FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELHI, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan —Tom Foss and Ladies of Laughter stopped here, June 12, during their rib-tickling, knee-slapping tour of Helmand province, called ‘Comics on Duty.’
More than 80 Marines throughout 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment attended the show to watch Foss perform along with Christina Pazsitzky, Sarah Tiana and Jodi Miller.
“Nothing cures the soul like good ol’ laughter — just letting it out,” said Gunnery Sgt. Shay Henry, the company gunnery sergeant for Hotel Company.
For Tiana and her fellow comedians, the tour is a way of saying thank you to men and women in uniform.
“I just like to see men holding guns laugh because men with guns shouldn’t be laughing, they should be serious,” said Patsitzky, a native of Los Angeles. “It’s just really gratifying too see someone holding a gun laugh.”
“Laughter is the best medicine,” added Miller, a native of Rockaway, N.J. “It’s kind of a cure-all. For that hour and a half of our show, it feels like everyone there is in a different place.”
Performances are scheduled to take place at nine different positions throughout Helmand, Regional Command Southwest’s area of operations.
“We get to see Afghanistan for ourselves, and we’re coming to [the service members] instead of them coming to us, at a show,” said Tiana, a native of Calhoun, Ga. “It’s just a way for me to connect with [the troops] and talk and joke with the guys here.”
Henry said the show was a refreshing diversion from daily counterinsurgency operations.
“Anything that gets our mind off of being away from home [and] in Afghanistan is good,” said Henry, a native of Lewiston, Idaho. “It lets the Marines know that there are a lot of people back home who appreciate their service, and it’s good to have an outlet to relax and recharge from working 18-hour days.”