thedrifter
01-28-03, 08:53 AM
Tuesday, January 28, 2003 Posted: 8:21 AM EST (1321 GMT)
LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- The United States Marine Corps Monday denied it that it had kept an enlisted Marine from being sent to the Middle East so that he could sing on the hit Fox reality show "American Idol."
Lance Cpl. Joshua Gracin, appearing in baggy jeans and a sweater, wowed the judges on last Wednesday's episode of "Idol" with a crisp salute and a strong performance. He is set to appear on this Wednesday's episode in which the 32 semi-finalists will be chosen.
In a statement, the Marine Corps said Gracin's unit was scheduled to remain at Camp Pendleton near San Diego and had not been set to go to the Middle East as part of a military buildup ahead of a possible U.S. war with Iraq.
"The Marine Corps sees the recruiting value of Gracin's appearance before a national audience, appreciates the level of talent the Marine possesses, and recognizes the benefits of allowing him to continue competing on the program," Camp Pendleton said in a statement Monday.
On Sunday, the New York Post quoted Gracin's mother in suburban Detroit as saying he had received a special exemption to remain in the United States and appear on the show while his unit was deployed to Kuwait.
The January 21 debut of the second season of "Idol" was the highest-rated night of entertainment programming in Fox history.
A spokeswoman in the public affairs office at Camp Pendleton declined to say how many Marines from the base had been deployed to the Middle East, saying that figure had not been made public. She said the base has 32,000 military personnel in total.
Copyright 2003 Reuters.
Sempers,
Roger
LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- The United States Marine Corps Monday denied it that it had kept an enlisted Marine from being sent to the Middle East so that he could sing on the hit Fox reality show "American Idol."
Lance Cpl. Joshua Gracin, appearing in baggy jeans and a sweater, wowed the judges on last Wednesday's episode of "Idol" with a crisp salute and a strong performance. He is set to appear on this Wednesday's episode in which the 32 semi-finalists will be chosen.
In a statement, the Marine Corps said Gracin's unit was scheduled to remain at Camp Pendleton near San Diego and had not been set to go to the Middle East as part of a military buildup ahead of a possible U.S. war with Iraq.
"The Marine Corps sees the recruiting value of Gracin's appearance before a national audience, appreciates the level of talent the Marine possesses, and recognizes the benefits of allowing him to continue competing on the program," Camp Pendleton said in a statement Monday.
On Sunday, the New York Post quoted Gracin's mother in suburban Detroit as saying he had received a special exemption to remain in the United States and appear on the show while his unit was deployed to Kuwait.
The January 21 debut of the second season of "Idol" was the highest-rated night of entertainment programming in Fox history.
A spokeswoman in the public affairs office at Camp Pendleton declined to say how many Marines from the base had been deployed to the Middle East, saying that figure had not been made public. She said the base has 32,000 military personnel in total.
Copyright 2003 Reuters.
Sempers,
Roger