Lisa Ligon, a native of Richmond, Va., salutes the troops during her final performance at the Camp Liberty Main Post Exchange, Nov. 23. The Purffect Angelz performed for troops throughout Iraq visiting 21 different locations in just nine days. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. James P. Hunter, 2nd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. Public Affairs)
By Sgt. James P. Hunter
2nd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. Public Affairs
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines howled through the night as seven dancers from the “Purrfect Angelz” put on a show to remember for troops deployed here in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Nov. 23, at the Camp Liberty Main PX.
The group ended their tour here after traveling for the last nine days and performing at 21 different locations throughout theater, to include Camp Taji, Camp Slayer and Forward Operating Base Prosperity.
The girls, Dani, Tanea, Laurie, Lisa, Lindsay and Amber, danced the night away to such songs as “Sweet Home Alabama,” “American Woman,” and “Proud to be an American.”
“It was awesome. It was extremely awesome,” said Pvt. Mike Shell, 526th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). “For the girls to come out here and gives us support, (it) was great.”
The Purrfect Angelz have been together for the last six years and have toured Iraq for the past five. With their smiles lighting up the stage, it was difficult for troops to not enjoy the night and let their stressors fade away.
“The show here was fantastic. The girls were fantastic; a lot of great dancing,” said Sgt. 1st Class Steve Pickerin, senior paralegal noncommissioned officer, Regimental Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2nd Cavalry Stryker Regiment. “A lot of people loved it here, especially the last song. It’s great for the troops. It’s a great morale booster. It gives the troops here a break.”
Shell agreed the stressors of deployments can be overwhelming.
“The days can be stressful being a Soldier. For me it’s not too stressful. With it being my second deployment, I have learned to deal with it, but it relieves a lot of tension for Soldiers on their first deployment. It relaxes you,” he said.
But relaxed really isn’t the word to describe the crowd.
“The crowd out here today was nuts!” Shell said ecstatically. “It was absolutely nuts. Everyone went absolutely crazy.”
When the dancing ended, troops were given the opportunity to get an autograph and their picture taken with the troupe.
When Shell finally got his opportunity, he thanked the girls for their performance.
“I told them I appreciate everything they do for us,” he said. “It’s great to see them out here; it’s an opportunity to get away from the stressors of the day-to-day operations.”
And they too appreciate everything the troops deployed around the world do everyday.
“To all the men and women in the armed forces, we want to thank ya’ll for everything that you do,” said Lisa Ligon, a native of Richmond, Va. “The Purrfect Angelz love you and wish you happy holidays.”
Dani Armstrong, a native of Highland, Mich., performs for troops at the Camp Liberty Main Post Exchange in western Baghdad, Nov. 23. The Purffect Angelz performed for troops throughout Iraq visiting 21 different locations in just nine days. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. James P. Hunter, 2nd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. Public Affairs)
Troops cheer on the Purrfect Angelz during their performance at the Camp Liberty Main Post Exchange in western Baghdad, Nov. 23, as part of their tour where they visited 21 different locations in nine days throughout Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. James P. Hunter, 2nd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. Public Affairs)
Pvt. Mike Shell, native of Roanoke, Va., with Company A, 526th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), poses for a picture with the Purrfect Angelz following their performance for troops at the Camp Liberty Main Post Exchange in western Baghdad, Nov. 23. The Purffect Angelz performed for troops throughout Iraq visiting 21 different locations in just nine days. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. James P. Hunter, 2nd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. Public Affairs)
