Joint Base Balad Soldiers participate in concert 'back home'

By Mr. Gayland Putnam (AMC)June 5, 2010

That's Us!
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers stationed at Joint Base Balad, Iraq react as they appear live on the giant screen at Louisiana State University's Tiger Stadium during the Memorial Day weekend Bayou Country Superfest in Baton Rouge, La., May 31.
The Soldiers are (front row,... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)
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Hello Louisiana!
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers stationed at Joint Base Balad, Iraq react as they appear live on the giant screen at Louisiana State University's Tiger Stadium during the Memorial Day weekend Bayou Country Superfest in Baton Rouge, La., May 31.
The Soldiers are (front row,... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)
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Joint Base Balad, Iraq - Soldiers stationed here had the opportunity to spend a few hours "back home" as they participated in a live, two-way video feed of a major Memorial Day weekend music festival May 31.

The Soldiers, all from Louisiana, were on hand at 2 a.m. to watch Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn, and headliner Kenny Chesney perform at Louisiana State University's Tiger Stadium during the Bayou Country Superfest in Baton Rouge, La.

The Soldiers appeared on the stadium's giant video screen and were introduced to the crowd of more than 90,000 inside the stadium between sets and were brought back onscreen to be acknowledged by Chesney, the reigning Country Music Association entertainer of the year, during his performance.

Sgt. 1st Class Barbara Bossier, first sergeant, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 402nd Army Field Support Brigade (Front row, far left), was introduced by name and had the opportunity to greet the crowd.

"It was really nice what they did for us. Somebody paid a lot of money for the satellite time so we could be a part of this," said Bossier who hails from Lafayette, La., and is assigned to the Army Reserve's 377th Theater Support Command in New Orleans. "It was great because we could see all of the people in the stadium and they could see us. It was also nice to meet other Soldiers from Louisiana. I even met a couple from my hometown."

"It was pretty cool. This was my first concert ever, live or televised," said Spc. Ishiah Mouton, a Security Forces convoy tracker with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Lousiana National Guard, out of Lafayette, where he resides. "We got a standing ovation and he (Chesney) dedicated a song to us. It was great to see all the people back home showing their support for the troops."