ROAD KILL – KUWAIT/IRAQ – CHELY WRIGHT , ET.AL.
SUNDAY, JUNE 15th
TODAY WE DEPARTED NASHVILLE TO DC FOR THE USO TRIP TO KUWAIT AND IRAQ. THIS WILL BE THE FIRST ENTERTAINMENT THAT THE TROOPS WILL RECEIVE SINCE THE WAR. FROM THE EMAILS I’VE BEEN RECEIVING, THE MEN AND WOMEN STILL SERVING IN THESE AREAS ARE DEFINITELY IN NEED OF A MORALE BOOST. I AM WITH CHELY WRIGHT AND THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 28 OTHER CELEBITIES ON THIS TOUR – 190 PEOPLE TOTAL. WE HAVE COUNTRY ARTISTS, ROCK ARTISTS, NFL CHEERLEADERS, NBA AND NFL PLAYERS, MOVIE STARS, ETC., ETC. PARTICIPATING. THERE WAS NO ADVANCE PUBLICITY ON THE TOUR DUE TO SECURITY CONCERNS. SO, TONIGHT WE STAY AT THE RITZ CARLTON AND DEPART ANDREWS AB TOMORROW MORNING. FLY 8 HOURS TO AMSTERDAM, REFUEL FOR 2 HOURS, THEN FLY ANOTHER 8 HOURS TO KUWAIT. OUR LOBBY CALL IS 4 AM TOMORROW SO I THINK MOST PEOPLE ARE JUST GOING TO STAY UP ALL NIGHT AND TRY TO SLEEP ON THE PLANE. I CAN’T ACCESS AOL FROM MY COMPUTER IN KUWAIT, SO THESE ROAD REPORTS MAY NOT GO OUT UNTIL I RETURN TO NASHVILLE.
ROAD KILL – DAY TWO AND THREE – MONDAY AND TUESDAY, JUNE 16-17 UP EARLY AND OFF TO ANDREWS FOR DEPARTURE TO KUWAIT. WE’RE IN BUSINESS CLASS BUT THERE’S LOTS OF ROOM IN COACH. I’M SITTING WITH CHELY AND I LOOKED ACROSS THE AISLE TO SEE GARY SINISE (LT. DAN FROM ‘FORREST GUMP’) SITTING THERE. OH MY GOD…I AM SUCH A FAN. THERE IS A REPRESENTATIVE FROM NORTHWEST AIRLINES ON THE FLIGHT WITH US WHO IS THE NICEST MAN – “DENNY”. HE HANDLES ALL THE CHARTER FLIGHTS FOR THE MILITARY. IT’S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT NORTHWEST DONATED THIS PLANE FOR THE TOUR. AFTER TAKEOFF, EVERYONE GOT UP AND STARTED INTRODUCING THEMSELVES. ALL EGOS WERE LEFT BEHIND IN THE U.S. AND WE HAVE THE GREATEST GROUP OF CELEBRITIES. WE THINK WE HAVE: FIVE DALLAS COWBOY CHEERLEADERS KID ROCK NEAL MCCOY JESSE JAMES ALYSSA MILANO BRITTANY MURPHY NAPPY ROOTS 6 NBA PLAYERS 3 NBA HALL OF FAMERS WAYNE NEWTON 2 NFL PLAYERS PAUL RODRIGUEZ REBECCA ROMIGN-STAMOS GARY SINISE BUBBA SPARXXX JOHN STAMOS LEEANN TWEEDEN LEE ANN WOMACK CHELY WRIGHT I GOT UP TO TRY AND FIND MARTY EDELMAN (ENTERTAINMENT ATTORNEY) TO TALK TO HIM ABOUT STARS FOR STRIPES. LOCATED HIM AND GOT TO TALK FOR A WHILE UNTIL WE HIT TURBULENCE AND I HAD TO RETURN TO MY SEAT. HE TOLD ME THAT TRIBECA HAD TOTALLY CANCELLED THE TRIP TWO WEEKS AGO BECAUSE IT WAS SO DISORGANIZED. I DID NOT SLEEP AT ALL ON THAT FLIGHT. JUST WENT AROUND MEETING PEOPLE AND “VISITING”. WE STOPPED IN AMSTERDAM TO “RE-FUEL” AND THEN CONTINUED ON TO KUWAIT. WE PICKED UP JOHN STAMOS AND REBECCA IN AMSTERDAM. “RICKY” ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF BUBBA SPARXXX GROUP “ENTERTAINED” US DURING TAKEOFF. HE WAS WEARING