U.S. Army IMCOM
SPC Reuben Eldridge
SPC Reuben Eldridge
Motor Transport Operator
Duty Station: Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
Hometown: Irwinville, Ga.
SPC Reuben Eldridge began singing at age 14 under the carport with Uncle Tony Coleman in Irwinville, Ga. A decade later, he snuck away from his bouncer duties to give bands a hand on the microphone at Rock N Rodeo and Bucky’s Nightclub in Valdosta. “Until they figured out I could sing, I was doing more bouncing,” Eldridge said. “There was one band in particular, the singer would get a little inebriated and I would have to finish up his sets for him. It was pretty funny.” At that time, Eldridge was fortunate to be among the living. At age 23, he fell into a vat of 150-degree sulfuric acid while working at a chrome-plating plant. “The good Lord pulled me out,” said Eldridge, 29, a proud father of three who was among the top eight performers in 2012 Operation Rising Star Live Finals Week at Joint Base San Antonio Fort Sam Houston, Texas. “Now that I’m actually a part of something so wonderful and so big, I’m beside myself. It’s just really hard to put into words how grateful I am to be here and excited to be a part of this team.” U.S. Army photo by Tim Hipps, IMCOM Public Affairs
SPC Reuben Eldridge
SPC Reuben Eldridge
Motor Transport Operator
Duty Station: Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
Hometown: Irwinville, Ga.
SPC Reuben Eldridge began singing at age 14 under the carport with Uncle Tony Coleman in Irwinville, Ga. A decade later, he snuck away from his bouncer duties to give bands a hand on the microphone at Rock N Rodeo and Bucky’s Nightclub in Valdosta. “Until they figured out I could sing, I was doing more bouncing,” Eldridge said. “There was one band in particular, the singer would get a little inebriated and I would have to finish up his sets for him. It was pretty funny.” At that time, Eldridge was fortunate to be among the living. At age 23, he fell into a vat of 150-degree sulfuric acid while working at a chrome-plating plant. “The good Lord pulled me out,” said Eldridge, 29, a proud father of three who was among the top eight performers in 2012 Operation Rising Star Live Finals Week at Joint Base San Antonio Fort Sam Houston, Texas. “Now that I’m actually a part of something so wonderful and so big, I’m beside myself. It’s just really hard to put into words how grateful I am to be here and excited to be a part of this team.” U.S. Army photo by Tim Hipps, IMCOM Public Affairs