Maj. Thomas B. Bryant sings for betterment of troops

Third Army soldier sings for betterment of troops

13th Public Affairs Detachment
Story by Cpl. Christopher Calvert

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait – For many, singing offers an outlet to express one’s feelings. Troops often find singing helps pass the time during a deployment while building esprit de corps among members of a unit. For one Third Army soldier, singing is more than just a hobby; it’s a way to help his fellow brothers and sisters in arms.

Maj. Thomas B. Bryant, Third Army/ARCENT Logistics, deputy plans chief and Silver Creek, Miss., native, grew up singing his entire life.

“I’m the son of a preacher,” said Bryant. “I’ve been singing pretty much all of my life. It’s just been one of those things God has blessed me with. I like to make people feel what I’m feeling, and singing helps me accomplish this.”

When Bryant graduated from high school, he felt compelled to join the U.S. Army Reserves and serve his country like his father did before him, he said.

“My father was prior military,” Bryant explained. “I felt obligated to do something for my country as well. My father was a little reluctant for me to join, but after I did and found it was something I really enjoyed, he gave me 120 percent of his support.”

After serving six years in the Reserves, Bryant decided to transfer to active duty and was commissioned as an infantry officer in 1995, then transferred to the Quartermaster Corps in 1998.

It was after this transition that Bryant realized the true power of his singing and began wondering how he could use it to better his fellow soldiers, many of whom would go on to suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other mental illnesses after multiple deployments, he said.

“I felt compelled to tell the story of the nation being at war for the past 10 years,” explained Bryant. “How could I capture that in a 3.5 minute song? A lot of my fellow comrades have made the ultimate sacrifice, and many who came home are suffering from PTSD and things of that nature. I was able to record the song ‘Fall on my Knees,’ and I pray that it is a blessing and an inspiration to all of my fellow service members.”
read more here