Comics provide side-splitting humor to servicemembers

Published Jan. 16, 2008
By Tech. Sgt. Michael O'Connor
386th Air Expeditionary Wing public affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Nearly 200 servicemembers assigned to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing received a healthy-sized prescription of knee slapping, gut busting humor from four of America's funniest people Jan. 15 at the base theater.

Here to bring the troops a little taste of home, the 'Comics On Duty World Tour' comedians, entertained American servicemembers during their next to last performance as part of their 30-day Armed Forces Entertainment/Navy Morale Welfare and Recreation sponsored tour for deployed Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers and Marines located at various locations throughout the region.

"This is my fourth tour of duty performing for the troops, but it only took the first trip to see what the soldiers go through and the sacrifices they make and the response you get from them," said West Virginian Tom Foss. "Nothing else needs to be said--you just keep coming back."

Since the Comics On Duty World Tour's first performance in 1992, the CODWT has performed nearly 3,600 shows worldwide, boosting the morale of hundreds of thousands of military personnel at more than 80 different sites inside of Iraq and more than 300 performances overall, in Southwest Asia supporting both Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.

For comedian Jesse Joyce, a native of Pittsburgh, going on his first tour with CODWT really hit home for him as his little but not so little anymore brother Matt Joyce, is an Army first lieutenant and Stryker commander with the 225th Infantry currently deployed to Camp Taji, Iraq.

"One of the main reasons I came over here is because my brother was deploying to Iraq," said Mr. Joyce. "I'm really proud of my little brother. It was kind of a no-brainer for me to come over here. I think this is probably one of the only things that I would get to do involving stand-up that would actually be remembered historically. Sixty years from now this will be in the history books and I think it's very cool that we will have been a part of it."

Whether it's your first deployment or your fourth, military members in general appreciate the sacrifices American entertainers make by traveling around the world to perform live shows and concerts, and to put their own lives and personal safety at risk, to bring a little taste of home and humor to the men and women of the United States armed forces.

"I think it's huge for them to come out here and entertain us," said Senior Airman Eric Horride, 386th Expeditionary Communications Squadron. "It reminds us of home and they make you feel good. They were amazing and really hilarious, and seeing the Yellowcard band perform was pretty cool too."

This has been a great first deployment, said Airman Horride. The Detroit native loves listening to comedians--they're my heroes he said--despite having his name made fun of during the show for showing up late, and then making the mistake of sitting in one of the front rows.

"The troops have made us feel more comfortable than I think we probably deserve," said Robert Hawkins who's on his second tour with CODWT. "I came out here to entertain the troops, but I think we come away with a better feeling when we leave."

When entertainers are out on tours like this, opportunities to do cool things at the various locations pop up; such as getting a chance to suit-up and be attacked by a military K-9, get a personal tour through a military aircraft, as well as one-on-one time to talk with the troops at local dining facility commonly referred to as the DFAC.

"I just arrived 10 days ago and this is my fourth deployment," said Staff Sgt. Breann Green, 386th Expeditionary Services Squadron. The native of Clear Lake, Iowa said, "I couldn't have asked for a better birthday present as I turned 24 today. They were great! It's like home away from home. All they care about is coming over here and entertaining us and I appreciate the sacrifice they make."

Whether it's the likes of legendary entertainer Bob Hope, (who died at the age of 100 in 2003), who performed his first United Service Organizations show May 6, 1941 and subsequently for military troops for the rest of World War II and later during the Korean War, the Vietnam War and then during the Persian Gulf War, American entertainers today continue to follow in his footsteps, building long-standing relationships and bonds with the troops, that make life on the battlefield or in a war zone, bearable and tolerable when the going gets tough.

"There's more gratitude from military crowds than any other crowd back in the United States," said Keith Alberstadt, a Nashville, Tenn., native and graduate of Vanderbilt University. "It feels pretty good to be out here giving something back to the troops for what they're doing for us. We've had an absolute blast the past month and feel like I've bonded with you guys in the military."