A REALLY NICE PAIR OF FLUFFLY WHITE SLIPPERS. JOHN STAMOS, THINKING THE SLIPPERS WERE THE ONES PROVIDED BY “NORTHWEST”, ASKED HIM WHY HIS WERE SO MUCH NICER THAN OURS. RICKY THEN DID A 20 MINUTE SPOOF ON HOW HE “LIFTED” THEM FROM THE RITZ-CARLTON. ONLY SLEPT FOR ONE HOUR BECAUSE I HAD SO MANY PEOPLE TO TALK WITH. LANDED IN KUWAIT AND IT WAS ABOUT 111 DEGREES. HAD TO TAKE A BUS FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE HOTELS, WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE ABOUT A 20 MINUTES DRIVE. WE WERE SUPPOSED TO CHECK IN AND THEN HAVE 4-5 HOURS TO “REST” BEFORE WE DEPARTED FOR OUR FIRST “HANDSHAKE VISITS”. ONLY, IT TOOK OUR LUGGAGE ABOUT 2 HOURS TO ARRIVE AND THEN THE TRUCK COULDN’T COME UP THE DRIVE TO THE HOTEL. THEY HAD TO UNLOAD EVERYTHING PIECE BY PIECE ONTO A PICKUP TRUCK AND MAKE SEVERAL TRIPS JUST TO GET IT IN THE HOTEL. BY THE TIME WE RECEIVED IT, WE ONLY HAD A FEW MINUTES TO DRESS AND DEPART FOR THE FIRST VISIT. THE “WORKOUT” CHELY AND I PLANNED HAD TO BE POSTPONED. SHE DID HAVE TIME FOR A 20 MINUTE CARDIO JAUNT BUT I DIDN’T HAVE TIME TO JOIN HER. I TRIED TO TALK THE USO INTO LETTING US GO TO CAMP ARIFJAN WITH ONE OF THE OTHER GROUPS WHO DID NOT HAVE ANY “ENTERTAINERS” GOING IN WITH THEM. THIS IS THE CAMP WHERE MY FRIEND, JIM PEARCY, IS THE MWR SUPERVISOR AND I KNOW HOW BADLY HE WANTED ETERTAINMENT. EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS PLENTY OF ROOM FOR US TO GO, THE USO REFUSED TO ALLOW THE CHANGE STATING THAT CENTCOM WOULD NOT ALLOW IT. WE WERE TAKING OUR “GUITAR” AND PLAYER JUST IN CASE THE OPPORTUNITY AROSE SO THAT WE COULD PERFORM. GOT IN LINE TO GET ON THE BUS AND THE GUYS WERE IN FRONT OF ME. AFTER THEY CHECKED THEIR NAMES OFF. THEY STARTED TO BOARD THE BUS BUT WERE NOT ALLOWED TO GET ON BOARD. SAID WE COULD NOT BRING THEM WITH US. I ARGUED BUT TO NO AVAIL. SO THE GUYS SAT AT THE HOTEL ALL DAY. THEIR REASONING WAS THAT EACH ARTIST WAS ONLY ALLOWED TO TAKE ONE PESON WITH THEM. HOWEVER, UPON BOARDING THE BUS, I NOTICED THAT THIS RULE DID NOT NECESSARILY APPLY TO EVERYONE…NO NAMES MENTIONED! WE LANDED AT CAMP DOHA AND CHELY GETS OUT OF THE BUS AND SAYS, “JACK, IT’S SO NICE TO SEE YOU”. IT WAS OUR VIDEOGRAPHER FROM DC A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF RUNNING INTO HIM IN KUWAIT? WE FLEW ON A CHINOOK TO CAMP NEW JERSEY. THERE WERE SEVERAL HUNDRED – ALMOST A THOUSAND – SOLDIERS IN LINE FOR AN AUTOGRAPH WHEN WE ARRIVED. WE HAD WAYNE NEWTON, NEAL MCCOY, PAUL RODRIGUEZ, ALYSSA MILANO, BRITTANY MURPHY AND CHELY WRIGHT WITH US TO SIGN. THE SIGNING WAS IN A TENT BUT THE LINE WAS TAKING MUCH TOO LONG TO SIGN. BRITTANY AND ALYSSA ARE NOT ACCUSTOMED TO SIGNING FOR THAT MANY PEOPLE AND CREATED A BOTTLENECK. CHELY