Photo By Lt. Col. Travis Dettmer | Karl Malone, former NBA All-Star, poses with a soldier of 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st...... read more read more
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KHOWST PROVINCE, Afghanistan - “A funny thing happened on the way to Pakistan,” said Jon Stewart, host of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show,” referring to his appearance at Forward Operating Base Salerno July 31.
Stewart was part of a USO tour that also featured NBA All-Star Karl Malone and master illusionist David Blaine.
Soldiers of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Task Force Duke, stood in a line snaking several hundred feet in temperatures exceeding 100 degrees for a chance to shake hands and meet the celebrities.
“Like the rest of the troops,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Anthony Zupan of Indianapolis, Ind., a soldier of 1st Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd BCT, 1st Inf. Div., “I don’t mind waiting in line for hours in this heat to see these guys. They rock!”
U.S. Army Capt. Hollijo Monroe, of Burley, Idaho, and also attached to 1st Bn., 6th FA Regt., added that “this was a great morale booster for the troops and I really admire [Stewart, Malone and Blaine] for coming out here and shaking hands, signing autographs and giving us something to smile about.”
“Coming here definitely shows they support us,” she added.
The sincerity from all three celebrities was evident as they discussed their gratitude to the troops and military families.
“To me, I just want to say thanks for everything and want you to know that on behalf of my family and me, we live better because of you and all the soldiers' sacrifices that you and your families have made,” Karl Malone.
“You can’t imagine what soldiers are going through until you come out here yourself,” agreed Blaine. “No movie can depict the truth.”
Of all the icons on the tour, it was Stewart that seemed to draw the biggest crowd. Soldiers of all ranks eagerly anticipated his every move and hung on every word he said.
“They say, ‘Thank you, Jon, for coming out here,’ but it’s an honor [for me to be here],” he said. “We’re getting so much more out of this than we can ever give back.”
Stewart, who made several comments about the August heat in Afghanistan, including one comparing the weather to that of the surface of Venus, did have one suggestion for future conflicts:
“I will say that I wish a country like Bermuda would attack us, because it sure would be more fun to visit there.”
A lot of fun was had on the brief stop, but it was Malone that summed up the purpose of the tour best.
“I don’t know what people’s definition of hero is, but I say, ‘Hero is right here,’” he said.
| Date Taken: | 07.31.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 08.05.2011 01:08 |
| Story ID: | 74855 |
| Location: | FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, AF |
| Web Views: | 381 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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