Toby Keith came through Taji Iraq with Ted Nugent in 2004 - they were coming into Iraq straight out of Afghanistan and had been traveling 16-20 hours at that point with Baghdad as the final destination for that night.
They landed late, started the show late - and then played an extra hour or more closer to two hours - "just because" they wanted to. We were running the flight to Baghdad for them, so holding the helos wasn't a problem.
I learned a couple things that night -
1. Regardless of the politics - both went above and beyond to ensure that they were there to break up what was a long tour with a personal connection to the troops.
2. We had no idea how may guitars were deployed with our soldiers - they sat and signed probably 120-150 instruments after the show - and didn't quit until the last one was done.
I got escort them out to the flight line and to the pad for lift-off, we were about 10 minutes late notifying the UH-60 crews, and VBC in Baghdad was having issues with indirect fires - so everything went on phase at the pad.
Both entertainers were smoked - they'd just added another 4 hours or more onto the 20 they'd already been through, and still had to get into VBC for the night. We're standing at midnight-30 in 85 degree heat, battel rattle, and listening to thumps in Baghdad from the rockets.
Toby still made a point to walk to every solider on the pad and shake their hand and tell them that they were doing good and were great Americans. You could feel the fatigue coming off him in waves, but he never once acted like "THE GUY" that had pretty much just won every award possible in Nashville 2-3 weeks prior. It was a special night many, and very personal look at an entertainer that went further than he had to, when he didn't have to.
Ted Nugent did the same - he only wanted a bottle of water to refill his canteen before the flight, and made sure that he made the rounds as well. Both of them could have cut the visit much shorter and stayed closer to the schedule - but they didn't. They stayed there for the troops and made it work.
My picture of Toby will be standing there in the dim light our flashlights, hands in his pockets, that crushed cowboy hat on his head, rocking the OTV vest, and so tired he can only mumble by the time the aircraft arrived at the pad.
I don't think he cared much for meeting the brass - but he'd make every effort possible to ensure a young troop in any uniform had a chance to meet him, and to tell that troop that he supported them.
YMMV
This great story is the impression that I got from Toby. It is good to hear that he was everything we thought he was. Good to hear that Ted was a stand up guy as well. Hard to replace these good Americans!
Toby Keith came through Taji Iraq with Ted Nugent in 2004 - they were coming into Iraq straight out of Afghanistan and had been traveling 16-20 hours at that point with Baghdad as the final destination for that night.
They landed late, started the show late - and then played an extra hour or more closer to two hours - "just because" they wanted to. We were running the flight to Baghdad for them, so holding the helos wasn't a problem.
I learned a couple things that night -
1. Regardless of the politics - both went above and beyond to ensure that they were there to break up what was a long tour with a personal connection to the troops.
2. We had no idea how may guitars were deployed with our soldiers - they sat and signed probably 120-150 instruments after the show - and didn't quit until the last one was done.
I got escort them out to the flight line and to the pad for lift-off, we were about 10 minutes late notifying the UH-60 crews, and VBC in Baghdad was having issues with indirect fires - so everything went on phase at the pad.
Both entertainers were smoked - they'd just added another 4 hours or more onto the 20 they'd already been through, and still had to get into VBC for the night. We're standing at midnight-30 in 85 degree heat, battel rattle, and listening to thumps in Baghdad from the rockets.
Toby still made a point to walk to every solider on the pad and shake their hand and tell them that they were doing good and were great Americans. You could feel the fatigue coming off him in waves, but he never once acted like "THE GUY" that had pretty much just won every award possible in Nashville 2-3 weeks prior. It was a special night many, and very personal look at an entertainer that went further than he had to, when he didn't have to.
Ted Nugent did the same - he only wanted a bottle of water to refill his canteen before the flight, and made sure that he made the rounds as well. Both of them could have cut the visit much shorter and stayed closer to the schedule - but they didn't. They stayed there for the troops and made it work.
My picture of Toby will be standing there in the dim light our flashlights, hands in his pockets, that crushed cowboy hat on his head, rocking the OTV vest, and so tired he can only mumble by the time the aircraft arrived at the pad.
I don't think he cared much for meeting the brass - but he'd make every effort possible to ensure a young troop in any uniform had a chance to meet him, and to tell that troop that he supported them.
