PATROL BASE HUSAYNIYAH, Iraq – Music fills the air of the small patrol base as Soldiers gather around a multi-talented musician.
Lost within the song, a fellow Soldier, Pfc. Andrew S. Wells, field data tactical system specialist, Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, strums on his guitar for the gathered Soldiers.
Music has always been a part of Wells’ life. The second oldest in a family of six brothers and one sister, Wells first immersed himself in the world of music with the drums.
“I started with the drums and then each year in school I started to learn a new instrument from scratch,” said Wells, a native of Dimwidde, Va.
Wells also learned how to play the trombone, trumpet, guitar and bass guitar. The driving influence in his life to play is his stepfather.
“He pushed me into playing the drums when I was younger,” said Wells. “But the more I played, the more I wanted to play other instruments.”
Although Wells doesn’t play with his family as much anymore, he continues to play his guitar, even while deployed to Iraq.
“I love to play and being in Iraq is not going to stop me from playing,” said Wells.
The desert heat and unique environmental conditions in Iraq have the potential to create problems for some components of musical instruments.
“I have to be careful, especially with the heat. The neck of the guitar could warp or bend and my strings can rust and break,” he added.
Wells continues to strum and tune his guitar as the melody floats from his fingertips.
“He’s always playing and singing to his girlfriend,” said Pfc. Robert M. Hable, radio and telephone operator, 1st Platoon, Bravo Battery, 1st Bn., 77th Field Artillery Regiment, as Wells’ cheeks flush with color.
Smiling, Wells begins to sing “My Angel,” a song he wrote for his girlfriend, Michelle.
“I’ve written at least five or six songs for her. She loves to hear me play and sing. Every time I come home she begs me to play for her,” said Wells thoughtfully.
Wells finishes playing “My Angel” and starts to play another song he wrote called “Makes Me Stronger” as more Soldiers gather around to listen.
Residents here enjoy having their own entertainer. In addition to his music, he brings a little bit of morale to the Soldiers.
“I don’t mind him playing; in fact, there have been a lot of times when I have come back from work in a very bad mood and he was in here just playing on his guitar,” said Hable, a native of Wichita Falls, Texas. “Listening to him play calms me down and really brightens my spirit.”
“What he doesn’t tell you is that I sing him to sleep every night,” said Wells jokingly.
While Wells doesn’t really sing people to sleep at night, he does what he can to lighten the mood through his love of music.
