Another rewarding day in the Middle East as we move a step closer to the actual Tribute to the Troops show. I am staying in tents with a dozen WWE technical personnel a decent walk from where the venue is being constructed.

The unplanned wake-up call came at 5 a.m., when chants from a Muslim prayer rang throughout this entire region, blaring on speakers from the center of the city. This is a common occurrence in most Middle Eastern countries. The soldiers here tell us you learn to live with and respect the early morning revelries and will soon sleep through it.

The venue moves closer to completion, despite major power issues over the past few days, so a group of us took the opportunity to tour one of Saddam Hussein’s largest palaces. It is a gaudy, ornate three-story structure which is built on a number of man-made lakes. The late Hussein used this palace as his hunting and fishing lodge as he stocked the lakes with various fish and the nearby land with exotic animals. The entire set-up speaks volumes to Hussein’s intense paranoia, insecurity and sociopathic tendencies.
 
I was accompanied on this tour by veteran WWE television director Kerwin Silfies who is so excited to be a part of this tribute show. Kerwin has directed just about every WWE television broadcast over the past 26 years, including 22 WrestleManias. But the one show missing from his impressive resume was the Tribute to the Troops broadcast.

“I have absolutely wanted to do this since day one, but it seems every year something would happen and it just never worked out for me,” Silfies tells me. “But finally I am here.”  Silfies says this is a wonderful trip for everyone in WWE, but an even better time for the troops.

Silfies is working with many of the soldiers who have volunteered to set up the “arena” and has nothing but high praise for them. “It is the happiest group of stagehands I have ever worked with. It is just a great opportunity for them to do something different which is so important and believe me we really need their help.”
 
Silfies says he is incredibly humbled by the whole experience of being here and he hopes that emotion will show through when he directs the sixth annual Tribute to the Troops show.

“As a human being it is always great to experience somewhere you haven’t visited before, but this is taking it to an entirely different level," Silfies said. "To be able to visually combine wrestling with a background which includes a mixture of Saddam’s palace, armed forces vehicles, and beautiful blue skies is a wonderful opportunity.”

But Siflies knows come show time the troops will be the stars of the show. “These kids have so much emotion, so much attitude, and will be having so much fun it will make my job much easier.”

I echo Kerwin’s sentiments on the enthusiasm of these wonderful servicemen and women, and they have all made our job easier during our time here in Iraq! We thank them for welcoming us into their home in the desert and for everything they are doing to protect our freedoms around the world.

Editor's Note: The preceeding was relayed from e-mail message reports from the WWE's Tribute to the Troops mission. Names of the bases visited have been omitted at the request of the U.S. Army, so as not to divulge WWE's location in Iraq.

For complete coverage of Tribute to the Troops, visit the Tribute section on WWE.com. Also, Leave your holiday messages for the troops in the Forums on WWE Universe.