Why I Serve: Soldier Loves USA, Army, Drums
By Tam Cummings
Special to American Forces Press Service
FORT HOOD, Texas, Sept. 24, 2004 -- "I love the United States of America and I
love the Army. Serving is the least I can do," said Sgt. Corey W. Wiley,
percussion section leader, 4th Infantry Division Ironhorse Band.
"The Army is an honorable occupation and I am proud to be a
part of it," said Sgt. Corey W. Wiley, percussion section leader, 4th Infantry
Division Ironhorse Band, Fort Hood, Texas. Photo courtesy Fort
Hood
(Click photo for screen-resolution image); high-resolution image available.
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"Nothing in the world gets me 'amped up' like playing for the troops. I love
being a professional musician and being in the Army. I love Army life and the
esprit de corps."
The Thibodaux, La., native started out in the National Guard. "I loved it and I
knew I wanted to do it full time," he explained. "I knew it was for me.
"I love playing for the troops. Nothing beats that feeling when I get to play
"The Army Song" for a thousand troops and they are all singing along. It's a
special feeling," Wiley said.
The Army has given Wiley the opportunity to do the three things he loves best:
serve his country, provide for his family, and play the drums in a band. It
doesn't matter if it's a change of command ceremony, a formal concert of
patriotic music or a rock and roll concert.
"I love doing it all. I know guys in the Army who just want to play jazz or
rock or concert music, but I love it all," he said. "The Army is an honorable
occupation and I am proud to be a part of it. I had never been out of the
United States before joining the Army. Being in foreign cultures and around
foreign people has opened my eyes to the way others live."
(Tam Cummings is the editor of the Fort Hood, Texas, Sentinel News.)
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