Lee Greenwood entertains troops on Patriotic World Tour Published April 11, 2006 By 1st Lt. Mattie Fuller Air Force Reserve Command Public Affairs SOUTHWEST ASIA -- On his 18th military world tour, country music legend Lee Greenwood is once again proudly standing up for the men and women in uniform deployed overseas. Mr. Greenwood left the USA April 5 for Germany, Turkey and three forward-operating bases in Southwest Asia. His final stop on the tour is Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, April 17. C-17 cargo aircraft and a KC-10 air refueling aircraft crewed by Air Force Reserve Command reservists flew Mr. Greenwood and company from gig to gig. Joining the composer of “God Bless the U.S.A.” were country-rockers Restless Heart, comedian Dick Hardwick and six New England Patriots cheerleaders. At every stop, Mr. Greenwood told the troops how much he appreciates what they are doing for their country. He said people think they know what is going on half way around the world until they get there and see America’s military men and women in action. “It affects me deeply,” he said in an interview in Southwest Asia. On the way to the first show of the tour at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, the artists stopped at Ramstein AB, Germany, to visit wounded troops at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. They spent two hours visiting and signing autographs for the patients and staff before getting back on the jet and heading for Turkey. Back on stage, Restless Heart performed several of the group’s hits, and comedian Dick Hardwick kept the crowd chuckling with his jokes. Mr. Greenwood’s show consists of a number of his own hits as well as well-known patriotic songs by other country artists such as Toby Keith and Darryl Worley. He and his band concluded each night's concert with “God Bless the U.S.A.” After each show, the band spent hours signing autographs and taking pictures with the long line of troops eager to meet the entertainers. Famous for his support of America’s military men and women, Mr. Greenwood made sure everyone in the crowd knows how much he appreciates what they do. After seeing the reactions of thousands of deployed Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines, it’s obvious they feel the same way about him.