- Location
- Bountiful, land of rocks
He wrote American Soldier from that experience. Just heard that interview on the radio and thought it worth sharing
www.audacy.com
It’s no secret that Toby Keith loves America. Known for his passionate and prideful American anthems like “American Soldier,” and the countless hours he’s dedicated to USO tours, Toby has powerful memories to last a lifetime with the service men and women he respects so deeply.
While typically called on to provide entertainment and a light-hearted “escape,” for soldiers while deployed, it’s a tender moment that Toby remembers most vividly. A moment he experienced reality like never before as he was reminded of the ultimate sacrifice.
“After we toured Iraq the whole week, [it] came time to leave and we were getting on a C-130, and getting ready to go to Kuwait City and change jets, to a C-17 and go to Afghanistan, and they made us get off the plane,” Toby told Audacy’s Katie Neal.
“They said, ‘Unbuckle and get off the plane. Please stand in formation with the rest of these guys.’ And they loaded a flag-draped coffin, right there at our feet.”
Since 2002, Keith has visited more than 250,000 troops in 17 countries through his work with the USO. Keith’s trips have included stops in Iraq, Afghanistan, and several ships at sea. He was recognized for his dedication to troops with the Spirit of the USO Award in April 2014.
“His name was First Lieutenant Eric McCray… I named a race horse after him and I flew from Baghdad to Kuwait City with him literally, laying right at my feet. It was the ultimate sacrifice and a feeling that I can’t even describe to you.”
Toby went on to share that the chilling flight lead to a connection with Lt. McCray’s family, who, to this day treat Keith as one of their own.
“Got back to the states and was playing up on the West Coast… Pacific North West, and his family showed up,” Toby explained. “His dad had been in the military and they said ‘you’re part of the family now, you flew with our son out of Iraq.’”
He continued, “They came to all the shows that I do in the Pacific North West and have for years, It’s been sixteen [to] seventeen years… maybe?”
It’s clear that Keith remembers the flight like it was yesterday, and it surely serves as motivation for him to continue his work with the troops.
“You can hear about it, and you can talk about it, but until you’re sitting’ there seeing’ it with your own eyes, it doesn’t land with that much impact.”
Keith is currently working on a new album, Peso in My Pocket, which will serve as his first album in nearly six years. Set to release October 15, the project will feature 10 songs including recently released “Happy Birthday America,” “Old School,” penned by Ryan Hurd and Maren Morris, and a song written by a local Okie titled, Oklahoma Breakdown.”
American Soldier
Song by Toby Keith
I'm just trying to be a father
Raise a daughter and a son
Be a lover to their mother
Everything to everyone
Up and at 'em bright and early
I'm all business in my suit
Yeah, I'm dressed up for success
From my head down to my boots
I don't do it for the money
There's bills that I can't pay
I don't do it for the glory
I just do it anyway
Providing for our future's my responsibility
Yeah, I'm real good under pressure
Being all that I can be
And I can't call in sick on Mondays
When the weekends been too strong
I just work straight through the holidays
And sometimes all night long
You can bet that I stand ready
When the wolf growls at the door
Hey, I'm solid, hey I'm steady
Hey I'm true down to the core
And I will always do my duty
No matter what the price
I've counted up the cost
I know the sacrifice
Oh, and I don't want to die for you
But if dyin's asked of me
I'll bear that cross with honor
'Cause freedom don't come free
I'm an American soldier, an American
Beside my brothers and my sisters
I will proudly take a stand
When liberty's in jeopardy
I will always do what's right
I'm out here on the front lines
Sleep in peace tonight
American soldier, I'm an American soldier
yeah, an American soldier, an American
Beside my brothers and my sisters
I will proudly take a stand
When liberty's in jeopardy
I will always do what's right
I'm out here on the front lines
So sleep in peace tonight
American soldier, I'm an American
an American
an American soldier
Toby Keith recalls flying overseas with a fallen soldier
While typically called on to provide entertainment and a light-hearted ‘escape,’ for soldiers while deployed, it’s a tender moment that Toby remembers most vividly.
www.audacy.com
It’s no secret that Toby Keith loves America. Known for his passionate and prideful American anthems like “American Soldier,” and the countless hours he’s dedicated to USO tours, Toby has powerful memories to last a lifetime with the service men and women he respects so deeply.
