Chris Chase calls Whitney Houston's rendition of the Star Spangled Banner at the 1991 Super Bowl the greatest in sports history.

I agree.

I don't remember exactly, but I'm pretty sure we didn't see it live when my unit sat down in a tent in the middle of the Iraqi (or maybe Kuwaiti) desert to watch the Super Bowl. But that didn't matter in that pre-internet era.

It might be different now (although I doubt it) but back then the military had an almost reflexive habit of over-playing songs like "I'm Proud to Be An American" at ceremonies. As patriotic as we obviously were, we did get a little jaded at the continuous, for lack of a better phrase, "public displays of patriotism."

We stood to attention when Houston began to sing. Although we had no idea it was pre-recorded, her voice and her mannerisms combined with the crowd reaction took my breath away. It was exactly what we needed to hear and see from our nation.

After she was finished, and I looked around the tent as we sat down, it was clear to me that the vast majority of the guys in there were deeply moved.

I think it's important to remember the frame of reference. Desert Storm was the first major deployment of U.S. forces since the Vietnam War. A lot of soldiers in 1991 did wonder whether or not we'd return home to people spitting on us.

Whitney Houston was a troubled soul who led a tumultuous life. Her death is sad, but unfortunately not a surprise.

That said, on January 27, 1991, Whitney Houston's national anthem did genuine good in more ways and for more people than she could possibly imagine.

And that's how I'm going to remember her.

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