The union of a forward support company's musicians

By: Capt. James Vaughn
203RD Engineer Battalion







FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHARANA, Afghanistan - During the evening, music can be heard seeping from the cracks of a billeting hut located at Forward Operating Base Sharana, Afghanistan. It is not always a perfect sound and from time to time could give the impression of being of an experimental nature. Inside the building, mechanics of the Forward Support Company, 203rd Engineer Battalion are learning to play the guitar while serving as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. They are some of several Soldiers using their deployment time as an opportunity to learn an instrument.

"I've always wanted to be a country music singer," Spc. Chris Palmer said. "So, I figured I better learn to play the guitar."

"I played for about seven years. I stopped until these guys started it here," Spc. Justin Adams said.

"Don't let them fool you, I had to talk them all into it," Spc. Jessie Lovell claimed.

"I used to play when I was a kid. I just picked it back up when this deployment started up," Spc. Stacy Hughes said. He plays an electric bass guitar.

Some of the new guitarists take lessons at the FOB's Sharana chapel on Tuesday evenings. They also spend a good deal of their spare time practicing. They have learned to play chords and scales and have developed the dexterity in their fingers needed to manipulate the strings to the tune of some of their favorite songs. Most of their equipment was ordered online and mailed to them.

"It was kind of spur of the moment," Lovell said. "I've always wanted to learn to play a guitar but I've never had the opportunity. They offer the lessons here and they are free. I thought this was a good chance to learn."

The aspiring musicians all agreed their endeavor is a team effort. They learn from each other. The camaraderie gives them motivation to practice and makes each of them strive for improvement.

"It's a lot easier to play when you have other people around you," Adams said. "That's a lot of the reason I quit before. It was just me and after a while I just got kind of bored with it."

"We keep each other motivated," Palmer added.

No specific form of music is favored over another, collectively. The group plays rock and country music from several generations and they have no problem agreeing on what songs they should play.

"We all have our own ideas on what kind of music we listen to," Lovell said.

"We definitely have different genres that we play," Palmer agreed. "That makes it good for variety because everyone likes something different."

"I'd like to learn rock. I like country too. I think it would be fun around a campfire," SPC Blake Bradford said.

The group gets together almost every evening. Several occupants of the FSC Maintenance team billeting hut play guitar at least occasionally. Sometimes they have visitors wander by and stop in. Some play guitar and some just stop by to identify the source of the music.

"It's an everyday thing. Most of the guys in our hooch play. I think it has helped bring us closer together," Lovell said.

"I think the biggest thing that has helped us is people who are good at guitar coming by and sharing what they know with us. They teach us songs and little tricks to help us get better," Palmer said.

"I think it helps keep my mind occupied on something besides just thinking about being away from home," Bradford said.



Posted: 5/14/2010 12:17:40 PM