Photo By Tech. Sgt. James Hodgman | Late night talk show host and comedian Conan O’Brien visits with airmen deployed to...... read more read more
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AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar - Late night talk show host and comedian Conan O’Brien met with and entertained thousands of service members during a visit to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Nov. 3–5.
During the visit, O’Brien met with service members from every branch of the armed forces, toured AUAB and put on a variety show featuring comedians and a performance by musician Grace Potter.
O’Brien opened the show with a monologue filled with jokes as he entertained approximately 3,000 service members. During his set, he made fun of deployed life and thanked all service members in attendance for the sacrifices they make while serving their country.
Laughter, cheers and loud applause greeted him with every joke.
O’Brien also delighted the crowd by playing the guitar and joining Potter and the U.S. Air Force’s Central Command Band for numerous songs including a version of “Proud Mary” with a special verse for AUAB.
Entertaining service members and bringing some joy into their lives is the right thing to do, Potter said.
“When I got the call about a week ago asking me to join Conan and be a part of this and share some much needed love and entertainment with our troops, I jumped at the opportunity,” Potter said.
“I have dear friends that have lost family in the military. When someone gives their life for a cause greater than themselves, that’s something to be cherished, honored and it really touches my heart,” she said.
Potter said she was honored to take part in the visit and asked her fans in her home state of Vermont, who were expecting her to receive an award the day she arrived in Qatar, to forgive her for her absence.
“I was supposed to be honored by the Vermont Arts Council. I unfortunately had to break the news I wasn’t going to make it and there were a lot of broken hearts in Vermont, but I want Vermont to know that I’m taking some of that Vermont sparkle and sharing it with those who need it,” Potter said.
Over the course of his three-day visit, O’Brien met airmen, soldiers, sailors and Marines. He took time to learn about their jobs and took pictures with any service member who asked.
Airman 1st Class Armando Almendariz, an 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron aviation resources management journeyman, said he was thrilled to meet O’Brien.
“I love his show and he’s very funny,” Almendariz said. “Any entertainment we get here is great. It shows that people care about us.”
O’Brien met with service members in their work centers, received a tour of the 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal section, tried on a 70-pound bomb suit and event attempted to refuel a KC-135 Stratotanker.
Master Sgt. Bradley Kline, 379th ECES EOD flight section chief, provided O’Brien with a tour of EOD operations, which included unexploded ordnance, robotics and tools EOD technicians use to remove, diffuse or detonate explosive devices.
“The visit was very entertaining,” Kline said. “It’s always good to share our mission and explain what we do so people understand.”
Master Sgt. Randy Ellis, a 577th Expeditionary Prime BEEF Squadron electrician, currently on his sixth deployment, shares Kline’s view.
“This visit was a great opportunity for [O’Brien] to reach out and see what we do,” he said. “He could be doing something else, but by being here, it shows he cares and wants to know about our mission.”
| Date Taken: | 11.05.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 11.30.2015 08:17 |
| Story ID: | 183090 |
| Location: | AL UDEID AIR BASE, QA |
| Web Views: | 184 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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