Entertainers use humor to deliver 'We Support You' message

Published March 3, 2008
By Tech. Sgt. Michael O'Connor
386th Air Expeditionary Wing public affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- "If they can put their lives on the line for us, why can't we do it for them," said comic Danta 'Touchee' Jackson during a pre-show interview at a Southwest Asia air base Feb. 26. "It's my honor, my pleasure, to be here."

Touchee Jackson, 'Wild' Bill Dykes, and 'The Cowboy Comedian,' closed out a two-week stint of stand-up comedy in the Persian Gulf Region Feb. 27 as part of Lone Wolf Entertainment Comedy Tour 2008, performing for Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers, Marines and civilian employees spread across Africa, Iraq and other Southwest Asia locations.

More than 200 servicemembers and civilians turned-out for the near two-hour show and autograph signing session. And one of the base's Airmen, Chief Master Sgt. Raymond Wolowicz, 386th Expeditionary Maintenance Group, treated the audience with a 4-minute stand-up routine of his own.

"This was my first time performing in my uniform in front of people I know," said Chief Wolowicz, who is deployed from the 305th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at McGuire AFB, N.J. "Usually, I'm in front of strangers wearing my civvies."

The chief said he's been doing stand-up for eight years, but felt a little flat-footed as he walked up on stage. Flat-footed or not, the chief had everyone rolling in their seats as he primed them for fellow comedian Touchee Jackson who was first up on stage.

"See, first of all I didn't want to come out here," said Touchee Jackson, a native from Houston. "The judge told me I either go to jail or come out here and tell some jokes. That's the only reason why I'm out here. I'm just kidding..." he said as he pointed at fellow comedian Wild Bill who always has plenty to say.

Visiting the small forward operating bases really hit home for Wild Bill, a native of Houston who's been living in New Orleans before and after Hurricane Katrina hit.

"Some of the FOBs are in remote areas with little to no contact with the Western World. The thing that hit me the most is they had upbeat attitudes, despite the austere living conditions," said Wild Bill. "I begged to get on this tour. Especially with post Katrina and all the help we received in the aftermath. I wanted to do my part and give back. I just wanted to bring something from back home to bring their spirits up -- that was very important to me," he said.

Giving something back seems to be the common ground amongst entertainers who travel around the world performing for America's sons and daughters serving abroad.

The Cowboy Comedian, a Kentucky native now living in Florida, said telling jokes is what he does for a living, but it's because of the men and women in uniform who fight for his freedom every day that he's able to do what he does.

"Being here is the least I can do for them," said The Cowboy whose father is a 22-year Air Force veteran. "I've been to Bahrain and Saudi Arabia before and that's where I originally fell in love with doing these tours. The appreciation I got back from the Soldiers was well worth coming back to perform for them. As many of these tours I can possibly do from now on, I'm taking every one of them," he said.

"Oh yeah!" Touchee Jackson said. "There will be many more."

Comics deliver 'We Support You' message