Custom Made Band Energizes 'Grey Wolf' Troops
By Sgt. Serena Hayden
 Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, enjoy the performance by the Custom Made Band in the Wood Memorial Dining Facility at Forward Operating Base Warhorse, Baqubah, Iraq, Dec. 19. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Serena Hayden, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs) |
 Bryant McLemore of Custom Made Band watches as Sgt. 1st Class Tami Reeder, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, represents the East Coast in a dance contest during the bands performance at Forward Operating Base Warhorse, Baqubah, Iraq, Dec. 19. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Serena Hayden, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs) |
The band, which travels throughout Europe and the Middle East to perform for troops, raised the roof of the dining facility, bringing the "Grey Wolf" Soldiers of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, a variety of music to include Motown, R&B, Latino and disco.
Little did the Soldiers know, they, too, were part of the show.
From a dance contest to background vocals and salsa dancing to playing the bongos, the Soldiers played a large role in the night's entertainment.
 Chaplain (Capt.) Jesus Perez, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division chaplain, plays the bongo drums with members of the Custom Made Band during their performance at Forward Operating Base Warhorse, Baqubah, Iraq, Dec. 19. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Serena Hayden, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs) |
"I like the audience interaction - bringing people in, the dancing, all that," said Sgt. Dewitt Cooper, Forward Support Company E, 215th Brigade Support Battalion. "As far as the performance, it was outstanding!"
Cooper, who participated in both singing and dancing, said he appreciated the band's visit and it helped boost morale.
"It really is a morale booster," he said. "For them to come out here, it breaks the monotony a little bit and shows the Americans care about us over here."
 Spc. N'Kerchie Mathurin, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, provides background vocals for Sabrina Price, the female lead vocalist for the Custom Made Band, during their performance at Forward Operating Base Warhorse, Baqubah, Iraq, Dec. 19. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Serena Hayden, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs) |
Just as it was an enjoyable experience for the Soldiers, the band enjoyed it just as much, if not more.
"It's been a really wonderful experience," said Sabrina Price, the female lead vocalist for the band. "Everyone is just really great.
 During an interactive performance for the Soldiers of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division at Forward Operating Base Warhorse, Dec. 19, Sgt. Dewitt Cooper, Forward Support Company E, 215th Brigade Support Battalion, sings with Sabrina Price, the lead vocalist for the Custom Made Band. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Serena Hayden, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs) |
"When we come out here, we see the commitment that the Soldiers have and how strong they are," she added. "We feel that a lot of negative information gets back to the U.S., and we get to experience a little bit of what the troops experience and the positive affects they have on the Iraqis - we like to take that information back to the U.S."
Price said the band is as committed to us as we are to them, and visiting during Christmas time is important since most Soldiers will not get to go home.
 From left to right, Kerwin "Scooter" Williams, Sabrina Price and Bryant McLemore of the Custom Made Band, perform for Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, at Forward Operating Base Warhorse, Baqubah, Iraq, Dec. 19. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Serena Hayden, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs) |
And while they travel world-wide to perform for troops, Price said, "This is the most close to our hearts because it's the most dangerous."
"We totally support our troops 100 percent," Price said. "We support them and love them and we will not forget what they are doing."
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