WENT OUTSIDE AND STARTING WORKING THE END OF THE LINE. IT WAS AT LEAST 114 DEGREES OUTSIDE. SHE SIGNED FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF AND THEN THEY CUT THE LINE OFF. IF SHE HAD NOT GONE OUTSIDE, NONE OF THOSE SOLDIERS WOULD HAVE GOTTEN A SINGLE AUTOGRAPH. WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GO TO CAMP DOHA TO THE VENUE FOR A SHOW REHEARSAL. HOWEVER, CHELY WAS TIRED FROM STANDING IN THE SUN FOR SO LONG AND DECIDED TO JUST LET HER GUYS HANDLE SOUND CHECK FOR HER. WE HAD BEEN ASSURED THAT THEY WOULD BE PICKED UP AT THE HOTEL AND TAKEN TO THE VENUE FOR THE REHEARSAL. WE LEFT ON THE BUS GOING BACK TO THE HOTEL AND UPON ARRIVING, WERE MET BY HER GUYS. NO ONE CAME TO PICK THEM UP. SO WE HAD NO ONE AT THE VENUE FOR THE REHEARSAL. WHEN WE GOT BACK TO THE HOTEL, EVERYONE WAS SO TIRED. THERE WAS A BUFFET DINNER SET UP AND WE GOT CHELY A PLATE TO GO. BUT BY THE TIME WE GOT BACK TO THE ROOM WITH IT, SHE WAS SOUND ASLEEP. I STAYED UP TO TRY AND TALK THE USO INTO LETTING US TAKE OUR MUSICIAN AND ROAD MANAGER WITH US TO TILAL, IRAQ THE NEXT DAY. BEGGED AND BEGGED AND IN THE END, THEY REFUSED. WHILE WE WERE “NEGOTIATING” THE STAFF GOT A CALL THAT THE BUSES WITH WAYNE NEWTON AND THE OTHER PERFORMERS ON THEM WERE “LOST”. THEY WERE ACTUALLY LOST FOR 2 ½ HOURS! THEY DIDN’T GET BACK TO THE HOTEL UNTIL MIDNIGHT. AND THEN WE LEARNED THAT THEY NEVER EVEN GOT A SHOW REHEARSAL. THEY WAITED FOR 2 HOURS TO REHEARSE BUT EVIDENTLY THE STAGE WAS SET UP FOR KID ROCK AND THE REHEARSAL DIDN’T HAPPEN.
ROAD KILL – DAY THREE – JUNE 18TH n WORKOUT AGAIN TODAY. MUSCLES ARE DETERIORATING, I’M SURE BUT I KNOW I’M LOSING WEIGHT…NO TIME TO EAT! WE BOARDED BUSES TO THE MILITARY BASE AND THEN C-130’S TO FLY INTO IRAQ. WE LANDED TO FIND A FULL STAGE HAD BEEN BUILT AND SOLDIERS HAD BEEN STANDING IN THE HOT SUN FOR 4 HOURS WAITING FOR A “PERFORMANCE”. WE HAD WAYNE NEWTON, NEAL MCCOY, PAUL RODRIGUEZ AND CHELY AND NO MUSICIANS OR INSTRUMENTS BECAUSE WE WERE TOLD WE COULD NOT PERFORM. SO, WE FOUND A COUPLE OF GUITARS OUT IN THE AUDIENCE. NEAL SANG TO ONE OF HIS CDS WHILE THE CHEERLEADERS DANCED. PAUL RODRIGUEZ DID A COMEDY SKIT, WAYNE “ATTEMPTED” TO SING ACAPPELLA AND CHELY SANG “SHUT UP AND DRIVE” AND ACCOMPANIED HERSELF ON THE GUITAR….AND SHE DOESN’T PLAY GUITAR. WE GAVE THE TROOPS A SHOW BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN SO MUCH BETTER IF WE HAD BEEN ALLOWED TO BRING OUR MUSICIAN OR HAD KNOWN THAT THEY WERE EXPECTING A SHOW. CHELY GOT TOO HOT AND WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO LOSE HER TO HEAT STROKE. BUT SHE RECOVERED PRETTY QUICKLY. ONE OF THE LADIES WITH THE USO WHO HAD REFUSED TO LET US BRING OUR GUYS WITH US DID GET HEATSTROKE AND WAS VERY