Celebrities entertain U.S. troops in Gulf

Reuters | Friday, June 20, 2003

[JohnHuang2]

Celebrities entertain U.S. troops in Gulf

LOS ANGELES, June 19 (Reuters) - Celebrities ranging from Kid Rock to Wayne Newton are performing for U.S. troops in the Gulf this week as part of the first large-scale entertainment tour of the region since the outset of the Iraq war, sponsors said on Thursday.

Three groups of performers and athletes taking part in the tour paid visits on Thursday to American military personnel in Baghdad, the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and the Ali al-Salem air base in Kuwait, said Donna St. John, a spokeswoman for USO World Headquarters in Washington.

On Wednesday, the celebrities performed at the Tallil air near the Iraqi city of Nassiriya, two Marine Corps bases and Camp Doha in Kuwait. Another big show is set for Friday.

The tour, dubbed Project Salute 2003, is co-sponsored by the Defense Department, the USO, the Tribeca Film Institute, the Intrepid Museum Foundation and Vanity Fair magazine. Northwest Airlines provided transportation to the region.

In addition to Kid Rock and Wayne Newton, the entertainment roster includes actresses Alyssa Milano (TV's "Charmed") and Brittany Murphy ("Just Married"), country singer Lee Ann Womack, actor Gary Sinise, comedian Paul Rodriguez and the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

[JohnHuang2]

Friday, June 20, 2003

Quote of the Day by Jim Robinson

[WorkingClassFilth]

You know, I've got a button from Bob Hope's USO tour with Connie Stevens in 1967. To me, it's nearly sacred since it was the time of my youth.

Speeding forward in time, other personalities have come forward and filled the gaps left by the infirm Bob Hope and his bevy of hot 60's units.

In the words of the MC in 'Apocalypse Now'..."And to prove
it we're gonna give you entertainment we know you´re gonna like. Miss August, miss Sandra Beatty; Miss May, Miss Terry Teray; and the playmate of the year, Miss Carrie Foster."

Oh yeah. I can almost feel that one...