The U.S. Army Soldier Show 2005 opened at Yongsan Garrison on Saturday with audience members singing the national anthem while a silhouette of a “saluting soldier” was shown on a screen. (T.D. Flack / S&S)
The U.S. Army Soldier Show 2005 opened at Yongsan Garrison on Saturday with audience members singing the national anthem while a silhouette of a “saluting soldier” was shown on a screen. (T.D. Flack / S&S)
Soldiers perform Saturday night during the U.S. Army Soldier Show. (T.D. Flack / S&S)
First Lt. Brandy Culp and two other soldiers perform a skit Saturday night during the U.S. Army Soldier Show. (T.D. Flack / S&S)
Spc. Rondi Edward performs a skit where she pretends to be a deployed soldier who decides to put on her own Soldier Show after donning a gown over her uniform. (T.D. Flack / S&S)
Staff Sgt. Chaney Mosley belts out a rock tune Saturday night. (T.D. Flack / S&S)
YONGSAN GARRISON, South Korea — The only thing hotter than the muggy air in the Collier Field House on Saturday was the talent on stage during the U.S. Army Soldier Show 2005.
The cast had members of the base community bouncing in their seats, clapping and singing along with everything from rock to country, soul to Top 40.
The show, which makes it to the Pacific every other year, was called “Operation America Cares.” Its goal, according to a program brochure, is to bring a bit of home to deployed soldiers. The cast and crew, all U.S. soldiers, spend six months on the road, traveling more than 50,000 miles, performing more than 100 times in 57 locations to more than 100,000 people.
Saturday’s show at Yongsan was a homecoming for seven of the cast and crew, selected to participate from assignments in South Korea. They included: Spc. Allison Carpenter, Camp Humphreys; Spc. Chris Ekstrom, Camp Red Cloud; 1st Lt. Christina Fanitzi, Camp Humphreys; Pfc. Abraham Hazbun Jr., Camp Humphreys; Spc. Dawn Hudson, Camp Coiner; Staff Sgt. Kent Kramer, Camp Humphreys; and Spc. David Linson II, Camp Carroll.
The show began with the audience standing to join in the national anthem, facing a giant screen with the silhouette of a soldier saluting in a circle of light. The performers hit the stage full of energy, performing skits, dancing and singing.
“I think it’s an awesome show,” said Lt. Col. Lawrence Finley, of the 18th Medical Command. Finley was there with his wife, Gwen, and their three children.
Since all three of his kids want to play musical instruments, he said, Collier was the right place to spend a Saturday evening.
The field house was packed, with base residents filling rows of chairs and the bleachers, fanning themselves with brochures to stay cool.
Staff Sgt. Ronald Nagy, a local soldier who volunteered to help with the show, was wearing his dress uniform.
He volunteered, he said, because it gave him “the opportunity to interact with the community.”
Soldier Show schedule
The Soldier Show also will visit:
Wednesday: Camp Stanley, 7 p.m.
Friday: Camp Casey, 7 p.m.
Saturday: Camp Casey, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Sept. 26: Camp Walker, 7 p.m.
Sept. 27: Camp Walker, 7 p.m.
Sept. 29: Camp Humphreys, 7 p.m.
