Posted on 08/11/2009 4:43:41 PM PDT by SandRat
Ron Morey gets into character for part of his routine during a comedy show put on by Steve Kennedy's Comics Ready to Entertain at the Combined Activities Center on Forward Operating Base Marez, Aug. 8. Photo by Christopher Kozloski, 3rd Brigade Combat Team.
MOSUL — The Combined Activities Center on Forward Operating Base Marez turned into a comedy house when comedians brought the laughs to U.S. Soldiers here, Aug. 8.
Scott Kennedy, founder of Scott Kennedy's Comics Ready to Entertain, brought Doug Warren, from the Bob and Tom comedy show, and Ron Morey, from the "Late, Late Show," with him on a round-robin comedy tour of FOBs and Joint Security Stations throughout Northern Iraq, ending here at FOB Marez.
"We've been all over. We usually do three or four shows in the smaller places and then come back to the larger places where we can fly in and out again," said Kennedy. "This show [at FOB Marez] is the last show for this tour. We'll be heading home shortly and then I'll be heading back here in about 20 days."
Soldiers padded the seats in the Combined Activities Center and hung on for the comic relief that would take them away from their daily duties for a couple of hours. During the show, Soldiers experienced laughter at jokes about daily living in Iraq as well as pieces of the comedians' hit routines back in the U.S.
"This was great. There is never a bad show. I don't care if we do a 9 a.m. show in front of 50 people in a Joint Security Station that only has 90 people in it, [the shows are] always great," said Kennedy.
After the show, the comics took time to visit with 3rd "Greywolf" Heavy Brigade Combat Team Soldiers, sign autographs and take photos. They greeted and introduced themselves to each Soldier, handing out posters and CDs of their comedy routines. To the comedians, this was the highlight of their evening.
"I really enjoyed coming out here and meeting everybody," said Warren. "It certainly makes you appreciate what you have back home when you come out here. These guys here are working hard."
Kennedy started Comics Ready to Entertain in order to entertain the troops deployed overseas. In the last two years, he has toured 32 times in Iraq, always bringing other comedians with him. He currently tours Iraq 12 days of every month.
"It's important to me to bring a little bit of home. There are a lot of people doing hard work over here," said Kennedy. "A lot of people don't have the ability to come over here. I do. It's a point for me to say thank you. These guys and gals are all my heroes."
Kennedy also offers free tickets to his standup shows in Las Vegas to Soldiers that contact him.
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