Two Active Duty Marines and Alumni of The Citadel Perform with Country Music Giants

CHARLESTON, SC – Lt. Col. Mike Corrado is currently assigned as the Executive Officer, for the Wounded Warrior Regiment, in Quantico, Virginia. Capt. John Auer is serving as the Platoon Commander for the Silent Drill Team located at the Marine Barracks, in Washington, D.C. Both are graduates of The Citadel – Corrado in 1992 and Auer in 2007. Both are about to be seen performing their version of country with industry giants on nationwide TV.

They’ll be featured on CBS as part of the Academy of Country Music’s show ACM Presents: An All Star Salute to the Troops. The show will air on Tues., May 20, at 9p.m. EST. The show was recorded in April before a live audience at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Get a glimpse of the show here.

Corrado performed with country music giant Toby Keith. Auer played with the multiple Grammy award-winning band, Lady Antebellum. Both were chosen to perform by their branch, Corrado says in appreciation for their service and to celebrate their musical talent and inspiration.

Auer is a classically trained violinist who was originally from Nashville, Tennessee. During his time at The Citadel he was President of his senior class and ran track and field. Corrado is a singer/songwriter in addition to serving as a Marine. He writes about service and sacrifice.

“Some of my songs are stories filled with the kinds of emotions service members and their families faced while the country was at war for over a decade,” Coronado said.

Corrado has crafted songs like “Still in the Fight” which addresses the challenges of recovery faced by many wounded warriors and their grace and resilience throughout the recovery process.  In “Stand”, he pays tribute to service men and women past, present, and future as well as the families that stand behind them. And, on “On My Watch Tonight” Coronado tells the story of a Marine’s journey from Boot Camp to the front lines.

“On My Watch To night became an anthem of sorts for service men and women around the world after I produced it,” Coronado said. Some of his songs have received national attention and featured on Great American Country, CMT & CMT Pure, The Nashville Network, Armed Forces Network and more.

Service is something Coronado knows something about. After leaving active duty with the Marines, he set aside his rifle for a guitar and HUMVEE for a 15 passenger van and set out for four years of life on the road performing 200-250 shows a year both as a headliner and in support of numerous national acts. After the September 11, 2001 attacks, he was mobilized back to active duty and deployed to Fallujah, Iraq from 2005 to 2006. He continues to divide his time between the marines and his music.

More information about Mike Corrado can be found at: http://www.mikecorrado.com/.

More information about the show can found here.