ILL. HMMMM….. WE HAD AN EMPTY WATER BOTTLE AND THOUGHT WE WOULD BRING HOME SOME “SAND” FROM IRAQ. NOT A GOOD IDEA. THE SOIL HAS TRACES OF ANTHRAX IN IT! WE WERE DRINKING 6 OF THE 2 LITER BOTTLES OF WATER EACH DAY. WE WOULD SIT ON A BUS OR PLANE FOR HOURS WAITING FOR DEPARTURE AND OUR CLOTHES WOULD BE SOAKED THROUGH WITH SWEAT. THEN THE SECOND WE STEPPED OUTSIDE, THE CLOTHES WOULD DRY COMPLETELY. WE HAD “MRE’S” ON THE IRAQ FLIGHTS. THEY WERE “EDIBLE” BUT I DON’T SEE HOW THE GUYS EAT THEM EVERY DAY. ALSO, THE HAVE 5,000 CALORIES IN EACH ONE!!! THAT NIGHT WAS OUR FIRST SHOW. WE GOT BACK AN HOUR LATER THAN ANTICIPATED, SO I ARRANGED FOR CHELY TO HAVE A PRIVATE VEHICLE TO TRANSPORT HER A LITTLE LATER THAN THE BUSES. YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT I HAD COMMITTED A CRIME! ABOUT ONE HOUR BEFORE SHOW TIME, SHE ADVISES ME THAT SHE CAN’T FIND HER WHITE BRA AND MUST HAVE ONE TO WEAR UNDER THE SHEER WHITE BLOUSE. I CHECKED WITH THE LINGERIE STORE IN THE LOBBY AND THEY DIDN’T HAVE ONE. I BORROWED A WHITE SWIMSUIT TOP FROM LEEANNE TWEEDEN BUT THAT DIDN’T WORK. IN DESPERATION, HER ROAD MANAGER AND I SAW A GIRL SITTING IN THE LOBBY WHO LOOKED LIKE SHE MIGHT BE THE “RIGHT” SIZE. SHE WAS NOT WITH OUR TOUR SO I HAD TO EXPLAIN EVERYTHING TO HER. SHE WAS STAYING IN THE HOTEL AND EXACTLY THE SAME SIZE AS CHELY. SHE WENT UP TO HER ROOM, REMOVED IT AND LET US “BORROW” IT. THE ONLY PROBLEM WAS, THE WATER IN KUWAIT HAD TURNED IT GRAY INSTEAD OF WHITE. IT DIDN’T WORK. SO, I CONVINCED CHELY TO WEAR A DIFFERENT TOP. JUST AS SHE WAS FINISHING DRESSING, SHE WENT INTO THE BATHROOM AND THE MAID HAD FOLDED UP HER SOCKS AND WHITE BRA AND PUT THEM WHERE CHELY COULDN’T SEE THEM. SO, ALL ENDED WELL. WE ARRIVED AT THE SHOW IN PLENTY OF TIME TO RELAX BEFORE CHELY TOOK THE STAGE. CAPTAIN MARC KRAUSS WHO WAS OUR PROTOCOL OFFICER IN KOREA IN 2001 WAS THERE! I HAD BEEN EMAILING HIM AND WAS HOPING TO SEE HIM. CHELY WAS DELIGHTED TO VISIT WITH HIM AGAIN. SHE DID HER “TWO” SONGS AND BLEW THE SOLDIERS AWAY. THEY SANG ALONG WITH EVERY WORD. THEN WE LEFT! SOMETHING HAPPENED AFTER WE LEFT BECAUSE WAYNE NEWTON GOT UPSET AND LEFT BEFORE THE BIG FINALE. EVIDENTLY THERE WERE MEETINGS TAKING PLACE UNTIL 4 AM BUT I HAVEN’T FOUND OUT WHAT THEY WERE YET. I KNEW THAT WE WERE SCHEDULED TO GO TO THE USS NIMITZ THE NEXT DAY AND IMMEDIATELY STARTED LOBBYING TO GO TO BAGHDAD INSTEAD. EVERYTIME THE USO TOLD ME “NO”, THEY EXPLAINED THAT CENTCOM WOULD NOT ALLOW IT. SO, I BEGAN SEARCHING FOR “CENTCOM”. I FOUND IT IN THE FORM OF COLONEL HAYES. HE WAS SO SWEET. I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT I WANTED TO TAKE CHELY AND HER BOYS INTO BAGHDAD THE NEXT DAY AND HE SAID, “DONE”! AMAZING AFTER WHAT I HAD BEEN THROUGH.
