Actor Dan Lauria visits Contigency Operating Base Speicher

TIKRIT, IRAQ

12.25.2008

Courtesy Photo

U.S. Army Forces Command

Hollywood actor Dan Lauria hands an autographed photo to Staff Sgt. Brian Cull, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, Dec. 25, as 1st Lt. Justin Rude looks on. Lauria, a U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam veteran, spent Christmas Day visiting Soldiers of the 10th CAB."I know what it's like to be away from home during the holidays," Lauria said. "I've been doing this, visiting troops on Christmas, for several years now. It's what I do, and I can only hope it makes the troops' Christmas a little better. I just want these men and women to know how much they mean to us back home."Lauria, most well-known for his role as the father of Fred Savage's character on the television show "The Wonder Years," brought a Christmas gift of his own to the troops – an advance screener copy of his latest film, "The Spirit," directed by Frank Miller of "300" and "Sin City" fame. The film premiered at 7 p.m. at the Contigency Operating Base Speicher theater– eight hours before "The Spirit" opened in the United Sates."It was awesome that Soldiers were able to see the film early," Cull said. "It raises morale and made the Soldiers feel special that they were able to see the movie before their families back home could. We usually miss out on stuff like this."

• Date Taken: 12.25.2008
• Date Posted: 03.02.2012 10:02
• Photo ID: 138739
• VIRIN: 081228-O-9999X-001
• Resolution: 3872x2592
• Size: 1.13 MB
• Location: TIKRIT, IQ