Megastar Toby Keith gets lots of love and hugs from soldiers stationed at the FOB Orgun-E in the Persian Gulf as he poses for a group photo. Part of a 10-day USO tour, Toby will extend his gratitude to those serving in America's armed forces and put on 18 shows. ©2008 USO photo by Dave Gatley.
May 1, 2008 - Now in his sixth USO trip to the Persian Gulf, Toby Keith actually hits the front lines on his entertainment missions, and he's impressed with the progress he's seen in the way America's troops are handling themselves.
"It's a tough war to fight," he told Blackanthem Military News in Baghdad. "It's not very conventional, and it's hard to figure out who the enemy is, and these guys get out on the streets and do a hell of a job. I'm amazed."
Toby has been inspired by the military several times as a songwriter. He paid homage to servicemen and women with his hit "American Soldier," and he used his father's experience in combat to fuel the opening lines of "Courtesy Of The Red, White And Blue (The Angry American)." That makes his current trip to the battle zone all that more of a personal event.
"I just want [the troops] to have a good time," he said of his appearances. "I want to know when we leave that we brought some sense of home to them, and for a little while maybe it'll lighten their world up, and they'll remember what they're fighting for. My father was a soldier, and he set an example, so this is more of a tribute to him than it is to me that I came over here. He taught us when we were kids to respect veterans and the people who serve our country."
Toby will have plenty to do when he gets home. On June 6, he'll launch his fifth annual Toby Keith & Friends golf tournament in Oklahoma, with the proceeds set for a local charity. The event includes an auction, and he's already got plenty of prizes lined up for bidding. Included are signed memorabilia from such athletes as Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Tiger Woods, Nolan Ryan and Troy Aikman. There's also a suite for sale to accommodate 16 people at a John Mellencamp concert. In addition, the auction will feature autographed pieces from George Strait, Brooks & Dunn, Gretchen Wilson, Carrie Underwood, Loretta Lynn and Montgomery Gentry.
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