Thoughts and Reflections on Visiting Troops in Afghanistan

This week, The Justin Guarini Show on Blogtalkradio.com featured Justin talking about his recent good will ambassador trip to Bagram Air Force Base and other locations in Afghanistan. He includes some audio from the troops he met on the trip. Listen to the podcast of the show by clicking the player.

American Idol Season One Finale Nominated for Emmy's Most Memorable TV Moment

The Primetime Emmy Awards are recognizing the Most Memorable TV Moments this year, and the American Idol Season One Finale with Justin Guarini and Kelly Clarkson has been nominated. What's great is that we get to vote for the winner, with the top 5 nominees being featured on the Emmy telecast.




So, you might ask, what is it doing in this list of nominees? Does it belong among "All in the Family" and "Seinfeld?" We say yes, it does. It was the culminating moment on the season that launched a cultural phenomenon that changed both television and music. It featured the most genuine moment of love and support from runner-up to winner we have ever seen. Seven seasons have passed and it still stands out as something you will remember where and when you saw it and how it made you feel.

So, sure, it's a reality TV moment. One that will stand thet test of time. That's the definition of memorable. You can vote for it at the ABC site.

American Idol visits Task Force Warrior Headquarters

Master Sgt. Timothy Garcia, NCOIC of S1, poses with former American Idol contestant Justin Guarini at Task Force Warrior Headquarters Aug. 10.

American Idol visits Task Force Warrior Headquarters

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By
By Staff reports
Leesville Daily Leader
Fri Aug 15, 2008, 08:58 AM CDT

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BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan -
“Thank you very much for coming, your visit represents the resolve of the American people as we stand strong and defeat all who attempt to bring us harm,” said Lt. Col. Stephen Jeselink, Deputy Commander of Task Force Warrior, to the four former American Idol contestants visiting Brigade Headquarters today to entertain troops, pose for pictures and receive tokens of appreciation for their willingness to sacrifice time and efforts to show support.

Soldiers who may not be fans of the mega-hit television show American Idol, may at some point in time phone home to have a loved one respond, “I can’t talk right now, American Idol is on.”

American Idol, a reality-competition television show airing on Fox, seeks to discover the best singer in the country through a series of nationwide auditions. Debuting in 2002, American Idol has since become one of the most popular shows on American television.

One of the guests to Task Force Warrior today, Justin Guarini, emerged as a standout during American Idol’s debut season, ultimately becoming runner-up to winner Kelly Clarkson in 2002. He stood out as a very gracious and grateful visitor. When Soldiers sought Guarini out for specific poses and numerous photographs, he responded kindly and with a willingness to cater to Soldier requests.

The entire group of celebrities had very nice attitudes and they were not at all pompous. When traditional military Certificates of Appreciation and unit coins were presented, each former-Idol appeared genuinely moved.

Nadia Turner, Top Eight Finalist of Season Four, who recently was chosen to be a guest co-host on “The View” with Barbara Walters and Rosie O’Donnell and has had guest appearances on the Ellen DeGeneres Show and the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, spent time during the afternoon meeting and greeting Soldiers of Task Force Warrior.

Gina Glocksen, the ninth place finalist of the sixth season of American Idol, co-hosts the FOX Reality Show “American Idol Extra.” She was incredibly personable with the Soldiers, and her genuine candor and charming wit that made her a favorite of millions on the show came through to brighten the atmosphere at Brigade Headquarters.

Brandon Rogers, Top 12 on Season Six, performed as a backup vocalist on both Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera’s 2003 “Justified” and “Stripped” Tours. He makes guest appearances on the hit TV show “Bones” and is a travelling correspondent for the TV Guide Network, but took some time out of his schedule alongside other former idols to tour U.S. military installations in Southwest Asia.

Soldiers were smiling and laughing, and some spoke of anticipation to share the day’s experience with die-hard-Idol-fans back home. The visit was appreciated, and troops felt a thousand miles from danger if only for a few minutes.

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More from American Idols Supporting the Troops in Afghanistan

Justin Guarini's second note from Afghanistan, two of his photos, and a link to Brandon Rogers' photo album:

Here are 2 of the many photos that I've taken in Afghanistan. The first is of two ANA (Afghan National Army) soldiers outside of a base south of Bagram called "Morales-Fraiser".

They are stationed there with the French and American troops, learning from the Marines. They were very nice, and all they wanted to do was take photos with the girls that came along with us.

