From the Stevens Point Journal April 16, 2009:

Soldiers to play Trivia from Afghanistan

You can put an ocean between Joe Anderson and WWSP 90-FM's annual Trivia contest, but that doesn't mean you can stop him from participating.

Picture: Joe Anderson. Contributed to the Stevens Pt. Journal

Anderson, a Chief Warrant Officer 2, currently serving as a scout pilot for the United States Army in Afghanistan, will play in the radio station's annual trivia contest while overseas.

This year's contest, in its 40th year, begins Friday and runs through midnight Sunday. The theme, "Here's looking at you, kid," is a tribute to actor Humphrey Bogart.

Anderson's team, the aptly named Live from Afghanistan, consists of about 45 other pilots and crew chiefs who will listen to the questions through a live streaming Internet broadcast of the radio station. The team will have to call in its answers through telephone connections that are often subject to the weather.

"I'm just hoping the phone connection will work," Anderson said Wednesday in a phone interview.

Members of the team will play as much as they can, but they still are on duty.

"We will still be flying missions, but it will be nice to have something to take our minds off of things," Anderson said. "It'll be fun to play, but we won't be very competitive."

Jim Oliva, the contest's longtime coordinator, waived the normal entrance fee for the team to participate.

"I sent (Anderson) an e-mail telling him I hope he won't have to pick up a rifle over Trivia weekend," Oliva said.

Anderson's team is one of 20 teams playing online and one of two playing from outside of the United States, Oliva said. Another team will be playing from Rome.

A native of Stevens Point, Anderson said he started playing Trivia in high school, but hasn't been able to play during his 14 years of service.

Nonetheless, Anderson's participation this year continues a family tradition. His uncle Tom Daniels was considered the unofficial voice of Trivia from 1974 until his death last year.

Anderson said he's grateful to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and Oliva for waiving his team's fee and letting him participate.

"It's been a huge deal for me to be able to play," Anderson said.