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Band taking a picture with another person (Andrew Lightsey IV)
Bright lights, high energy, and rock music filled the night at Camp Buehring, Kuwait on the night of Sept. 26, 2025. Soldiers huddled under the stars and surrounded the Morale, Wellness, and Recreation stage to listen to Utah-based rock band, American Hitmen, perform for over an hour. The concert, part of the Armed Forces Entertainment 2025 Heat Wave tour, was a fun event for soldiers and tribute to service.
The American Hitmen were founded by lead singer and guitarist, Dan Cord, his brother and several other Marines in 2004 at Camp Pendleton, CA. Cord enlisted in 2003 after seeing the U.S. Marine Corps effect on the battlefield.
“When the Iraq invasion kicked off in ’03, I was glued to the news and remember seeing them interview a 19-year-old Lance Corporal who had been a part of the push into Mosul [Iraq],” said Cord. “I’m young, in pretty good shape, I have the birthright of being an American and thought I need to pay my dues. So, I enlisted.”
Musician on stage holding guitar and singing next to drummer (Andrew Lightsey IV)
One year later, Cord was deployed as a combat engineer in support of Operation Phantom Fury. During the rotation and in the time that followed he found ways to continue to hone his guitar skills.
“When I deployed, I flew out a guitar so I could play it in the smoke pit for my buddies,” said Cord.
“I got home in the spring of 2005 from my first tour in Fallujah, and that weekend we blew all of our deployment money on guitars and amps.”
— Dan Cord
He added, “We deployed again and when we got back, we kept playing and booked gigs on pay weekend so we could pack the bars out.”
Joining Cord on tour is drummer, Phil Snyder and bassist, Brian Hennesy of Salt Lake City, Utah. Throughout the years the band has stayed true to its rock and blues roots despite its changing membership.
“Utah is where I met Phil,” explained Cord. “We put out an ad and auditioned five drummers. Phil was the only one to make the cut.” As for Hennesy, who is on his first military-sponsored trip, Cord added, “Brian’s been a professional musician for a while. Our regular bassist couldn’t do this tour, so it was awesome for him to come out and join us.”
“To be a part of this and contribute is really cool,” said Hennesy. “It’s the experience of a lifetime. It’s still sinking in that I’m in Kuwait, on the other side of the world, and that I get to play this instrument for the troops.”
Band performing on stage (Andrew Lightsey IV)
The night of the performance the crowd buzzed with excitement as the trio took command of the stage from the first guitar lick and drumbeat. The group skillfully transitioned between electric rock and soulful blues covers to keep crowd on edge.
Cord tapped deep into his vocal repertoire to bring new life to classics like “House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals, “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash and “Ace of Spades” by Motörhead. Hennesy maintained steady bass lines throughout that kept the crowd upbeat while Snyder’s varied strikes to the snare and hit hat pumped excitement into varied rhythms. The band added in original tunes such as “SoundSlave,” a fast-paced tribute to the band Soundgarden and “Cold Woman” from their 2014 album, “Give ‘Em What They Want.”
“It was a fantastic show,” said Daniel Munson, a soldier who attended the concert. “I liked how they gave the backgrounds of the songs and told us what they were going to play.”
Bassist performing on stage (Andrew Lightsey IV)
Cord’s exceptional guitar skills matched his outstanding vocals, but the frontman saved room for some additional stars of the show. For one of the final songs of the night, the band invited a group of soldiers from the crowd to join them onstage. After explaining some of the history of rock music, Cord announced they would be performing the timeless hit “Johnny Be Good” by Chuck Berry. He quickly counted down, and the music began.
“Deep down in Louisiana close to New Orleans, way back up in the woods among the evergreens,” roared Cord, as Hennesy and Snyder pounded notes through the speakers towards the crowd.
Slowly and methodically, the trio transitioned their instruments and sticks to the newcomers without dropping a beat. The ‘Hitmen’ then moved off stage to take in the sounds with the audience and the crowd went wild. The soldier-musicians played for over six minutes, each showing their talents by soloing before handing the performance back to the main band. The chance to play onstage in front of his peers was an experience soldier and drummer Dakota Cochran will long remember.
Soldiers performing on stage (Andrew Lightsey IV)
“When I was invited on stage to play it was nerve racking,” said Cochran. “It has been almost four years since I last sat behind a drum kit. But once I started playing that nervous energy turned into adrenaline. Seeing my buddies nod along and cheer brought this rush of pride and connection that’s hard to explain. It was definitely a memorable experience.”
Following the performance, the three band members seized the opportunity to meet with fans. The Hitmen took time to speak to each of the supporters, who waited in line, and took pictures. Both Soldiers and band members benefited from the chance to connect.
“I was first in line to shake their hands and get a picture,” said Munson. “It’s always good to be there in person and see their personalities.”
“My favorite thing to do as a musician are these tours. The troops are always so appreciative but for us, it’s amazing to be here.”
— Phil Snyder
The band’s passion for music and troops showed throughout their performance, it also inspired soldiers to reexplore their own creative pursuits.
“The show made me go back and play guitar,” said Munson. “I want to get better at it and improve my skills.”
“For a few minutes, it felt like time slowed down and all the stress and distance from home just faded away,” explained Cochran. “I wasn’t just a soldier in that moment; I was a musician again, doing something I love and sharing it with the people I respect the most.”
The show was a huge success, and the American Hitmen departed for their next event after uplifting the troops at Camp Buehring. For Cord, it was another chance to share his passion for music with his brothers and sisters in arms.
“I remember entertainment coming when I was deployed,” said Cord. “And how much that meant just to have a break from the stress for an hour or two. I get to go out and play at 100 decibels for these troops and for that little window of time it’s just about rock and roll.”
Drummer performing on stage (Andrew Lightsey IV)
Editor’s Note: This article was written by a member of the local military community, not an employee of Stars and Stripes. Neither the organization nor the content is being represented by Stars and Stripes or the Department of Defense.
