FORT KNOX, Ky. (November 7, 2011) -- A simple game of jacks changed the life of Staff Sgt. Terriance Hamilton when he was a child.
While playing the game with his sister, he swallowed a jack and after visiting the emergency room, discovered he could do things with his voice that he wasn't always able to.
"After swallowing the jack, I was able to make weird noises with my voice," said Staff Sgt. Hamilton, the fuel operations noncommissioned officer in charge for the 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary). "Later on I discovered that I could use my lungs to sing, which would later turn into a passion of mine."
Staff Sgt. Hamilton knew over the years that this accident changed his voice and what he could do with it. What he didn't know was that it would land him a spot on Black Entertainment Television's "Bobby Jones Gospel Show".
He participated in a live taping of the nationally aired show on Oct. 29 in Nashville, Tenn., where he was able to sing what he considers to be his "testimony song" and meet the show's creator, Dr. Bobby Jones.
Staff Sgt. Hamilton said he received the opportunity to appear on the show after his wife playfully videotaped him singing in the kitchen one day. He said he was aware of the taping but not necessarily her intentions for the video.
"I really did not want to do it, but eventually just went along with it," said Staff Sgt. Hamilton. "My wife kept say how she was going to send the video to the Bobby Jones Gospel Show. I didn't take it seriously at first but she said she would do it and she did."
Staff Sgt. Hamilton's wife, Joyce, said she saw something much more in her husband than just being a singer. She saw something far more special, something that could touch the lives of others.
"He's not just a singer, he's anointed to sing," said Joyce, an Army Wounded Warrior Advocate who retired after 22 years of active-duty service. "Everyone doesn't have that gift. It's an anointing that he is blessed with and the world needs to hear it."
After about a month of waiting, Staff Sgt. Hamilton said he received a call from a personal assistant of Dr. Bobby Jones, who extended an invitation for him to sing on the show. Staff Sgt. Hamilton admits that he was in denial at first, but after a few minutes of skepticism realized this call was the real thing.
"When he asked, all I could say was yes," said Staff Sgt. Hamilton.
Staff Sgt. Hamilton said that his appearance on the show was a much more welcomed experience than what he's faced over the years.
A 16 year Army veteran, he said that his last deployment was by far his most difficult. It was during his time in Iraq that he learned that his mother was dying and that he could possibly not see his daughter again. This led Staff Sgt. Hamilton to doubt his purpose in life and left him severely depressed.
"It's a rewarding experience to be able to tell a nation of people that even those who seem as if they have it all together, don't," said Staff Sgt. Hamilton. "It's not about me, but about others who feel that there's no hope."
Staff Sgt. Hamilton said that participating in show's taping was a great experience. He said that his favorite part of the event was meeting the show's creator and host, Dr. Bobby Jones.
"Meeting Dr. Jones was an overwhelming experience," said Staff Sgt. Hamilton. "He's touched hands with all of my favorite gospel artists."
Now that he's taped in front of a national audience, Staff Sgt. Hamilton said he's not quite sure where this opportunity would lead him, but he'll gladly go along for the ride.
"My wife has a vision for me," said Staff Sgt. Hamilton. "She said the world needs to hear my voice and this is the first step."
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