+PICTURE> Josh Performed at Camp Atterbury. Will air in J

[Jadesmom]

http://usparatroopers.org/newboard/index.php?topic=7766.new

Josh Gracin coming to Camp Atterbury
� on: Sat, Nov 05, 2005, 14:25 �

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I am gonna try and be there so I can start my movie star debut!





This is an explanation of what the Country Music Video Concert is all about.



Josh Gracin, former Marine, competed on American Idol. Since then he has had a couple # 1 hits. He has also used his celebrity to help tell the story of the American Armed Forces. Oo-Rah!



He has written a song about Billie Grimes, active duty medic who is from Lebanon, Indiana. She was on the front cover of Time Magazine. She gave life-saving aid to two reporters and a Soldier after a grenade was tossed through the window of their Humvee. Since then, she has somewhat reluctantly given dozens of interviews, but her message is always the same: It's all about the Soldiers for Sgt. Grimes. She has been an exceptional spokesperson for the Army.



He is going to come to Camp Atterbury and perform the song. Here's the thing! She doesn't know. So we need to keep this info secure until the concert on Sunday afternoon is over. And actually, it's not a concert. They are videotaping this for a half hour special that will air in January.

All Soldiers and civilian personnel are welcomed and encouraged to attend. CMT would like the Soldiers up front, and in the bleachers. Civilians should wear dark clothing. Be at building 722, behind the new King Hall between 1300 and 1330.



Unfortunately we don't have facilities and resources to include family or friends.



Here are a couple of articles for more background.

Marine, American Idol Receives Medal
Submitted by: 1st Marine Corps District
Story Identification #: 200472811287


1ST MARINE CORPS DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS (July 28, 2023) -- Lance Cpl. Joshua M. Gracin, American Idol 2 alumni, was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal July 28, by Col. Warren J. Foersch, commanding officer, 1st Marine Corps District, Garden City, N.Y. According to the citation, Gracin received the award for his outstanding support of the 1st MCD's recruiting mission, making appearances at more than 20 events that generated in excess of 500 prospecting leads. Additionally, through radio, television, newspaper interviews and fans attending his performances, an estimated 500,000 positive impressions were made. After fulfilling his duties in the Marine Corps in the coming months, Gracin will head to Nashville to join his family and further pursue his music career.
(USMC Photo by Cpl. Matthew F. Orr)

-30-









Text version of story is attached below:






January 28, 2023

[Have an opinion about the issues discussed in this article? Sound off in the Point-Counterpoint Forum.]



Spc. Billie Grimes, one of three 1st Armored Division soldiers featured on Time Magazine's "Person of the Year" cover in December, during a Monday visit to the Pentagon. (Photo by Lisa Burgess / S&S)




Billie Grimes, center, of Lebanon, represents the American soldier on the Person of the Year issue of Time magazine. Also pictured are Sgt. Marquette Whiteside of Pine Bluff, Ark. (left) and Sgt. Ronald buxton of Lake Ozark,

By Lisa Burgess
Stars and Stripes European Edition

ARLINGTON, Va. - At 26, Spc. Billie Grimes is too young to remember Andy Warhol, the New York artist who once said, "In the future, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes."

After appearing on the Dec. 23 cover of Time magazine, along with fellow 1st Armored Division soldiers Sgt. Marquette Whiteside and Sgt. Ronald Buxton, Grimes definitely understands the concept.

The trio was chosen to represent all American soldiers. But inevitably, the spotlight has shone on the individuals featured on the popular weekly's most prominent issue of the year.



Ever since the magazine hit the newsstand, Grimes' life has been a whirlwind of interviews, television appearances, and meetings with high-ranking officials and celebrities.

She, Whiteside and Buxton were guests of President Bush at his Jan. 20 State of the Union address. The trio rang the opening bell on Wall Street in New York. They've met with Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker, Acting Army Secretary Les Brownlee and a host of other Army brass.

And the press junket was supposed to culminate on Sunday with a half-time appearance at the Super Bowl, but that's been nixed, Grimes said.

"I'm not disappointed," combat medic Grimes said during a Monday interview with Stars and Stripes in the Pentagon. "The Colts are my team and they lost [the playoffs], so I don't care."

All in all, it's been quite a ride, Grimes said. But she's going to be glad when it's all over.

Fame, said Grimes, "is a lot more hectic than I thought it would be. I'm actually looking forward to going back to Iraq, just to get away from all this."

Grimes will get her wish after a concert appearance with country singer Toby Keith in Houston on Saturday night.

From Texas, Grimes will report to Baltimore-Washington International Airport, where she'll fly back to Iraq, the 1st Armored Division's C Company, 501st Field Support Battalion.

A quiet, thoughtful young woman, Grimes chose the Army in May 2002, after a four-year stint in the Army Reserve.




She arrived in Friedberg, Germany, in July 2002 to sign in with her current unit, which was sent to Iraq less than a year later, arriving in Baghdad in early June.

Grimes later was detached and sent to help staff an emergency medic station for the 1st AD's Survey Platoon, Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion 3rd Field Artillery Regiment.

The "Tomb Raiders," as they call themselves, are based in Giessen, Germany.