ROAD KILL – DAY 4 – JUNE 19TH WE WERE IN THE LOBBY AND THE ENTERTAINMENT DIRECTOR OF THE USO CAME OVER TO ME AND SAID HE NEEDED TO HAVE A WORD WITH ME. HE PULLED ME ASIDE AND EXPLAINED THAT I HAD GONE BEHIND HIS BACK AND THAT I WOULD NEVER DO ANOTHER USO TOUR IF THAT HAPPENED AGAIN. I HAD TO AGREE THAT I WOULD NOT BE DOING ANOTHER USO TOUR. WE BUSED TO THE AIRFIELD AND TOOK TWO C-130’S INTO BAGHDAD. I WENT UP ON THE FLIGHT DECK AS I ALWAYS DO TO MEET THE PILOTS AND CREW. THE PILOT LOOKED REAL FAMILIAR SO I ASKED WHERE THEY WERE FORM. IT WAS THE SAME PILOT I HAD ON A GREAT USO TOUR IN HAITI, CUBA, HONDURAS, AND PANAMA WITH THE FORESTER SISTERS AND RICK OROZCO IN 1994! WE HAD STAYED IN TOUCH FOR A FEW YEARS AND THEN LOST TOUCH WITH EACH OTHER. NOT ONLY WAS HE THERE, BUT TWO OF THE OTHER PILOTS FROM THAT TOUR WERE ALSO IN KUWAIT. WE PLANNED TO MEET THE NEXT NIGHT FOR THE CONCERT. THEY DID WARN ME THAT THE LANDING IN IRAQ WOULD MEAN THAT WE FLEW 600 FEET OFF THE GROUND FOR 15 MINUTES. THANK GOD THEY TOLD ME. I GRABBED GARY SINISE AND WE STAYED ON THE FLIGHT DECK WITH THEM FOR THE LANDING. BUT, I UNDERSTAND IT WAS A PRETTY TURBULENT 15 MINUTES FOR EVERYONE DOWN BELOW. KEEP IN MIND THAT ON A C-130, THERE ARE NO “SEATS” LIKE IN AN AIRPLANE. THERE ARE THESE WEB BENCHES THAT DROP DOWN FROM THE SIDES OF THE AIRPLANE THAT YOU SIT IN. AND NO WINDOWS! WE LANDED AT THE BAGHDAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WHICH WAS OF COURSE, A “GHOST” TOWN. SEVERAL IRAQIC AIRPLANES JUST SITTING AT THE DESERTED GATES. WE HAD DEFINITELY “TAKEN CONTROL” OF THAT FACILITY. AND, GUESS WHAT, THERE WERE 8,000 SOLDIERS WHO HAD BEEN STANDING INSIDE AND OUTSIDE A HANGAR FOR 6 HOURS WAITING FOR A “PERFORMANCE”. THANK GOD WE HAD A GUITAR AND CHELY HAD A MUSICIAN WITH US. SHE GOT JOHN STAMOS TO PLAY DRUMS AND KID ROCK BORROWED A GUITAR FOR THE ONE MUSICIAN HE BROUGHT WITH HIM. THEY PUT ON A HECK OF A SHOW. CHELY EVEN SANG “PICTURE” WITH KID AND SHE DIDN’T KNOW THE LYRICS. HE WOULD WHISPER THE WORDS LINE BY LINE FOR HER TO SING. WE COULD HAVE PUT ON A MUCH BETTER SHOW FOR THE TROOPS WHO SO DESPARATELY NEED ENTERATINMENT HAD WE KNOWN THEY WANTED A SHOW. YOU WOULD THINK THAT AFTER WHAT HAPPENED IN TALIL, SOMEONE WOULD HAVE CHECKED OUR SCHEDULE TODAY TO MAKE SURE IT DIDN’T HAPPEN AGAIN. I JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE WAS NO COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE USO AND THE BASES TO ADVANCE THESE DATES. I’VE NEVER SEEN SO MANY SOLDIERS IN ONE PLACE STARVED FOR ANY KIND OF ENTERTAINMENT – JUST A DIVERSION FROM WHAT THEY’VE BEEN THROUGH AND