Collective Soul Concert, 2002 (?), George Walker

From MemoryArchive

Who:  George Walker
What:  Collective Soul Concert
When:  2002 (?)
Where:  Fort Hood, Texas

In 2002, or around then, I went to a Collective Soul Concert in Fort Hood, Texas. Fort Hood, to the best of my knowledge, is the largest military installation in the United States. I went with my brother, and his friends, who were a grade above me in high school.

The drive from Waco was largely uneventful. When we got to Fort Hood, however, the situation was completely different. It was relatively soon after 9/11, and the military base was on heightened alert.

Before we could even enter the base, we had to enter someting that seemed to me to be more in place at a border stop. We waited 20 minutes while the cars in front of us were searched by x ray, and by person. When it was our turn, we drove our car into what amounted to a massive x ray machine, (it was probably not x ray, but I don't know what to call it) in which soldiers could "see" the outline of objects in the car. After passing this initial stage, we had to pull over, and they had us all get out of the car, and poked around, paying the most attention to the trunk. We made it through, and continued on our way.

After we parked, we made our way to where the concert was being held, which appeared to be a football stadium. It was kind of ridiculous, because Collective Soul is a relatively mellow band, and the soldiers at the event were using any opportunity to "mosh." Moshing is basically when people body check each other while listening to the music. I accidentally wandered into a "mosh pit," and was knocked to the ground. I couldn't get out, because the participants were too excited, but eventually, a kind GI saw my problem and grabbed me by my shirt and threw me out of it.