While typically called on to provide entertainment and a light-hearted “escape,” for soldiers while deployed, it’s a tender moment that Toby remembers most vividly. A moment he experienced reality like never before as he was reminded of the ultimate sacrifice.
“After we toured Iraq the whole week, [it] came time to leave and we were getting on a C-130, and getting ready to go to Kuwait City and change jets, to a C-17 and go to Afghanistan, and they made us get off the plane,” Toby told Audacy’s Katie Neal.
“They said, ‘Unbuckle and get off the plane. Please stand in formation with the rest of these guys.’ And they loaded a flag-draped coffin, right there at our feet.”
Since 2002, Keith has visited more than 250,000 troops in 17 countries through his work with the USO. Keith’s trips have included stops in Iraq, Afghanistan, and several ships at sea. He was recognized for his dedication to troops with the Spirit of the USO Award in April 2014.
“His name was First Lieutenant Eric McCray… I named a race horse after him and I flew from Baghdad to Kuwait City with him literally, laying right at my feet. It was the ultimate sacrifice and a feeling that I can’t even describe to you.”
Toby went on to share that the chilling flight lead to a connection with Lt. McCray’s family, who, to this day treat Keith as one of their own.
“Got back to the states and was playing up on the West Coast… Pacific North West, and his family showed up,” Toby explained. “His dad had been in the military and they said ‘you’re part of the family now, you flew with our son out of Iraq.’”
He continued, “They came to all the shows that I do in the Pacific North West and have for years, It’s been sixteen [to] seventeen years… maybe?”
It’s clear that Keith remembers the flight like it was yesterday, and it surely serves as motivation for him to continue his work with the troops.
“You can hear about it, and you can talk about it, but until you’re sitting’ there seeing’ it with your own eyes, it doesn’t land with that much impact.”
Keith is currently working on a new album, Peso in My Pocket, which will serve as his first album in nearly six years. Set to release October 15, the project will feature 10 songs including recently released “Happy Birthday America,” “Old School,” penned by Ryan Hurd and Maren Morris, and a song written by a local Okie titled, Oklahoma Breakdown.”
American Soldier
Song by Toby Keith
I'm just trying to be a father
Raise a daughter and a son
Be a lover to their mother
Everything to everyone
Up and at 'em bright and early
I'm all business in my suit
Yeah, I'm dressed up for success
From my head down to my boots
I don't do it for the money
There's bills that I can't pay
I don't do it for the glory
I just do it anyway
Providing for our future's my responsibility
Yeah, I'm real good under pressure
Being all that I can be
And I can't call in sick on Mondays
When the weekends been too strong
I just work straight through the holidays
And sometimes all night long
You can bet that I stand ready
When the wolf growls at the door
Hey, I'm solid, hey I'm steady
Hey I'm true down to the core
And I will always do my duty
No matter what the price
I've counted up the cost
I know the sacrifice
Oh, and I don't want to die for you
But if dyin's asked of me
I'll bear that cross with honor
'Cause freedom don't come free
I'm an American soldier, an American
Beside my brothers and my sisters
I will proudly take a stand
When liberty's in jeopardy
I will always do what's right
I'm out here on the front lines
Sleep in peace tonight
American soldier, I'm an American soldier
yeah, an American soldier, an American
Beside my brothers and my sisters
I will proudly take a stand
When liberty's in jeopardy
I will always do what's right
I'm out here on the front lines
So sleep in peace tonight
American soldier, I'm an American
an American
an American soldier
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