Photo By Spc. Jeanita Pisachubbe | Left, Peter Billingsley, producer of Iron Man and director of Couples Retreat, reads a...... read more read more
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CAMP MARMAL, Afghanistan – In the Morale, Welfare and Recreation clamshell tent, service members from all nations and civilians, took a break from their regular schedules and gathered to enjoy the comedy of Ryan Dalton and Steve Byrne, Jan. 29.
The comedians, accompanied by actor/producer/director Peter Billingsley, best known as Ralphie from the holiday cult-classic A Christmas Story, are a part of a whirlwind week-long United Services Organization comedy tour that covers nine forward operating bases in Regional Command (North) and two locations in Qatar. Camp Marmal had two shows across the 29th and 30th to reach as many service members and civilians as possible who work different shifts.
“We’re bringing a little levity to a serious environment,” Byrne said of his fifth USO tour. “Anything to distract from the mundane and elicit laughter – I’m game for that!”
Pre-show music of 80’s rock faded down as Cleveland native Ryan Dalton took the stage. Dalton recently made his television debut on the third season of Comedy Central’s “Live at Gotham.” The audience laughed as Dalton revealed his thinning crown from under his cap and confessed to his mother’s Christmas present to him of Rogaine and teeth whitener. No joke there, just painful truth.
Dalton, who is known for poking fun at everyday personal injustices, said of the tour, that an early morning show in FOB Kunduz was the best in his life. “It was very rewarding,” he said. “At 8:30 a.m. the crowd was ready for us and they loved it.”
U.S. Army Spc. Fabian Friely, 29, Gaithersburg, Md., supply specialist, Headquarters Headquarters Company, Task Force Mustang, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, International
Security Assistance Force, is one Soldier who was ready to laugh.
“I love comedy,” Friely said. “The USO events take my mind off the things out here, it’s different than the everyday stuff, and it works out the stress.”
He said he takes what he can get in the way of entertainment, especially out here, but as a fan of Steve Byrne and his many videos, this was a special treat.
Byrne’s resume ranges from television appearances on NBC’s The Tonight Show to opening for the likes of Kanye West and Mariah Carey to his own one-hour comedy special on Comedy Central. He has headlined several USO tours in Afghanistan, Iraq, Japan and Guam.
This is the third deployment for U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Angela Hall, 26, Junction City, Kan., supply sergeant, HHC, 4th CAB, 4th Inf. Div., ISAF, but her first USO event. “I loved it,” Hall said. “It’s awesome to see the lighter side of life!”
The hour-long show ended with Billingsley bringing several service members on stage to “audition” for a reading from The Christmas Story. U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jason Shaw, 38, Monroe, N.C., HH-60 Black Hawk pilot, Company C., TF Mustang, 4th CAB, 4th Inf. Div., ISAF, won the part and read the famous Red Ryder B-B gun scene with its originator.
“It was fun,” Shaw said. “This definitely builds morale.”
The USO team hit three more 4th CAB coordinated locations in RC (N) on the 30th before coming back to Camp Marmal for their final show in Afghanistan.
“We asked to do as much as possible and to go to places the USO hasn’t gone before,” Billingsley said. “We have gratitude for all the armed forces around the world - thank you very much.”
| Date Taken: | 01.29.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 01.31.2011 09:37 |
| Story ID: | 64518 |
| Location: | CAMP MARMAL, AF |
| Web Views: | 376 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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