Glitz, glamour visit servicemembers at Camp Arifjan

Photo By Sgt. Wesley Landrum | Celebrity Chuck Norris holds an M-16 rifle while posing for photographs with service members at Camp Arifjan, Sept. 13., Norris, an honorary Marine, visited service members in the Third Army/U.S. Army Central area of responsiblity.  

KUWAIT

09.27.2007

Story by Spc. Wesley Landrum 

50th Public Affairs Detachment

On Sept. 12, members of the world-famous Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders performed and signed autographs for the service members at the desert camp. The performance marked the beginning of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader's 63rd Tour with the United Service Organization. It was also the first time the troupe had performed in Southwest Asia.

Megan Fox, a four-year member of the team, said to get the chance to perform for service members here is truly a blessing.

"(The show) is our way to say thank you for all the sacrifices you make and for all that you do for our country," Fox said. "We want to say thanks to your families as well because they stay behind and keep life together while you're stationed over here and we just can't thank you enough. Because of what you do, we have the freedom to do what we do."

More than 1,000 people crowded the stage as the cheerleaders performed dance routines to different rock 'n' roll and country songs. The service members were serenaded by several cheerleaders and a few had the opportunity to get on stage with the ladies.

Capt. Thomas J. Sears, Area Support Group–Kuwait, said he did not expect the show that was put on. He said the show was phenomenal.

"(The show) consisted of wonderful dance routines and singing," Sears said. "It far exceeded any expectation we had."

It was a trip to remember, the cheerleaders said. It began on Sept. 11, when they boarded the plane less than 24 hours after performing at the Cowboys' home game against the New York Giants Sept. 10. Twenty-two hours later, they were in Kuwait.
A day later, Chuck Norris, star of numerous films and of the Walker, Texas Ranger television series, visited Arifjan to sign pictures and talk with the warriors here. Norris said his objective was to show the fighting men and women stationed in the Middle East that, no matter what is portrayed on the news, there are people supporting them at home.

"That's why I'm here," Norris said. "I just want to let them know that we're thinking of them, we love them and we're all praying for them to come home safe."

Capt. Mike Mehringer, an operations officer with Third Army/United States Army Forces, Central Command, from Wilmington, DE, said meeting a person like Chuck Norris is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"This guy's one of my heroes and it was great to finally meet him," he said.
Mehringer was just one of the more than 2,000 people who waited in line, some more than four hours, to meet Norris. He said it's flattering to know he has so many fans especially in light of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders performance the night before.

"(The crowd) was incredible especially when they told me I beat out the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders," Norris said. "That's a real compliment."

Overall, the objectives were met by both parties. The appearances raised the morale of the service members on the desert camp. Mehringer said he was cheered up and he thinks the rest of the camp was cheered up too.

"It definitely brings morale up," Mehringer said. "It's great to see celebrities take time out of their busy schedules to come and see us. It's not everyday you get a celebrity walk by you and takes time to shake your hand, look you in the eye and say to you he's proud of what you're doing."

Norris said he's just doing his job.

"If I can, in some small way, boost morale a little bit, then it's an honor to do that. I get emails from the service members' mothers thanking me for coming over here," Norris said. "They say their servicemember sent the picture home and, to see the smile on their son's and daughter's faces that they haven't seen in months, how can you not take that to heart?"

• Date Taken: 09.27.2007
• Date Posted: 09.27.2007 03:19
• Story ID: 12567
• Location: KW