Jerry is obviously jammin' on  a guitar solo - I keep trying the sound button, but it's a no-go, soldier.

So what's today? I think May 20th.....

Yesterday was our day off and we got to go to the Marble Palace...I spent my whole time in the music room jamming out with other musicians that were deployed here. The night before we performed at camp Udairi

...there was a really bad sand storm there as we were setting up and doing a sound check and it messed up our equipment. We were going to cancel it but the General, said that the soldiers there were really down right now and I could see why. WE drove for miles out in the desert in the middle of nowhere....we drove off the road into sand around a huge bend...I don't know how they were able to find it....there is no mark to determine it's direction...they just took swerves and turns and we were suddenly there...in the middle of no where. These soldiers had nothing and we were all they had. He said he had already called up 8,000 soldiers to come watch...only about (40 or 50 showed up).... and they were eating at the dining facility right now. We all looked at each other and thought...we are here for the soldiers we're going to knock this one out. It was so pitiful...with all the sand storm warnings every 5 minutes before the show started...these soldiers came out there and brought their fold out chairs. They stayed waiting patiently....even if there was a sand storm they weren't going ANY where. I wanted to cry....you could see the sadness in their eyes. Then we started playing even though because of the sand storm we couldn't change into our dazzling clothes...we stayed in our Tech uniforms. The expressions on their faces went from gloom to...enticement. Then when the last song came on Sweet Home Alabama....even the ones who remained depressed through out the show got up and started dancing foolishly....they were so happy...the people who weren't even from Alabama still felt like that was their home.

Love, Valerie

TUESDAY NIGHT

We just got back from performing at campNew York tonight. This camp was named after the home state of people who died on September 11th. It was pretty exciting tonight. A lot of soldiers had been there for nearly 10 months already. They were hanging off the trucks screaming, "We want Valerie! We want Valerie!" "Key board chick!" "Who's the Key board chick?" Of course, they knew my name after we did the whole introduction. I felt like I was famous. Afterwards they all came up to get pictures taken and I was even signing autographs. Our band director who is from New York yelled on the mic. "Hey I heard this camp was just as wild as the real New York! I'm from New York so I will find out!" They just went wild! This is crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love everyone in my band - they are so great!

love,

Val

May 21, 2003

I just got back from performing at Camp Pennsylvania ... 

another one named after the Sept 11th incident.

 I'm getting closer and closer to the Iraqi border each time

...so hopefully, I will get to see Johnny, my guitarist who joined

 the church and Scott, my drummer. While I was at this camp 

someone told me that they've heard of Fort Polk people here. 

I was asking about 2nd ACR...they sadly told me of an incident 

that took place 3 weeks ago. I don't think I can talk about it

 right now but they were in Baghdad and there was a sniper. 

Well, I have to go...and we're going there 

...bye love,

 Valerie 

 5/23/03 

Nothin' but sky.....

Okay, last night we performed atCamp New Jersey  and there was a 

huge sand storm that blew us away so we moved everything in the 

dining facility tent. I forgot about Camp Pennsylvania the night 

before. We ran out of gas and we were stuck in the middle of the 

dessert but we finally got some fellow soldiers driving along the side 

of the road to help us.  I was looking around and there was 

absolutely nothing from miles ahead...there was nothing but sky. 

Camp Pennsylvania, when we finally made it in...

I can only say that I was satisified with that mission.

We were dressed nice and there were no sand storms...

At Camp New York...I was exstatic because all the guys loved me 

then Camp New jersery..last night was misery. I was so stressed out I 

ate four mint ice creams and I couldn't believe that I didn't gain 

anything...but I won't see ice cream for a while after that.  

At Camp New Jersey we only had time to stay in our tech uniforms. 

I got to meet some friends from my unit of a long time ago when 

I first got there, PFC Root and SPC Brigalia.  I was so happy to see 

some people that I knew. They couldn't watch my performance though

 because they both had missions.  Well, I have to go...today is my day

 off...I might take a shuttle over to the Marble Palace to relax, swim 

and play the piano. 

 Love always, 

Valerie 

*********************************************************************

Performance 5/23/03 was at Camp Virginia - no news since that message 

Memorial Day message from CentCom

http://www.dtic.mil/armylink/news/May2003/s200305162003memorialdayspeech2.html