ARE STILL FACING AND KNOWING THAT PEOPLE BACK HOME KNOW THEY ARE STILL THERE AND APPRECIATE THEM. I CAN’T BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I’VE CHOCKED UP THIS WEEK TALKING WITH THEM. ON THE RIDE BACK TO THE AIRPLANE, WE SAT WITH A MAN WHO WAS THE FATHER OF TWO BOYS WHO WERE KILLED IN THE TWIN TOWERS. ONE WAS A POLICEMAN AND THE OTHER WAS A FIREMAN. I WAS MOVED BEYOND BELIEF LISTENING TO HIM TELL HIS STORY. THERE WAS A SOLDIER THERE “ESCORTING” HIM WHO WAS A POLICEMAN IN NYC WITH HIS SON. HE SAT WITH ME ON THE PLANE AND IT WAS FASCINATING TALKING WITH HIM. HE ALSO WANTED TO KNOW HOW OLD I AM. OF COURSE, I LET HIM “GUESS”. HIS RESPONSE WAS, “I’M 42 AND I KNOW YOU’RE YOUNGER THAN ME”. I TOLD HIM HE WAS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT AND THANKED HIM. THEN I TOLD HIM THAT I HAVE A 32 YEAR OLD SON!!!
ROAD KILL – DAY FIVE – JUNE 20TH HAVE TO CHECK OUT OF THE HOTEL TODAY AND FLY TO QATAR FOR THE SHOW. WE FLEW ON C-130’S AGAIN AND A FEW MINUTES AFTER TAKE OFF, I HEARD A VERY STRANGE NOISE. I TOLD CHELY THAT SOMETHING HAD HAPPENED AND SHE “POOH–POOHED” MY CONCERN. SO, AS SOON AS I WAS ALLOWED ON THE FLIGHT DECK I WENT UP AND ASKED THE PILOTS WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THEY LOOKED “SURPRISED” AND SAID, “GOOD EARS” AND TOLD ME TO LOOK OUT THE WINDOW. ONE OF THE 4 PROPELLORS WAS NOT TURNING. WE HAD LOST AN ENGINE AND THEY HAD SHUT IT DOWN. THE SOUND I HEARD WAS THE OIL HITTING THE SIDE OF THE PLANE. WHEN WE LANDED, THEY HAD TO BRING OUT THE FIRETRUCKS TO MEET US. WE WENT TO THE VENUE FOR THE SHOW AND YOU COULD TELL THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF “TENSION” IN THE AIR. SEVERAL OF THE ARTISTS WERE UPSET BECAUSE OF THE UNORGANIZED WAY THINGS WERE HANDLED AND ALSO BECAUSE THEY WERE BEING ASKED TO CUT THE LENGTH OF THEIR SHOW. KEEP IN MIND THAT THEY HAD COME ALL THE WAY TO KUWAIT AND SO FAR HAD ONLY BEEN ALLOWED TO SING 3 SONGS ON ONE SHOW! MY PILOT BUDDIES FROM THE 1994 TOUR CAME OVER AND WE WENT TO DINNER. THEN CHELY DECIDED THAT SHE WANTED TO WEAR A FLIGHT SUIT TO PERFORM HER TWO SONGS THAT NIGHT. I STARTED LOOKING AROUND FOR SOMEONE HER SIZE AND FINALLY SPOTTED A LIKELY CONTENDOR. I EXPLAINED THE SITUATION TO HIM AND TOLD HIM HE WOULD HAVE WEAR CHELY’S PANTS WHILE SHE WORE HIS FLIGHT SUIT. HE WAS RELUCTANT BUT “GAME”. MY PILOT BUDDY PULLED ME ASIDE AND SAID, “DO YOU KNOW WHO THAT IS? HE’S THE CG OF MY BASE – 2ND IN COMMAND ON THE ENTIRE BASE.” LEAVE IT TO ME TO GET A GOOD ONE. WE THEN FOUND ANOTHER SOLDIER WITH A PAIR OF BOOTS THAT FIT SO SHE HAD THE COMPLETE OUTFIT. SHE