Posted on 08/25/2005 4:21:37 PM PDT by SandRat
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, Aug. 25, 2005 – After spending most of the last 24 hours meeting airmen at an air base in Southwest Asia, a group of comedians led by television star Drew Carey arrived here early today to entertain the troops. Along with Carey, comedians Dave Mordal, Jimmy Shubert, Steve Byrne and Pedro Hernandez are on the tour.
On a whirlwind day Aug. 24, the comics met, signed autographs for and posed for pictures with hundreds of airmen assigned to the Air Force's 379th Expeditionary Wing before boarding a C-130 transport for the five-hour flight to Bagram.
Today, the comics are scheduled to perform at Methar, Jalalabad and Asadabad forward operating bases in Afghanistan before returning for a performance at Bagram's "clam shell" on Aug. 26.
The tour is the first partnership between Defense Department's Armed Forces Entertainment and DoD's America Supports You program. It's a way to bring the America Supports You message directly to the troops, said Brian Natwick of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, which oversees the ASY program.
America Supports You showcases the efforts of everyone from ordinary citizens to powerful corporations in supporting the nation's men and women serving in the global war on terror, Natwick said, and it's important that people in uniform know about that support.
"So entering a partnership with Armed Forces Entertainment is natural for us," Natwick explained. "This tour, along with other things we're planning, will help us communicate to the troops how much the nation values their service," he said.
Armed Forces Entertainment usually works in concert with the United Service Organizations in bringing big-name entertainment to troops overseas, explained Marine Capt. Jesse Davidson, AFE's Southwest Asia circuit manager. But AFE also works on its own to provide a steady stream of both famous and lesser-known, but talented, performers to the nation's armed forces and their families living outside the United States.
"We've had everything from Frisbee-catching dogs to magicians to jazz bands," Davidson said.
F-16 crew chief Staff Sgt. Andy Adducchio briefs Drew Carey on his mission responsibilities. Carey and a team of fellow comedians traveled to the Southwest Asia theater of operations to entertain forward-deployed troops Aug 24. Adducchio is a member of the 180th Aircraft Maintenance Unit deployed from the 178th Fighter Wing, Springfield Ohio Air National Guard. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Randy Mallard, USAF
Drew Carey? The guy who looks like a pear with a rubber band when he wears thong underwear? Wouldn't be funny except he tells it on himself.
Go, Drew and guys! (If there are any women on the tour, I am an equal opportunity guy-caller.)
John Glenn, Brian Dennehy, Ron Kovic, Ron Dellums, Clayton Lonetree, Lee Harvey Oswald, James Carville and Mark Shields are but a few who have earned the title ex-Marine.
Wow.... Who knew he was so good lookin.
Drew Carey pays visit, tribute to I MEF
Submitted by: I Marine Expeditionary Force
Story Identification #: 20031184646
Story by Cpl. Colin Wyers
CAMP COMMANDO, Kuwait (Dec. 23, 2002) -- Comedian Drew Carey visited the Marines, sailors and soldiers of the I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) at Camp Commando, Kuwait Dec. 23.
Carey, star of "The Drew Carey Show" and host of "Who's Line Is It, Anyway," signed autographs and posed for photographs with the troop on the tenth stop of a tour put on by the United Service Organizations and Armed Forces Entertainment.
"It's all I could do," said Carey. "I used to be a Marine, and when this war started, I wanted to do something."
What he did was bring a taste of home with him, according to some of the Marines who had a chance to have a picture taken with Carey.
"I think it was refreshing to see a celebrity take time out of his schedule over the holidays to come see Marines overseas," said Maj. David Greenlees, 32, from San Diego. "Being a Marine, Drew probably knew what it meant to be visited by folks that they're familiar with back home."
Carey's past as a Marine has also helped him in his career as a comedian.
"Being a Marine taught me how to work hard and not bitch," said Carey, "and how to make the best out of every situation."
Lance Cpl. Matthew Darling, 19, from Oakland, Calif., poses for a photo with Drew Carey, host of Whose Line Is It Anyways, Dec. 23 at Camp Commando, Kuwait.
Photo by: Sgt. Colin Wyers
Lt. Gen. James T. Conway, I Marine Expeditionary Force commanding general, shares jokes with Drew Carey, host of Whose Line Is It Anyway, Dec. 23 at Camp Commando, Kuwait.
Photo by: Sgt. Colin Wyers
Cpl. Joey Irle, 21, from Washington, D.C., and Drew Carey, host of Whose Line Is It Anyway, sit in a .50 caliber machine gun mount on a Humvee Dec. 23 at Camp Commando, Kuwait.
Photo by: Sgt. Colin Wyers
Kudos to Carey.
I thought he was a sniper in Vietnam like John Denver and
Fred Rogers.
Thanks Drew!!!
I think Drew being the Bob Hope of the 21st century is a GREAT idea! He's truly one of the best.
(They also are guarding the streets of Heaven's scenes)
LOL
Well said.
"The cliche is that there are no ex-Marines but that's an urban legend:
John Glenn, Brian Dennehy, Ron Kovic, Ron Dellums, Clayton Lonetree, Lee Harvey Oswald, James Carville and Mark Shields are but a few who have earned the title ex-Marine."
I would add to that list former UN inspector, now child molester/Saddam loyalist, Scott Ritter.
I saw a picture of him from the Marines years ago, and... well, I'm a guy, but I would guess most any woman would have tripped him and beat him to the floor.
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