Marine-Turned-Country-Star Plays for Army Birthday

Title: Marine-Turned-Country-Star Plays for Army Birthday

URL Source: http://www.dvidshub.net/news/538337/marine-turned-country-star-plays-army-birthday

Markdown Content:

===============

Maintenance window scheduled to begin at February 14th 2200 est. until 0400 est. February 15th

* [REGISTER](http://www.dvidshub.net/member/registration)
* [LOGIN](http://www.dvidshub.net/login)

(e.g. [email protected])

– [x] Remember me

[Forgot Password?](http://www.dvidshub.net/forgotpassword)

[![Image 7:

* [Home](http://www.dvidshub.net/)
* [SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PETE HEGSETH](http://www.dvidshub.net/feature/SECDEFHegseth)
* [Combatant Commands](http://www.dvidshub.net/cocom)

* [Features](http://www.dvidshub.net/feature)

* [Content](http://www.dvidshub.net/search)
* [Images](http://www.dvidshub.net/search/2.0?type=image)
* [Video](http://www.dvidshub.net/search/2.0?type=video)
* [News](http://www.dvidshub.net/search/2.0?type=news)
* [Audio](http://www.dvidshub.net/search/2.0?type=audio)
* [Graphics](http://www.dvidshub.net/search/2.0?type=graphics)
* [Podcasts](http://www.dvidshub.net/podcast)
* [Publications](http://www.dvidshub.net/publication)
* [Webcasts](http://www.dvidshub.net/webcast)

* [Stories](http://www.dvidshub.net/portfolio)
* [Storytellers](http://www.dvidshub.net/portfolio)
* [Media Awards](http://www.dvidshub.net/awards/guidelines)

* [Hometown News](http://www.dvidshub.net/jointhometownnewsservice)
* [Releases](http://www.dvidshub.net/jointhometownnewsservice/map)
* [Hometown Heroes](http://www.dvidshub.net/map)
* [Holiday Greetings Map](http://www.dvidshub.net/holiday)

* [Units](http://www.dvidshub.net/unit)

* [Newswire](http://www.dvidshub.net/alerts)

* [Media Requests](http://www.dvidshub.net/mediarequest)
* [Create Request](http://www.dvidshub.net/mediarequest)
* [Media Press Kit](http://www.dvidshub.net/mediarequest/presskit)

* ![Image 9:

Marine-Turned-Country-Star Plays for Army Birthday
==================================================

![Image 10: facebook sharing button](https://platform-cdn.sharethis.com/img/facebook.svg)

![Image 11: twitter sharing button](https://platform-cdn.sharethis.com/img/twitter.svg)

![Image 12: linkedin sharing button](https://platform-cdn.sharethis.com/img/linkedin.svg)

![Image 13: pinterest sharing button](https://platform-cdn.sharethis.com/img/pinterest.svg)

![Image 14: sharethis sharing button](https://platform-cdn.sharethis.com/img/sharethis.svg)

[![Image 15: Former Marine Josh Gracin Performs at Army's 231st Birthday Celebration](https://d1ldvf68ux039x.cloudfront.net/thumbs/photos/2507/9163592/1000w_q95.jpg)](http://www.dvidshub.net/image/9163592/former-marine-josh-gracin-performs-armys-231st-birthday-celebration)
Courtesy Photo | Servicemembers and civilians at the Pentagon enjoy concert by country music star and……[read more](http://www.dvidshub.net/image/9163592/former-marine-josh-gracin-performs-armys-231st-birthday-celebration)[read more](http://www.dvidshub.net/news/538337/marine-turned-country-star-plays-army-birthday#)

Courtesy Photo | Servicemembers and civilians at the Pentagon enjoy concert by country music star and former Marine Josh Gracin performs at the Army's 231st birthday celebration June 14. Photo by Sgt. Sara Wood, USA [see less](http://www.dvidshub.net/news/538337/marine-turned-country-star-plays-army-birthday#) | [View Image Page](http://www.dvidshub.net/image/9163592/former-marine-josh-gracin-performs-armys-231st-birthday-celebration)

### WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES

### 06.14.2006

### Story by [Sara Moore](http://www.dvidshub.net/portfolio/1070478/sara-moore) and [Sara Moore](http://www.dvidshub.net/portfolio/1070478/sara-moore)

### [Department of War](http://www.dvidshub.net/unit/TPC)[](http://www.dvidshub.net/search/unit/TPC "Search for Department of War media")[](http://www.dvidshub.net/rss/unit/66 "RSS feed for Department of War")[](http://www.dvidshub.net/unit/TPC "Unit with the Most Placements for Videos<br/> March 2017")[](http://www.dvidshub.net/unit/TPC "Unit with the Most Placements for Videos<br/> February 2017")[](http://www.dvidshub.net/unit/TPC "Unit with the Most Placements for Videos<br/> January 2017")[](http://www.dvidshub.net/unit/TPC "Unit with the Most Placements for Videos<br/> December 2016")

