An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

American Idol singer visits Airmen

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Michael O'Connor
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing public affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Former "American Idol" runner-up Harold Elwin "Bo" Bice Jr. spent two hours taking photos, signing autographs, and talking with Airmen at an air base in the Persian Gulf Feb. 7 as part of the Stars for Stripes celebrity tour.

The Stars for Stripes celebrity tours are designed to improve the morale and general welfare of U.S. military personnel and promote patriotism and civic pride among the troops and the general public.

Following the American singer and musician's second place finish in the fourth season of American Idol, the Huntsville, Ala., native has become well known for his deep baritone style of singing, his control vibrato, and a unique style incorporating soul, country, blues and rock.

On behalf of the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, deployed in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom, Gen. David Petraeus, Multi-National Force-Iraq, commander, had these words to say Jan. 3 about American entertainers who put themselves in harms way to support the troops.

"I would like to thank Stars for Stripes for its continued commitment to boosting troop morale," said General Petraeus. "Recent visits from entertainers have provided our troops with a well-earned break from the daily rigors of combat operations. Moreover, these visits are a tangible reminder to our troops here in theater of the continued support and commitment of the home front."

The general went on to say, "Like all the servicemen and servicewomen in theater, I truly look forward to additional visits in the future," stating how much he appreciated the hard work and dedication of organizations such as Stars for Stripes who make these visits possible.