IWAKUNI, Japan - Comedians from the Armed Forces Entertainment Celebrity Comedy Tour brought laughs and excitement to station residents during their show, “Trippin’ with the Troops,” in the Club Iwakuni ballroom here, May 29, 2013.
Along with their performance, comedians Daniel Dugar, Mark Guillory and Tony Woods received a tour of the base.
“We got to do everything that was on our ‘tour bucket list,’” said Guillory. “We met some great people, saw a dog jump through a window and ate some great food. I’m going to have a tear in my eye when we leave.”
The tour consisted of a Provost Marshal's Office K-9 dog demonstration, a meet-and-greet with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 and a radio interview with American Forces Network.
For Dugar, this wasn’t his first time in Iwakuni. Dugar said he toured Iwakuni two years ago with another group of comedians.
Among the three performers, Woods was prior enlisted as a United States Navy corpsman, attached to Fleet Marine Force. Dugar touched on how his father was former military. Guillory never had any military affiliation, but had a reason for showing that evening.
“It gives me the opportunity to give back. Because of our armed forces, we are free. I never joined the military, but this is my way of giving back: they keep us free, we make them laugh,” said Guillory.
As station residents filed in, waiting for the show to begin, performers knew exactly what point they wanted to get across.
“We want to see the satisfaction of the men and women enjoying themselves, appreciating the fact that we haven’t forgotten about them and that we are here for them,” said Dugar.
After a successful evening and meet-and-greet afterward, residents were able to thank them for taking the time to bring something from home to Japan.
“When you’re thousands of miles away from your home, family and loved ones, to bring the men and women here a sense of home away from home is a wonderful thing,” said Dugar.