In Iraq, they stay in the Azimiya Palace, a compound in the restive Adhamiya neighborhoods that has been mortared and shot at repeatedly.

"If I was a cat, I'd have used up seven of my nine lives," Grimes said.

Grimes has been on at least two patrols that ultimately resulted in severely injured or dead U.S. personnel, including a Nov. 1 patrol that cost the life of the platoon's popular leader, 1st Lt. Ben Colgan.

His death "was the first one where it really hit home," Grimes said. "We were actually out here and people are dying."

She was also there on Dec. 10, when Time reporter Michael Weisskopf and photographer James Nachtwey were injured after someone threw an explosive into their Humvee.

Weisskopf lost his hand after attempting to toss the grenade away; Nachtwey had shrapnel injuries, as did two of the platoon's soldiers.

"It's kind of a bittersweet feeling," being a medic, Grimes said. "I couldn't help Lt. Colgan, but we saved the reporters ... it's kind of a teeter-totter feeling."

Grimes first got the news that she was on the cover while in Kuwait, where she was on the first leg of a scheduled two-week R&R to see her family in Lebanon, Ind.

"Someone came up to me with a Stars and Stripes and said, 'Hey, did you know you're on the cover?' " Grimes said.

"I was like, 'Oh, God, what is it going to be like when I get home?'"

She soon found out.

From the moment she got home, on Dec. 24, to the day she left, "the phone never stopped ringing."

She said it was her mother, Wanda Grimes, who helped put all the attention "in perspective."

"My mom told me to keep it in perspective, just go with the little ride I'm on," Grimes said. "She said, 'You were picked for a reason.'"

Grimes said she doesn't anticipate any envy from her unit mates when she gets back, although she knows she's going to get plenty of ribbing.

Besides, the cover wasn't about Billie Grimes, she said, "it's about the entire U.S. military. All three of us are really proud of who we're representing."
_________________
~Tobi
"Mother of one of Josh & Crew's biggest fans"

[JGfan1313]

Thanks for sharing this with us Tobie



Tom
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"Is KFC still Open" quote from Josh Gracin and my fan group sloggen.

[camsfason]

How neat. Thanks Queen Tobi!
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5/7/05 Billy Bob's - Fort Worth
8/20/05 Acoustic - DFW
12/3/05 Billy Bob's - Fort Worth - Holiday delivery!

[Jadesmom]

[neighborfan]

I keep askin . . . how do you hear all this stuff Tobi? It's just awesome! Thanks so much . . . love to see Josh on TV � can't wait for his december apearances!
You wouldn't happen to know where to locate a video of Josh's performance at the Dolphins game, do you??? LOL
I've looked and don't see clips anywhere, but if they're out there, I know you'll find them!!
_________________
Susan, the old neighbor "three doors down."
Josh Fan Since Day One
"May Josh Rule The Airwaves Forever!"

[Jadesmom]

Susan - LOL

LOTS and LOTS of Computer Reasearch and Trust me... I have been looking for clips of Sunday Performance!!

I had my video camera ready just incase the Tivo thing didn't work last Sunday - I was sooo hoping they would air they guys, but alas - not the case. Was pretty excited that we at least got to see them walk off the field. It was a 5 second blip - but ya know - it was something!

I will keep up the search and let you all know when/if I find it!

Tob
_________________
~Tobi
"Mother of one of Josh & Crew's biggest fans"

[trimmansmom]

Thanks for the info, Tobi! Can't wait to see it!


Ellie
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[coldduck]

Dear Josh, Thank You for the wonderful concert in Camp Atterbury Indiana we enjoyed it. hope too see you again live in concert in Fort Wayne Your Friend AKA ( BILL ) MIke D.

[Jadesmom]

Just found this Article:

http://www.campatterbury.org/new_country_video.htm


_________________
~Tobi
"Mother of one of Josh & Crew's biggest fans"

[neighborfan]

EEEEEEEEYOWZAAAA I'm so excited to see this show!! Thanks Queen Tobi for hookin us up once again!! What a great story, (they forgot to mention Brass Bed ) what a wonderful thing for Josh to do, and I'll have to give my nemisis CMT some kudos for hookin Josh up. He and Marcel WROTE this together!!! How Cool � I CAN'T WAIT!!!

P.S. � This SHOULD be on the web page, eh???!!!
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Susan, the old neighbor "three doors down."
Josh Fan Since Day One
"May Josh Rule The Airwaves Forever!"

[wicowgirl]

Wow! Awesome! Thanks Tobi!!
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[img]

[1babe615]

Thanks Tobi, for posting the article!


Rachel
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~~~Josh, I need more pics! Come back to FL in 2006!~~~

[southerngirl07]

PERFECT!!! the picture seems to please everybody, hopefully melinda included. i saw kevin in the far corner.
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uhh, Merry Christmas! or whatever holiday you celebrate!

[1babe615]

I can't wait to see Josh being featured on the "Unsung Stories" series on CMT! The series is supposed to premiere on Jan. 21 with Keith Anderson, so I guess Josh's will air sometime after that.


Rachel
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~~~Josh, I need more pics! Come back to FL in 2006!~~~

[*Amber]

That makes me proud. A Josh Gracin article and it mentions a WV troop. <3