BROUGHT THE CG UP ON STAGE IN HER PANTS AND GOT A GREAT RESPONSE FROM THE CROWD. GENERAL FRANKS AND ROBERT DE NIRO WERE THERE AND I GOT TO MEET CHRIS, THE GENERAL’S AIDE, THAT I HAD BEEN SPEAKING WITH. GENERAL FRANKS GAVE US ALL HIS OFFICIAL “COIN” WHICH WAS A HIGHLIGHT OF THE TRIP FOR US. WAYNE NEWTON WAS INTRODUCING ALL THE ARTISTS. WE GAVE HIM THE INFORMATION ON HOW TO INTRO CHELY AT THE FIRST SHOW AND HE DID A GREAT JOB. GAVE HIM THE SAME INFO FOR THIS SHOW AND WHEN IT WAS TIME FOR HER TO GO ON STAGE, WE NOTICED THAT HE LEFT THE STAGE AND HEADED FOR HIS DRESSING ROOM. SOMEONE FROM THE SIDE OF THE STAGE GRABBED THE MIC AND SAID, “COUNTRY MUSIC SINGER CHELY WRIGHT”. IT WAS SO EMBARRASSING FOR HER. BUT, THE CROWD ADORED HERE AND THAT’S WHAT IS IMPORTANT. WHAT I DON’T UNDERSTAND IS WHY THE DIRECTOR OF ENTERTAINMENT AND WAYNE WEREN’T KISSING CHELY’S FEET FOR PULLING OFF A SHOW IN TALIL AND BAGHDAD FOR THE TROOPS THAT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED HAD SHE NOT BEEN THERE. NAPPY ROOTS AND KID ROCK WERE THREATENING TO PERFORM UNTIL 2 AM THEY WERE SO UPSET ABOUT THE WAY THINGS WERE BEING HANDLED. THEN KID FOUND OUT WHAT WAYNE DID TO CHELY SO ALL THROUGH HIS SHOW, HE WOULD SAY, “WHERE’S CHELY. LET’S BRING CHELY BACK UP HERE”. UNFORTUNATELY, CHELY HAD LEFT TO TAKE A SHOWER BEFORE THE FLIGHT HOME. WHEN WAYNE BEGAN INTRODUCING KID ROCK, JESSE JAMES RAN ON STAGE AND GRABBED THE MIC AWAY FROM WAYNE AND SAID, “ENOUGH OF THIS BULLSHIT. HERE’S KID ROCK!” i WENT OVER TO SHOWER BEFORE THE TRIP HOME AND A WOMAN WAS LEAVING AS I WALKED IN. SHE CAME BACK IN AND ASKED IF I WAS WITH THE USO TOUR. SHE SAID SHE SAW CHELY AT OSAN AIR BASE IN KOREA WITH PRESIDENT BUSH AND I TOLD HER I WAS THERE, TOO. SHE WAS THANKING US FOR COMING. SAID THAT GARY SINISE HAD STOPPED BY THEIR OFFICE TODAY AND SIGNED AUTOGRAPHS. SHE AND HER CO-WORKERS WERE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE CONCERT BECAUSE THEY WERE ON DUTY. SHE STARTED CRYING TALKING ABOUT HOW MUCH IT MEANT TO THEM THAT GARY STOPPED BY. I GAVE HER A T-SHIRT AND THANKED HER FOR WHAT SHE IS DOING FOR ALL OF US BACK HOME. SHE LEFT AND JUST AS I WAS GETTING READY TO STEP INTO THE SHOWER, SHE CAME BACK. SHE SAID SHE HAD A SMALL GIFT FOR ME THAT REALLY WASN’T VERY MUCH BUT SHE WANTED ME TO HAVE IT. IT WAS THE AMERICAN FLAG SHE HAD CARRIED WITH HER ON HER TOUR OF DUTY IN IRAQ DURING THE WAR. THEN IT WAS MY TURN TO CRY. I MADE HER WRITE DOWN EVERYWHERE THE FLAG HAD BEEN ALONG WITH HER NAME. I ASSURED HER THAT AS SOON AS STARS FOR STRIPES IS LAUNCHED, THAT FLAG WITH A PLAQUE UNDERNEATH WILL BE THE FIRST