Toby Keith Performs Underway for Deployed Cape St. George Sailors

By Ensign Lexi Dauernheim, USS Cape St. George Public Affairs

USS CAPE ST. GEORGE, At Sea (NNS) -- A country music celebrity superstar performed for more than 350 Sailors during an underway concert on the forecastle of the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71), April 24.

With the garrison flag flying from the forward deckhouse, the Sailors gathered to hear Toby Keith perform several of his numerous hit songs, including "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue," "Red Solo Cup" and "As Good as I Once Was."

The United Services Organization (USO) and Navy Entertainment sponsored the concert to boost the morale of the deployed Sailors. Keith, who is on his 10th USO tour, "Live in Overdrive," performed a concert aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) the day before.

Fire Controlman 2nd Class Kyle Peters said his brother saw Keith two years ago in Forward Operating Base Salerno in Afghanistan, and Peters was glad to also have the chance to see Keith perform live. "His patriotism and support for the U.S. military shows through his music and the amount of time he spends visiting the troops," Peters said.

While aboard Cape, Keith toured the vertical launching system, the MT51 5-inch gun loader room, and the combat information center before performing and signing autographs.

Chief Logistics Specialist Zach Schneider, one of Cape's supply leading chief petty officers, said he also saw Keith while he was in Afghanistan.

"He has entertained Sailors, soldiers, Marines and airmen all over," Schneider said. "I admire the man personally, and I enjoy his music."

Capt. Don D. Gabrielson, commanding officer of Cape, accompanied the band on guitar for the last few songs.

"Toby Keith's visit was one of the most morale-boosting events we have had this deployment. I don't think he will ever know how much it lifted our spirits," said Ensign Kelly Carson, Cape's strike officer.

Cape and Lincoln are currently deployed with Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9, which also includes embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2 and Destroyer Squadron 9, comprised of the guided-missile destroyers USS Momsen (DDG 92) and USS Sterett (DDG 104). CSG 9 is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and combat flight operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Country Music Star Toby Keith Entertains Lincoln Sailors

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jonathan P. Idle, USS Abraham Lincoln Public Affairs

USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, At Sea (NNS) -- Country music superstar Toby Keith performed for more than 4,000 Sailors during an underway concert in the hangar bay of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), April 23.

The concert was part of a tour sponsored by the United Services Organization (USO) in conjunction with Navy Entertainment to boost the morale of deployed Sailors.

The Sailors gathered in the hangar bay to hear Keith perform several of his numerous hit songs, including "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue," "American Soldier," "Should've Been a Cowboy" and "Red Solo Cup."

Keith, who is currently on his 10th USO tour since 2002, said he started performing for service members as a way to honor his late father's memory, but after his first tour, he knew it was something he wanted to continue doing.

"I was going to do a couple weeks just to honor my dad and the time he did in the service, and we just fell in love with it," Keith said. "The men and women that serve had such a good time that the USO said, 'they want you to go back.' So we started going every year. Now, 10 years and 180-something shows later, we keep coming back. It's been a wonderful time."

While aboard Lincoln, Keith toured the ship, signed autographs, posed for photographs and stood witness as a group of Lincoln Sailors reenlisted.

Aviation Electrician's Mate 1st Class Kenneth Gaal, one of the reenlisting Sailors, said he was honored to have Keith there for the ceremony.

"Toby Keith has supported the Navy and the United States in our military endeavors for over a decade," Gaal said. "He is a patriotic celebrity who shows his support for the sacrifices we make, and I'm proud to have been able to reenlist in his presence. This has certainly been the highlight of my deployment."

Keith said he appreciated all the Sailors in attendance at the show as well as all U.S. service members stationed around the world.

"I see the job you do every day," he said. "It's a tough job. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard; I get to see it all. You do a wonderful job. Godspeed to you. As long as you're out here, we'll keep trying to come back, shake your hand and thank you for what you do."

Lincoln is the flagship for Carrier Strike Group 9, which also includes guided-missile cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71) and Destroyer Squadron 9, comprised of guided-missile destroyers USS Momsen (DDG 92) and USS Sterett (DDG 104).

CSG 9 and Carrier Air Wing 2, embarked aboard Lincoln, are deployed to the 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support exercises in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Toby Keith Wows Overseas U.S. Troops

American Forces Press Service

May 23, 2007 – Country music star Toby Keith again demonstrated red, white and blue patriotism mixed with down-home rhythm during his recent tour to entertain U.S. servicemembers serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. This is Keith's fifth United Service Organizations-sponsored overseas trip to visit troops, and as always, the multi-platinum recording artist didn't disappoint his camouflaged-clad fans.

Keith's latest overseas tour includes a troop visit to Germany and precedes his upcoming "Big Dog Daddy" stateside tour named after his new compact disc slated for release in June.

In Iraq, Keith, 46, visited with servicemembers stationed in the Baghdad area and also performed a concert at Camp Victory on May 22. Before that, Keith spent May 19 and 20 with troops stationed in Afghanistan.

The Oklahoma-born entertainer personally greeted Iraq-deployed servicemembers and signed autographs. He also participated in a May 22 re-enlistment ceremony at Al Faw Palace in Baghdad, one of 99 such palaces that once belonged to Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

At Forward Operating Base Fenty at Jalalabad in northeastern Afghanistan on May 20, Keith saluted the troops for their dedication to duty.

"The reason that nobody back home on the news talks about what's going on in Afghanistan is because there's not much bad to say about it," Keith said. "The (coalition forces have) done a wonderful job, so that's the message I'm taking back (to the states)."

Keith said he wanted to key on visiting servicemembers stationed at smaller, out-of-the-way places during this year's Afghanistan tour.

"Instead of just going to the big ones, we wanted to go into some places that have never had any entertainment," he said at FOB Fenty.

After the show, the country music star hailed the troops for their service to the nation.

"Thank you for your sacrifice," Keith told servicemembers at FOB Fenty. "I know when you're over here for 18, 20 (or even 24 months) there are a lot of people being missed."

On May 19, hundreds of servicemembers waited for hours to see Keith perform at Forward Operating Base Salerno, near Afghanistan's border with Pakistan.

"I've wanted to see this guy since I was 13," said Army Pfc. Tristan P. Winter, a forward observer in Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. "He's my favorite country music singer, and I'm so excited to finally be able to see him."

Keith soon returned Winter's compliment, as the singer came on stage and was greeted by servicemembers' thunderous applause.

"This is to all of you, when you're rolling out at night watching each other's back," the performer told the military audience.

"I've got a lot of admiration for these guys and girls out on these bases who are getting out in the mud," Keith, whose father was a U.S. Army veteran, added.

The USO is among the more than 250 businesses and organizations nationwide that participate in the Defense Department's America Supports You program, which recognizes citizens' support for military men and women and communicates that support to members of the U.S. armed forces here and abroad.

(Compiled from articles and photos provided by Army Staff Sgt. Curt Cashour, Multinational Corps Iraq Public Affairs; Army Pfc. Micah E. Clare, Task Force Fury PAO, Afghanistan; and Army Pfc. Daniel E. Rangel, 22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Afghanistan.)

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