Celebrities visit deployed troops

SOUTHWEST ASIA - Robin Williams signs a Tee shirt for U.S. Army Sergeant Semeli Toilolo during an appearance at a Southwest Asia air base Dec. 17. Sergeant Toilolo is recovering from wounds he received in a suicide bomber attack. Mr. Williams is touring with the USO as part of the 2007 holiday tour throughout Southwest Asia. Other celebrities on the tour included Rachel Smith, Miss USA, Kid Rock, Lewis Black and Lance Armstrong. (U. S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Douglas Olsen)

Celebrities visit deployed troops

SOUTHWEST ASIA - Lewis Black, comedian and actor, entertains deployed troops Dec. 17 at a base in Southwest Asia as part of the USO 2007 holiday tour. Other celebrities on the tour included Rachel Smith, Miss USA, Robin Williams, Kid Rock and Lance Armstrong. (Air Force Photo by Master Sergeant Greg Kunkle)

USO troop visit lands in Southwest Asia

Published Dec. 17, 2007
By Staff Sgt. Jason Barebo
379 Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- More than 3,000 U.S. and coalition forces servicemembers were treated to a USO show here Monday featuring Lance Armstrong, Lewis Black, Kid Rock, Robin Williams and Miss USA Rachel Smith.
Brig. Gen. Charlie Lyon, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing commander, welcomed the entertainers and thanked them for coming here to entertain the troops.
The show began at 9:30 a.m. with Miss USA Rachel Smith speaking to all in attendance and thanking servicemembers for their sacrifice, especially during the holiday season. She also tossed souvenirs out to the crowd.
Lewis Black followed Miss Smith on stage with a stand-up act drawing non-stop laughter from the crowd.
While entertaining the troops, Mr. Black thanked everyone for their service and reminded them that America supports them.
Next on stage was Lance Armstrong, who said that while many look at him and call him a hero for all that he has been through and accomplished, the real heroes are military servicemembers.
"We are all so excited to be here," Mr. Armstrong said. "I am personally excited to be here to share my appreciation and not just on behalf of myself but on behalf of my family, my children, my community and the state of Texas."
"Thank you all," he said. "You're the real heroes."
Mr. Armstrong handed the floor over to comedian Robin Williams who drew even more laughter from the already ecstatic crowd with his own brand of stand-up comedy.
"We send a lot of love from people back home," Mr. Williams said following his time on stage.
Mr. Williams then handed the stage to musician Kid Rock.
Kid Rock played several of songs for the crowd and finished the USO show with a "classic" Christmas song, Sweet Home Alabama a la Lynard Skynard.
The performance was great especially for this time of year, said Senior Airman Nick Delaney, 379th Expeditionary Medical Group. Airman Delaney is deployed here from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo.
"Sometimes it gets lonely here thinking about our families so far away back home," he said. "This show was a huge morale boost for myself and probably everyone on base."
"It was cool to see that they were very down to earth and took time out of their lives to come see and entertain us," said Army Sgt. Joshua Allen, 3-43 Air Defense Artillery.
"This visit was very exciting after being here for so long. It was a wonderful change of pace too," he said. Sergeant Allen is deployed here from Fort Bliss, Texas. This is his 15th month here.
This was the first of five shows in the AOR.