THING TO GO ON THE AIRPLANE. SHE ALSO SAID THAT WHEN SHE FIRST ARRIVED IN IRAQ, SHE DID NOT THINK IT WAS THE RIGHT TIME TO BEGIN THE WAR. THEN SHE HAD TIME TO TALK TO THE LOCALS….ESPECIALLY THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN….AND SAID THAT WE SHOULD NOT HAVE WAITED ANOTHER DAY. IT’S GOOD TO HEAR THAT FROM SOMEONE WHO HAS FIRST HAND KNOWLEDGE. I HAD BEEN TRYING TO SPEAK WITH ALL THE CELEBRITIES ON THE TRIP. FOR MOST OF THEM, THIS WAS THEIR FIRST USO TOUR. EVERYONE WAS DISAPPOINTED IN THE ORGANIZATION AND LOGISTICS OF THE EVENT. I KNOW THEY LOVED THE EXPERIENCE OF MEETING AND PERFORMING FOR THE TROOPS. I HOPE THEY WILL BE WILLING TO DO A STARS FOR STRIPES TOUR FOR ME IN THE FUTURE. A COUPLE OF THE TRIBECA/VANITY FAIR PEOPLE WERE SO ANGRY THAT THEY DID NOT FLY BACK HOME WITH US BUT SECURED OTHER TRANSPORTATION. THE USO HAD DIVIDED EVERYONE UP INTO “GROUPS” – GROUP A, GROUP B, GROUP C, ETC. ONLY THEY WOULD NOT DIVULGE “WHICH” GROUP ANYONE WAS IN! WE HAD NO IDEA WHEN WE WENT TO BED AT NIGHT WHAT TIME WE WOULD BE DEPARTING THE NEXT MORNING. THEY ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD SLIP A NOTE UNDER OUR DOORS. LIKE THAT’S GOING TO HELP! I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT LEE ANN WOMACK SAT IN HER HOTEL ROOM FOR 2 DAYS BECAUSE NO ONE SCHEDULED ANYTHING FOR HER TO DO. SHE WAS PRETTY UPSET. I WAS EVEN MORE UPSET THAT THE SOLDIERS MISSED THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE AND HEAR HER. WHAT A TREMENDOUS LOSS FOR OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN THE MILITARY.
ROAD KILL – LAST DAY – JUNE 21ST BOARDED THE PLANE AND THE USO DIRECTOR STILL HAS NOT SPOKEN TO ME SINCE “FIRING ME”. GARY SINISE (DID I TELL YOU I ADORE HIM?) HAS BEEN SO SWEET. JOHN STAMOS AND REBECCA HAVE BEEN REALLY NICE. I GOT AUTOGRAPHS AND PHOTOS FOR MY DAUGHTER. TOOK A PHOTO WITH KID ROCK AND MY DISK WAS DAMAGED SO I HAD TO DO THAT ONE AGAIN. “RICKY” ENTERTAINED US AGAIN AFTER OUR “REFUELING” IN AMSTERDAM. I WENT BACK AND TALKED TO JOHN (THE FATHER OF THE 9/11 VICTIMS) FOR OVER AN HOUR. WHAT A SWEET MAN AND I LOVE HEARING ABOUT HIS SONS. LANDED AT ANDREWS EARLY AND THOUGHT SOMEONE ON THE GROUND WAS TAKING CARE OF PUTTING US ON AN EARLIER FLIGHT. AGAIN, THAT DIDN’T HAPPEN. JUST PAR FOR THE COURSE ON THIS TRIP! SO WE SAT IN THE WORLD CLUB FOR 4 HOURS AND GOT HOME AT 11 PM. SO MUCH HAPPENED AND I LEFT OUT A LOT OF COOL INFORMATION. JUST CAN’T REMEMBER EVERYTHING! THE BEST PART WAS THE WONDERFUL NEW FRIENDS I MADE. I’M SURE I’LL SEE THEM AGAIN VERY SOON ON ANOTHER TOUR – THIS TIME WITH STARS FOR STRIPES!