Iraq-bound Band of Brothers is a Band

[unhappycamper]

Iraq-bound Band of Brothers is a Band
February 09, 2009
Knight Ridder/Tribune

You'd think things must be going pretty well over there when the National Guard band gets dispatched to Iraq.

But this is a band of Soldiers first and musicians second.

The 34th Infantry Division "Red Bull" band, 45 members strong, is being deployed on Tuesday for what will be a one-year tour in southern Iraq. The band recently won a prestigious international award recognizing military concert bands, and its mission involves more than just Sousa and taps in the desert.

The Soldier musicians include a country-western group, a saxophone quintet and two rock/pop bands, among other ensembles. The smaller units will fan out to remote and volatile outposts not often visited by civilian entertainers, playing everything from Stravinsky to Springsteen.

As tensions ease in Iraq, the band will in part serve a diplomatic purpose. But military bands have been deployed to every war zone in American history. Up to five Army bands have been stationed in Iraq at any given time since the invasion.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/iraq-bound-band-of-brothers-is-a-band.html?col=1186032310810