MUSIC

Verizon Wireless Theater presents 4Troops.

4TROOPS are United States combat veterans - three young men and one woman who served on the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan. While overseas, music played a crucial and very personal role in all of their lives. They would sing at everything from large military events to more intimate settings, where they would jam in their bunk after a long day in the field and try to recall a slice of home.

They also used their voices at somber occasions like memorial services, where they would sing to remember those that had been lost. 4TROOPS now come together for a singular purpose: to sing on behalf of all troops, to honor their sacrifices and to create awareness for their needs.

Former Sgt. Daniel Jens, a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was attracted to becoming a musician/singer after seeing Elvis and The Beatles perform and hearing the adoring screams of their female fans. He was inspired to join the Army and serve his country after the events of 9/11. In October of 2007 he deployed to Iraq with the 1st Cavalry Division as a crew member of the Field Artillery Cannon. Jens sang at everything from Prayer Breakfasts to Talent Nights at the U.S. Embassy. Upon his return, Daniel went on to become one of the top twenty acts in season three of America’s Got Talent.

Former Cpt. Meredith Melcher spent four years in the Army as an officer in the Medical Service Corps where she was deployed in support of the first Operation Iraqi Freedom. While on the front lines of Iraq her ambulance platoon successfully evacuated hundreds of injured Americans and Iraqis to higher levels of medical treatment. Upon her return, she was cast in the 2004 U.S. Army Soldier Show and performed for audiences of military personnel and civilians worldwide.

Staff Sgt. (Ret.) Ron Henry retired from the Army after a twenty-year military career; his last seven years were spent traveling unprotected roads in Iraq in the dangerous position of Transporter and Transportation Manager. Influenced by Gospel music, Ron delivered stellar performances in the first season of Military Idol, a show that featured military contestants in the popular American Idol format. He went on to lead the successful Army singing group “Transportation Express,” lifting the morale of those families whose military parents were serving multiple deployments back to back.

Former Sgt. David Clemo – who was in Basic Training, getting his first ID on 9/11 – initially deployed to Afghanistan where he provided communications support for major logistics and fire bases. His second deployment, from November 2004, was as a team chief for communications and fiber optic cable installations in Iraq. Following that, David spent a number of fulfilling years as Assistant Director of the U.S. Army Soldier Show, touring and entertaining his fellow soldiers and their families.

The group was brought together by veteran Victor Hurtado. He has been part of Army Entertainment for the last 25 years, first as a Soldier and Music Director, and later as the Artistic Director. He is currently the Production Director for the Army Soldier Show. This show was established during WWI in 1918 by Sgt. Israel Beilin, better known as Irving Berlin.

An important element to the 4TROOPS project is giving back to organizations that support our U.S. soldiers and veterans. Sony Music will donate 50 cents from each sale of the 4TROOPS album in the United States to organizations that support veterans and their families. This donation will be split equally among The American Legion, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund (IFHF) and the USO.

The American Legion is the nation’s largest military veterans organization with nearly 2.5 million members. It was founded in 1919 on the four pillars of a strong national security, veterans affairs, Americanism, and youth programs. Legionnaires work for the betterment of their communities through more than 14,000 posts across the nation. The IAVA, founded by Iraq veteran Paul Rieckhoff, is the first and largest non-partisan, non-profit for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. IAVA has more than 180,000 veteran members and civilian supporters nationwide. IFHF has raised over $120 million in support for the families of military personnel lost in service to our nation, and for severely wounded military personnel and veterans.
 
The Fund is currently building the National Intrepid Center of Excellence to support the research, diagnosis, and treatment of traumatic brain injury. Previous efforts include the Center for the Intrepid for amputee and severe burn patients and providing unrestricted grants to family members of service members killed in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The USO delivers its programs and services to millions of active duty service members National Guard and Reserves, as well as their families at more than 140 centers located worldwide. Some of the services that the centers include free Internet and e-mail access, libraries and reading rooms, housing assistance, family crisis counseling, support groups, game rooms and nursery facilities. The USO also produces hundreds of entertainment shows around the world each year.

Bob Woodruff, the ABC news anchor who was severely injured in Iraq, conducted the first TV interview with 4TROOPS which aired on Good Morning America (ABC) in January. Woodruff is personally invested in creating a better environment for injured troops who return from war. Through The Bob Woodruff Foundation and ReMIND.org, Woodruff’s goal is to provide resources and support to service members, veterans and their families to successfully reintegrate into their communities, in addition to educate the public about the needs of the injured troops and empower people everywhere to take action.

The 4TROOPS recently taped their concert special from the U.S.S. Intrepid in New York City. The program "4TROOPS: Live From The Intrepid" premieres on PBS starting June 1 (check local listings).

4TROOPS are in the midst of a U.S. Military base tour which will be followed by a National tour in the fall. Upon hearing of the 4TROOPS, the Motel 6 hotel chain immediately wanted to be involved as a promotional partner and as a first step has generously donated lodging for the group throughout their U.S. Military base tour. Cracker Barrel has generously donated free food to the 4TROOPS when they are on the road.

If you would like to learn more about how you can support the organizations affiliated with this project, please visit their websites at legion.org, iava.org, fallenheroesfund.org, uso.org.

Photo By Richard Corman. Meet 4Troops: Clockwise from left, David Clemo, Ron Henry, Meredith Melcher and Daniels Jens. They're all former soldiers.