YMMV
This great story is the impression that I got from Toby. It is good to hear that he was everything we thought he was. Good to hear that Ted was a stand up guy as well. Hard to replace these good Americans!
Maybe they'll stop playing his sh Itty music now..
You are a piece of Sh 1t.
I never said I was glad he died, it's too bad his alcoholism finally caught up to him.
But his music is low brow garbage. He was smart enough to capitalize on dumb people's love of war and fake Patriotism
Sign of a person of zero character/ integrity that typed what you did. What a low life, good grief a person suffered and died . . . I know it’s all about you and you unbiased views.
I haven't said anything negative about the person. Just what he did for a living.....now the fanboys, yes.
I wish for his and his families sake he had taken better care of himself throughout the years.
Don’t bother trying to explain yourself. Now we know what you think and who you are.
BTW, when you’ve already dug a hole deeper than your head, might as well stop and STFU. But rodents like you just keep digging. It’s in their misbegotten DNA. When it’s your turn we’ll see how you’ll face it. Doubt it’ll be like a man.
I don’t like to get into these stupid exchanges but you’re so far over the top it’s almost impossible to ignore. That’s the button I just pushed on your worthless drivel.
Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty of give me death! P. Henry
Jerksome Handjob, you are a despicable low life scumbag, not to mention extremely judgmental of people you don’t know. You better watch out for mouth cancer; you already have diarrhea of the gums.
Life Member NRA, RMEF, American Legion, MAGA. Not necessarily in that order.
Maybe they'll stop playing his sh Itty music now..
You are a piece of Sh 1t.
I never said I was glad he died, it's too bad his alcoholism finally caught up to him.
But his music is low brow garbage. He was smart enough to capitalize on dumb people's love of war and fake Patriotism
Sign of a person of zero character/ integrity that typed what you did. What a low life, good grief a person suffered and died . . . I know it’s all about you and you unbiased views.
lets get real here...a lot here say the same crap about other singers/actors etc that are on the other "side". dems are pos, dems are traitors etc. I say that about dems, who has a dem for a friend? as far as I understand toby was a dem, obama supporter...so why is he being put on a pedestal now?.....bob
Maybe they'll stop playing his sh Itty music now..
You are a piece of Sh 1t.
I never said I was glad he died, it's too bad his alcoholism finally caught up to him.
But his music is low brow garbage. He was smart enough to capitalize on dumb people's love of war and fake Patriotism
Sign of a person of zero character/ integrity that typed what you did. What a low life, good grief a person suffered and died . . . I know it’s all about you and you unbiased views.
lets get real here...a lot here say the same crap about other singers/actors etc that are on the other "side". dems are pos, dems are traitors etc. I say that about dems, who has a dem for a friend? as far as I understand toby was a dem, obama supporter...so why is he being put on a pedestal now?.....bob
He left the Democratic Party over a decade ago and was a registered independent. But who cares, he had a tough battle and died and last time I checked wasn’t a criminal. It’s ok to say a prayer for him no matter his political affiliation. “JH” is still an idiot, period end of story.
Toby, was a Okie first and foremost, loved his state and its people, OU fan to the end, real cowboy when young, football player, even simi pro, tough man, and most of all like most Okies, worked in oil patch as a rough neck, hardest work you can do. He was a NO bullshhhit kind of man, he did his career his way, hated corruption Nashville, couldn’t stand executives and brass, that’s why he was so highly thought of here in Oklahoma, he was just like all of us, married 40 years same woman, never heard of him being in trouble other than snatching someone up and shaking them a little, he could and would handle business. I take my hat off to a real Man, not a puss behind a keyboard like JH, I would love to meet you sometime, boy.
F cancer. Way too young. Not a huge fan, but I respect a guy who wears his partiotism on his sleeve and doesn't care who knows it. Plus he got those Dixie Chicks panites in a knot - never forget the dike singer with FUTK written on her shirt at some awards show. I bet he's still living in her head rent free. He also made me laugh now and again - take a listen below. Godspeed, TK.
I see where all the Dixie Chicks fans around the world are celebrating Toby’s death, with FUTB shirts on, they can’t make them fast enough, JH your the Dixie of the Fire now, how’s your pussy feel , little bitch !! A lot of yellow dog Democrats in OK, when the shiit goes down we will all be shoulder to shoulder fighting the hordes in Oklahoma when it happens. 77 counties and all Red.
