The USO

SO I am sitting in the barracks, half packing and half feeling homesick. Just being bored mainly when as it always happens in the Army someone comes in and says that the Sgt Major wants everyone out in the street for some information. We are told we have to be at the USO building at 1800. The soldiers who are napping suddenly start moaning and groaning about "mandatory fun" and about how they just want to be left alone BUT when the Sgt Major says fall out then everybody better fall out! Like good soldiers we walk down to the USO office and are greeted right away with free snacks and that cold Dr Pepper I was craving. With the free snacks come the warm and friendly smiles of the USO volunteers. Mostly older folks from the Atterbury area but some imports from Indianapolis I imagine. The little building is warm inside and smells of the popcorn machine which is mostly empty and it has multiple internet terminals which only require that you sign in to use. We are then told that there is a USO concert planned for 1900 out at one of the training areas and that we have been assembled to go watch it. Now the grumbling really starts, why do we have to go, who is singing, how long will it last??? We board the bus and they transport us to an area where we did some of our training. Once there we walk in and see Ruby Tuesdays is catering the event and the band is in full set up mode. The mood starts to lighten when the USO volunteers show up and start mingling. We are told that the band is called Blue Suede Shoes and they are a Johnny Cash and Elvis impersonator band. Wow they are impressive! The Johnny Cash is dead on and Elvis gave a great concert. Soldiers are dancing with USO girls, dinner is served and everyone is now happy to not be in the barracks including me.
I will not lie to ya, I was feeling pretty down earlier. I was in my area packing and was mainly bored. When you get bored you have time to think about how the world at home goes on without you. My wife and daughter in Canton buying ducks and enjoying dinner, My best friends at a Stars game, Northpark and then a great dinner and here I sit in the barracks. I guess that is where the USO finds their place and always has. The event coordinator told us that this is the first live USO concert at Camp Atterbury since Bob Hope appeared in 1942 during the train up for WWII! How cool is that? How cool is it that you find people willing to volunteer their time and money, the Ruby Tuesday crowd was on their day off, to come and support a bunch of guys and gals they have no connection to. I guess in a way they do have a connection, the American spirit and love for the men and women who are willing to go where most won't. It is so refreshing to see that spirit, to feel the support and the love from strangers who just want to do their part. I made sure to shake every employees hand from Ruby Tuesdays, I wanted them to know what it meant to us that they were there. The USO group were just totally amazing and the band was great! Overall it was a big morale booster and I am glad the Sgt Major made us all get out and go.
I can't go into details but I will be sending my next blog update from the mountains of Afghanistan. Talk at ya'll soon!