[![Image 16](https://cdn.dvidshub.net/images/subscribe-button-icon.png)✔✗Subscribe](http://www.dvidshub.net/alerts/unit/66 "Subscribe to Department of War")

173

![Image 17: facebook sharing button](https://platform-cdn.sharethis.com/img/facebook.svg)

![Image 18: twitter sharing button](https://platform-cdn.sharethis.com/img/twitter.svg)

![Image 19: linkedin sharing button](https://platform-cdn.sharethis.com/img/linkedin.svg)

![Image 20: pinterest sharing button](https://platform-cdn.sharethis.com/img/pinterest.svg)

![Image 21: sharethis sharing button](https://platform-cdn.sharethis.com/img/sharethis.svg)

Josh Gracin, the former Marine who won fame on the TV show "American Idol," performed at the Pentagon for the Army's 231st birthday celebration today.

Gracin was a lance corporal in the Marine Corps when he participated in the second season of "American Idol." He finished fourth place overall, and went on to land a record deal and release a debut album in 2004.

Gracin's performance today was sponsored by the United Services Organization. This was his first USO concert, but he said he hopes there will be many more in the future.

"As soon as I got out of the Marine Corps, one of the first things I said to my manager was, 'Get me involved with USO,'" Gracin said. "It's been kind of hard getting on a tour because of scheduling, but I believe this was the first step today in a long relationship with the USO."

Gracin sang many of his hit songs, as well as several popular songs by other country artists. He said he was honored to be part of the Army's birthday celebration, even though he served in the Marine Corps.

"Anytime you can take part in something as big as this and something as meaningful as this, it doesn't matter what branch of service you are," he said. "We all work together, and we all have to be one unit to get the job done."

In addition to servicemembers from all branches of the military, civilians and family members, the audience included some wounded troops from Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Gracin thanked them for their service and sacrifices, which have contributed to keeping this country free, he said. "They're already heroes no matter what they've done," he said. "They volunteered, which is something 90 percent of this population in this country wouldn't do."

Story by Sgt. Sara Wood, USA, American Forces Press Service

NEWS INFO
———

Date Taken:06.14.2006
Date Posted:07.04.2025 04:52
Story ID:538337
Location:WASHINGTON, US

* * *

Web Views:13
Downloads:0

* * *

#### PUBLIC DOMAIN ![Image 22](http://www.dvidshub.net/images/public_domain_logo.png)

This work, Marine-Turned-Country-Star Plays for Army Birthday, by [Sara Moore](http://www.dvidshub.net/portfolio/1070478/sara-moore) and [Sara Moore](http://www.dvidshub.net/portfolio/1070478/sara-moore), identified by [

CONNECTED MEDIA
—————

[![Image 23: Former Marine Josh Gracin Performs at Army's 231st Birthday Celebration](https://d1ldvf68ux039x.cloudfront.net/thumbs/photos/2507/9163592/75x75_q95.jpg)](http://www.dvidshub.net/image/9163592/former-marine-josh-gracin-performs-armys-231st-birthday-celebration)

[![Image 24: Country Music Star Gracin Celebrates Army's Birthday with New Recruit](https://d1ldvf68ux039x.cloudfront.net/thumbs/photos/2507/9163593/75x75_q95.jpg)](http://www.dvidshub.net/image/9163593/country-music-star-gracin-celebrates-armys-birthday-with-new-recruit)

[![Image 25: Country Star Josh Gracin Gifts Drumstick to Young Fan at Army Birthday Celebration](https://d1ldvf68ux039x.cloudfront.net/thumbs/photos/2507/9163594/75x75_q95.jpg)](http://www.dvidshub.net/image/9163594/country-star-josh-gracin-gifts-drumstick-young-fan-army-birthday-celebration)

[![Image 26: Country Music Star Josh Gracin Performs at Army's 231st Birthday Celebration](https://d1ldvf68ux039x.cloudfront.net/thumbs/photos/2507/9163595/75x75_q95.jpg)](http://www.dvidshub.net/image/9163595/country-music-star-josh-gracin-performs-armys-231st-birthday-celebration)

[![Image 27: Country Music Star Josh Gracin Performs at Army's 231st Birthday Celebration](https://d1ldvf68ux039x.cloudfront.net/thumbs/photos/2507/9163596/75x75_q95.jpg)](http://www.dvidshub.net/image/9163596/country-music-star-josh-gracin-performs-armys-231st-birthday-celebration)

