [by Black Eyed Peas],” said Dima Leonov, local Odessa resident. “I knew the song from the video on T.V., but this is the first time I same a U.S. band play it or any song live.”

“This was the first time I saw U.S. band play music [live],” said Dasha Dougenko, local Odessa resident. “I really like all the songs and I hope they come back again someday.”

Sea Breeze is an invitational combined and joint maritime exercise in the Black Sea with the goals of enhancing Black Sea nation maritime security capabilities and improving Black Sea theater security cooperation strategies. Sea Breeze is the largest exercise this year in the Black Sea including 25 ships, 13 aircraft and more than 1,600 military members from Azerbaijan, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Moldova, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine and United States.

DVIDS
Story by Lt.j.g. Gary Keen

Patrick J. Carroll, the governance and cultural adviser for I Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD), plays his bagpipes as a crowd of Marines and other service members watch. Carroll believes that service members not only like the soothing nature of his music, but also the martial tone associated with it. Photo by Lance Cpl. Jeremy Fasci

From remembering people from the past to relaxation and even shaping the war atmosphere, one man has found a way to use bagpipes to fulfill many different needs.

Patrick J. Carroll, the governance and cultural adviser for the I Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD) Civil Affairs Group, plays the bagpipes for many different reasons, and brings its tunes to all different parts of the world.

Through his experiences he has found something that brings back memories, allows him to give back to his brothers in the Corps and keeps him working toward something better as he immerses himself into learning new songs and other types of bagpipes.

“Most people say they can’t believe that I bring it with me, but once you remove the bass drum you can actually fit it in a normal-size gun case,” said Carroll. “It fits conveniently in a seabag, so if I can take a seabag somewhere, I can take the pipes with me, and I pretty much take them everywhere I go.”

Carroll retired from the Marine Corps as a lieutenant colonel in September 2009 and has continued working as a civilian contractor. He began as an infantry officer but was also a middle eastern foreign area officer, helping him with the job he is doing working with the civil affairs group as a contractor.

“I went to certain schooling during my career to become an expert on the history, politics, language and culture of the countries that fall within the Central Command,” said Carroll.

Speaking mainly Arabic, Carroll also knows some Pashto and Farsi after studying the Middle East for over 17 years.

The bagpipes are not an instrument most people would think to pick up. Carroll had a little more motivation than just the personal drive he has had throughout life.

“At the same time I thought about playing the pipes, I ran into the father of a Marine who was playing bagpipes at a dining out event, and asked him if it was difficult to play it. He not only encouraged me to play, but gave me some advice on how to get started,” said Carroll. “My father also encouraged it. He loved the pipes. He didn’t play, but he played the music a lot.”

After receiving the advice Carroll bought a chanter and a book tutor to begin practicing.

Carroll had another reason for continuing to put in the work to play and to take them everywhere possible.

“My mom passed away about the time I picked it up,” said Carroll. “My mother loved Ireland, she had been to Ireland numerous times. My dad went to school in Ireland for a portion of his youth and it was kind of a way to remember her. That makes it easy because you always want to play it and think of your parents.”

As with any Marine, the sense of brotherhood has never left Carroll, and being around the Corps has allowed him to continue helping fellow Marines.

“I actually play for any Marine who wants me to play. I’ll play at the drop of a hat. So I play at retirements, and unfortunately I play at memorial ceremonies and funerals,” said Carroll. “I’m very honored to play for Marines. I do it because I never learned to do it for money. It was simply for the joy of the music and I don’t do it only for Marines, but of course I would do anything for my brother Marines.”

Carroll feels the sound of bagpipes is something most service members like to hear played while they are deployed.

“I also play it because it is an instrument that combines a martial sense to it, a war-like presence, but also has a soothing side at the same time,” said Carroll. “I think that the Marines, any servicemen, even if they are not Irish or Scottish like the martial aspect of the pipes, so I think it goes well with the atmosphere.”

Just as many Marines and other servicemembers find it relaxing to hear him play, it also allows him to break away from the difficult work that he performs daily basis as himself and the Marines from the civil affairs group help the people of Afghanistan have a better way of life.

“You need something to completely break free, some type of hobby that completely takes you away,” said Carroll.

Carroll will continue to play while he finishes out his six months working with the civil affairs group, and when he returns home to Virginia, where he is part of a band called the Northern Virginia Firefighters Emerald Society Pipe Band.

“I would encourage anyone to start playing. The only regret that I’ve had in life so far is not starting to play a musical instrument earlier,” said Carroll.

DVIDS
Story by Lance Cpl. Jeremy Fasci