Washburn D-9S acoustic six string guitar : Wing Commander R Rodgers, Joint Task Force 633

Washburn D-9S model acoustic six string guitar signed by members of HQ Joint Task Force 633. Fitted with Grover machine heads. Features a blonde soundboard with cream purfling to upper and lower joins, a decorative sound hole inlay and a black plastic pickguard. There are seven pearl inlays in the fingerboard. The headstock is marked in texta: 'Baghdad '06'. The entire upper face of the soundboard is signed in texta with messages. Names notable amongst the entries are: Phil Baldoni J4MOV; 'Roy' Rogers; Tony McKay; B. Gaynor J233c; Simon Bonbarita; Barbara Maguire; M. 'Dasher' Doring; Nick Gillis; Cpl Jason Davidson; Cameron Dorragh; CSM Rossco; Al Wright; Maj Gohnan; Capt Lachlan Simonds; G. Tsaikos; L Cdr Dean Powell; Mick Moon and K Gosper. The upper soundboard is titled 'HQ JTF633 19 Apr-25 Oct 06'. Most of the messages relate to the music created on this guitar ('Music to this Polad's ears!'; 'Keep on strumming - but not in Kirribilli!!!' and (under the strings at the bridge): 'Play Here! Aircrew Advisory only'). Written down each side of the guitar's shoulders are the following lyrics to 'My Postcard from Iraq' : Behind the wall the children play / Where six men died just yesterday / Did they know what they were fighting for / Al Sadr's power or a holy war / ...This is my postcard from Iraq / The good ol' boys they go out every day / 50 calibre handshake keeps the locals away / Do they know what they're fighting for / It's hard to tell with the growing score / ...This is my postcard from Iraq / And all the King's horses and all the King's men / Can't put this country together again / And mothers are crying for the loss of a son / But know one's watching it's just another one'.

Washburn acoustic guitar signed by Australian members of Headquarters, Joint Task Force 633 (JTF 633) during their deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan from April to October 2006, and by members of the Tour de Force 2006 (a small concert tour). The guitar was owned by 0265446 Wing Commander Robert Peter (Bob) Rodgers, CSM, AASM, Director Personnel, Air Force. Joint Task Force 633 had two commanders during this period: Brigadier Michael (Mick) Moon and Brigadier Paul Symons. According to Wing Commander Rodgers, JTF 633 ‘managed a number of important issues and incidents in Iraq, including the planning and preparations for Provincial Iraqi Control in two provinces (including Al Muthanna) and the establishment of the 1st Reconstruction Task Force in Afghanistan. [We] go home very tired but very satisfied.’ Regarding the composition of the Task Force Headquarters staff, Rodgers comments that they were ‘drawn from the three services and also the Australian Public Service (Policy Adviser). They make a formidable team; planning operations; force insertion and extractions; managing incidents and building close and effective relationships with our Coalition Allies. The camp in which the Headquarters sits is regularly the subject of indirect fire attacks and it is not uncommon to have small arms fire coming into the camp, which at times has come perilously close to Australian personnel.’ This Washburn D-9S guitar is an exclusive model made in Indonesia for a few of Washburn's larger retailers and not appearing in any of their price lists or catalogues. It was purchased by Wing Commander Rodgers just prior to his deployment. It was used to entertain fellow members of JTF 633 (many of whom have signed the guitar) and particularly on small concert tours in 2006 called the Tour de Force and the Camp Slayer Tour. The song ‘My Postcard from Iraq’ was composed and played on this guitar by Rodgers (see P05561). Since returning to Australia, Wing Commander Rogers released an EP of the songs he composed in Iraq, with a public launch and concert on 16 February 2008 at the Rose Cottage Inn at Canberra. Over 150 copies of the CD were sold and Rodgers' sons, Ben (guitar) and Mitchell (drums) accompanied their father for the gig. The launch was attended by over 350 people, including a busload from Wagga, among whom was Brigadier Mick Moon, former commander of JTF633.

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