MORE LIKE THIS
————–

CONTROLLED VOCABULARY KEYWORDS
——————————

_No keywords found._

Add Keyword

TAGS
—-

[American Forces Press Service](http://www.dvidshub.net/tags/news/american-forces-press-service)

[Defense.gov DefenseLink Archive](http://www.dvidshub.net/tags/news/defensegov-defenselink-archive)

OPTIONS
——-

* [Register/Login to Download](http://www.dvidshub.net/login)

####

* [404-282-1450](http://www.dvidshub.net/news/538337/marine-turned-country-star-plays-army-birthday#)

#### Web Support

* [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

#### Customer Service

* [1-888-743-4662](http://www.dvidshub.net/news/538337/marine-turned-country-star-plays-army-birthday#)
* [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

#### [Features](http://www.dvidshub.net/feature)

#### [Units](http://www.dvidshub.net/unit)

#### [Newswire](http://www.dvidshub.net/alerts)

#### [About

* [Contact Us](http://www.dvidshub.net/about/contactus)
* [Privacy & Security](http://www.dvidshub.net/about/privacy)
* [FAQs](http://www.dvidshub.net/about/faq)
* [Copyright Information](http://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright)
* [Accessibility Information](http://www.dvidshub.net/about/accessibility)
* [Customer Service](http://www.dvidshub.net/about/contactweb)

#### [Media Requests](http://www.dvidshub.net/mediarequest)

* [Create Request](http://www.dvidshub.net/mediarequest)
* [Media Press Kit](http://www.dvidshub.net/mediarequest/presskit)

#### [Hometown News](http://www.dvidshub.net/jointhometownnewsservice)

* [Releases](http://www.dvidshub.net/jointhometownnewsservice/map)
* [Hometown Heroes](http://www.dvidshub.net/map)
* [Holiday Greetings Map](http://www.dvidshub.net/holiday)

#### [Stories](http://www.dvidshub.net/portfolio)

* [Storytellers](http://www.dvidshub.net/portfolio)
* [Media Awards](http://www.dvidshub.net/awards/guidelines)

#### [Content](http://www.dvidshub.net/search)

* [Images](http://www.dvidshub.net/search/2.0?type=image)
* [Video](http://www.dvidshub.net/search/2.0?type=video)
* [News](http://www.dvidshub.net/search/2.0?type=news)
* [Audio](http://www.dvidshub.net/search/2.0?type=audio)
* [Graphics](http://www.dvidshub.net/search/2.0?type=graphics)
* [Podcasts](http://www.dvidshub.net/podcast)
* [Publications](http://www.dvidshub.net/publication)
* [Webcasts](http://www.dvidshub.net/webcast)

#### Links

* [Links Disclaimer](http://www.dvidshub.net/about/linksdisclaimer)
* [No FEAR Act](http://prhome.defense.gov/NoFear/)
* [Open Government](http://open.defense.gov/)
* [FOIA](http://open.defense.gov/Transparency/FOIA.aspx)
* [USA Gov](https://www.usa.gov/)
* [Inspector General](http://www.dodig.mil/)
* [Web Policy](http://dodcio.defense.gov/DoD-Web-Policy/)
* [EEO](http://www.dodig.mil/EEO/process.html)
* [Sexual Assault Prevention](http://www.sapr.mil/)
* [DVI Records Schedule](https://www.dimoc.mil/Portals/64/docs/DVI%20docs/DoD-VI-Records-Schedule.pdf?ver=2018-02-06-205026-927)
* [DVI Executive Summary](https://www.dimoc.mil/Portals/64/ExecSumm%20-%20VI%20Records%20Schedule%20-%20AUG%202019_1.pdf)
* [Section 3103](https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/USCODE-2009-title44/USCODE-2009-title44-chap31-sec3103)

[![Image 28: Podcasts Logo](http://www.dvidshub.net/images/podcasts_logo_white.png)](http://www.dvidshub.net/podcast)[![Image 29: Military 24/7 Logo](http://www.dvidshub.net/images/mil_247_logo_white.png)](http://www.dvidshub.net/app)[](http://www.dvidshub.net/news/538337/marine-turned-country-star-plays-army-birthday)[](http://www.facebook.com/

[![Image 30: US Deptartment of Defense Logo](http://www.dvidshub.net/images/wargov-logo-footer.png)](https://www.defense.gov/)

Version: 5a266dc3ff9fb60f2179f68892ebeb0d8fc270d8_2025-10-14T09:11:41

Marine-Turned-Country-Star Plays for Army Birthday

Adjacent Records