Patrick Cox and Rick Trevino in Iraq

Tax Masters Patrick Cox Receives Token of Appreciation in Iraq. US Army photo by SFC Tad Browning.

Tax Masters CEO and President, Patrick Cox, recently participated in a four-day tour through southern Iraq with Texas country music artist Rick Trevino and his band.  The tour was a combined effort of Tax Masters out of Houston, Texas, Armed Forces Entertainment, Morale Welfare and Recreation, and 36th Sustainment Brigade Attorney, MAJ Fred Hackett, a Houston native and an employee of Tax Masters.

“This all started with Fred and me talking about something we could do for members of his team in Iraq,” said Mr. Cox. “We had a few ideas, but taking an entertainer turned out to be the most feasible and the most likely plan to succeed.” The Tax Masters President and CEO paid the freight to get Rick Trevino, his crew, and band to Kuwait, then participated in the whirlwind Armed Forces Entertainment tour.

“Going to Iraq was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Mr. Cox continued. “It’s amazing to watch those eighteen, nineteen, and twenty year old kids serving our country and managing to live their lives and even find moments of fun in that kind of situation so far from home. It was never clearer to me that doing this kind of thing is important than when I was there, watching the soldiers enjoy great concerts from Rick Trevino and his band. And Trevino is something else. He took so much time with the troops wanting to speak with him. He’s a class act.”

Rick Trevino Performing in Iraq. US Army photo by SFC Tad Browning.

Rick Trevino, his band, the crew, and Patrick Cox were all lucky enough to have the opportunity to tour the Ziggurat in the Dhi Qar Province in southern Iraq. The Ziggurat is the ancient Sumerian temple for the city of Ur, which is the city of Abraham’s youth. Abraham is regarded as the founding patriarch of monotheism by several monotheistic religions, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Mormonism, and Rastafarianism. The Ziggurat was one of several tours Trevino and Cox participated in while in southern Iraq and was undoubtedly memorable.

Referring to the Rick Trevino concert at Contingency Operating Base Adder, Cox said it was amazing to watch the soldiers.

“They really seem to be enjoying it and having a good time and kind of forget for a moment that they are away from their families and home,” said Cox. “It’s a real rewarding thing, it’s been a great experience, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

The photos in the gallery below were taken during the Trevino tour of southern Iraq. Photos were provided by SFC Tad Browning and MAJ Fred Hackett.

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