American Idol Winner Visits Troops

By Sgt. Sarah Scully, USA

Dec. 14, 2006 – Hundreds of servicemembers lined up to receive an autograph and photo from Carrie Underwood, country music star and 2005 American Idol winner, at Camp Arifjan's Combined Operations and Intelligence Center yesterday. Underwood, on a United Service Organizations tour in the Middle East, also gave a concert at Camp Buehring, a few hours away from Camp Arifjan, before heading to Iraq for additional concerts.

Army Master Sgt. Ricky Bakke waited in line for his chance to have Underwood sign a guitar for his 10-year-old daughter right before Christmas.

"(She's) a huge fan of Carrie's and is learning to play," Bakke, a logistics NCO for National Guard affairs supporting 3rd Army and U.S. Army Central, said of his daughter.

"Thanks for giving me such a warm welcome," Underwood said to a fan. "We're happy to be able to come here and spread some holiday cheer."

Clutching pictures and CDs of Underwood, servicemembers of all ranks and ages asked her to sign memorabilia for family members and themselves and to pose for pictures.

"I had Carrie autograph posters for me and my two girls," said Chief Warrant Officer Stoney Hobbs, a pilot with 1st Battalion, 111th Aviation Regiment. "They are big fans from American Idol."

(Army Sgt. Sarah Scully is assigned to the 40th Public Affairs Detachment.)

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