Rockin' out for troops in war zones

SOUTHWEST ASIA - Performing in Iraq and Kuwait with the Air National Guard band Mojave was a powerful experience for Tech. Sgt. David Rochte because of who made up his audiences.

TSgt Rochte, a bass guitarist with the Ohio Air National Guard's 180th Fighter Wing's Triple Nickel band (555th), recently returned from a six-week tour of duty in Southwest Asia.

When the band was tapped for deployment, the first time in its history, 10 members agreed to form the ensemble Mojave and provide much-needed entertainment for war-weary U.S. troops in both countries.

While the ensemble had to deal with performing in war zones, transportation difficulties and searing heat, the Grand Rapids native said the deployment was "really powerful," describing his awe of the quality of soldiers over there, including the "kids half my age" making up their audiences.

"Being able to witness (their professionalism) was outstanding," Sgt. Rochte said. "It's amazing, 18 to 22-year-olds, what they've accomplished - airmen, sailors, soldiers, Marines - seeing what they were doing. The job they were doing was outstanding, excellent. They're trained professionals."

At each concert TSgt Rochte especially enjoyed inviting the service men and women up on stage to either play an instrument or sing with the band.

"Two or three would come up to sing," he said. "There were times I was doing nothing up there."

When a soldier came on stage to play bass guitar, he lent his instrument. "That was awesome, to see the talent there and give them something to do."

Mojave performed a variety of pop music, including rock, blues and country, from such stars as Chicago, Kings of Leon, Blues Brothers, Sara Evans and Big & Rich. Most popular with the soldiers were "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)," by Big & Rich, and "Plush," by the Stone Temple Pilots.

"Every time we played, they rocked out," TSgt Rochte said of "Plush."

Mojave's repertoire consisted of 53 songs. The group came up with a list of what they would play for the soldiers, tried it out on their early audiences, then made adjustments. They ended up performing 30-33 songs during each two-hour concert.

Though it was exhausting doing the concerts, it was "one of those 'good' exhaustions. It was fun playing for all the audiences."

"I think we did an even 20 concerts, which isn't bad," he added. "It didn't burn us out. At the same time there was a lot of challenges. Transportation was the biggest single obstacle to overcome. There's a lot going on, shuttling the band and its pallet of equipment from war zone to war zone. But the band members didn't see what was going on. It took us quite a bit to get us where we were going."

He said band members were not fearful.

"We had the utmost confidence in what they were doing," TSgt Rochte said. "They were competent professionals. We never felt we'd be attacked. We felt more danger in New York City than in Iraq."

The non-commissioned officer had special praise for the band's contact personnel, or sponsor, at each base.

"Every one of those we met at each base were outstanding. They had their troops in mind, yet make it good for us."

Another challenge was the searing heat. The airman laughed recalling how much water band members consumed, and he was grateful they could sleep in quarters with air conditioning.
The concerts were split, half indoors and half outdoors. The weather was 120 degrees in the shade.

"A couple of us sweat through every inch of our clothing," he said, noting even the patches on their uniforms became soaked. "There wasn't an inch of me that was dry."

He described his hands becoming "prune hands" just from his sweat while performing in the heat.

The Triple Nickel, also known as the Air National Guard Band of the Great Lakes, is on rotation to perform in future missions. TSgt Rochte said he definitely wants to go back and is allowed to be a substitute guitarist in another band that deploys.

"I had a great time. It was very rewarding to go out there and do what we were doing for those who are serving over there."

( The Sentinel-Tribune newspaper is a FOX Toledo News media partner)