Headhunter Soldiers let loose when comics come to town

Courtesy Photo | (Left to right) John Mulrooney, Bengt Washburn and Scott Kennedy sign autographs for the Soldiers assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, "Strykehorse," 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team "Warrior," 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad and their Macedonian partners at Combat Outpost Bassam, northwest of Baghdad, Oct. 17, 2008.  

TAJI, IRAQ

10.26.2008

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Brian Addis 

2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division

By Sgt. 1st Class Brian Addis
2nd Squadron 14th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, "Headhunter" Troop, 2nd Squadron 14th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team "Warrior", 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, hosted the first "Combat Outpost Bassam Comedy Hour" at COP Bassam, northwest of Baghdad, Oct. 17, 2008.

It took 23 visits to Iraq, but comedian Scott Kennedy finally got around to seeing the Headhunter Soldiers at their newly occupied COP. Kennedy didn't come alone; he brought fellow comedians John Mulrooney and Bengt Washington. The three of them make up the Comics Ready to Entertain tour.

Charged with warming up the crowd was Mulrooney, a first time visitor to Iraq. He was followed by Washington, another first-timer to the area. The headliner for the show, as always, was Kennedy, whose known for his shows at Harrah's in Las Vegas, and most recently got his own show on the Comedy Network.

"Scott never hesitates to tell you to call him if you're ever in his neck of the woods," said Sgt. Craig Bowden, a native of Newport News, Va., and forward signal support non-commissioned officer, assigned to 2nd Sqdn. 14th Cav. Regt. "This is my second time seeing him, and to me it's just incredible what he does month in and out. To get out here every month and support us the way he does ... that's a dedication I can appreciate."

Kennedy said he loves to perform for the Soldiers, especially at places such as COPs.

"This is great. We want to do more shows at the smaller sites," he said. "It allows us to see the Soldiers who don't get to make it to the shows at the bigger camps and get them some entertainment."

• Date Taken: 10.26.2008
• Date Posted: 10.26.2008 02:50
• Story ID: 25562
• Location: TAJI, IQ