The HumV behind them is mounted with a "240-Bravo" machine gun on the turret. The Marines were nice enough to take us outside the base and let us fire the 240 at the mountain range, as well as a 50-cal gun mounted on another HumV that they let me drive out to the range. I killed a lot of innocent rocks with both...but all is fair in love and war. The interesting thing about the 50-cal gun is that standing about 20-25 yards away you can actually feel the imapact of the recoil in your chest. The velocity of the bullets is such that the soldiers can't really use it during local urban combat. The houses are made of mud, and the bullets would rip through at least a city block before stopping...probably taking a lot of innocent civilians with it.

The other photo is of one of our guards looking at the Afghani countryside out of a Blackhawk helicopter. The Blackhawk is our only method of transport from our base (Bagram) to the outlying FOB's (Forward Operating Bases). I swear the military has invented abbreviations for everything, for example: DFAC (Dining Facility), B-HUT(Barracks), not to mention the multitude of rank symbols. I'm proud to say that I can pick out most any rank (at least the basic rank, the various levels inside the ranks are still spotty for me)...anyway. The Blackhawk rides were amazing, especially when we rode with the doors open. The photo hardly captures the fact that Afghanistan is a beautiful mess of a country, but I took it with that thought in mind. The mountain ranges, the emerald lakes, and the vast stretches of desert dotted with lush valleys (most of which have large fields filled with Poppies & Marijuana) are a stark contrast to the abject poverty, lawlessness, and human rights abuses that prevail in the country.


ANA Soldiers at Morales-Fraiser FOB


Sgt. Page/Afghan Desert

Brandon Rogers' photo album

A Note from Afghanistan

Justin Guarini describes his feelings watching a "Fallen Comrade Ceremony" in Baghram, Afghanistan. See our previous blog entry for more details on his USO trip.

Justin here, writing to you for Baghram airforce base in Afghanistan. It's about 4:55 in the morning here and all is well. To say that it's been an amazing trip thus far, is to severely undervalue the experience. I've traveled to many places all over the world, but never to the Middle East. It's a truly beautiful place, even though it's a war zone. There are so many amazing experiences that I can't really fit them here. So I'll make you a deal. If you give me a day or two. I'll post the pictures I have, and even give you a little taste of the stories and experiences that we all are having here. I'm going to ask the other Idols with me to sit down and share their experience with me on tape, then I'll put it up on blogtalk, or my site. Cool?

My head is a little foggy this morning, so I don't think I could write too clearly any way. Besides, I like to talk my time with my writing. Would you believe it took 4 hours to write some of my Fancast blogs about Idol? Especially in the beginning when I was trying to describe (as richly and vividly as possible) my experience as an Idol.

I will tell you this though. I am up at this hour for a very good, albeit sad, reason. At around 2:50 this morning, there was a service known as a "Fallen Comrade Ceremony". An American soldier wsa killed in action and his body was due to be transported from the base back to the States.

Instead of just letting him go in the middle of the night, the soldiers here line the street the body is driven down. With practiced precision they stand rigidly at attention and salute as the casket, resting on the back of a modified HumV and draped in an American Flag goes by. It was a beautiful sight. The street was lined, on both sides with soldiers from the Army, Air Force, Marines, and even soldiers from other countries that are here supporting the fight. With guns slung across chests (almost everyone here lugs around automatic rifles at all times) and in perfect silence they wished their comrade in arms farewell. I'm not a soldier, so like the other civilians at the ceremony I stood along side the soldiers and placed my hand over my heart as the coffin drove by.
I was reminded of my own mortality, as well as where I was, and what our men and women (most of them younger than me) are going through and risking every day to preserve our way of life.

This trip has completely and irrevocably altered my perception of the armed forces...for the good.

More to come.

Justin

American Idol Performers Support the Troops on a USO Tour

Another way that Idol gives back, and this one really makes us proud. From the official Army website:

American Idol legends support troops in Southwest Asia
Photo by Dustin Senger

August 07, 2008




Justin Guarini, a former "American Idol" participant, signs autographs for Maj. Shelia Phillips-Hicks, from St. Robert, Mo., at Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar, Aug 6. Guarini earned second place during the first season of the hit television series. He was beginning a support tour of U.S. military installations in Southwest Asia; also on the idol tour: Gina Glocksen, Brandon Rogers and Nadia Turner.

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