Entertainment Tour Spotlight

 

National Cartoonist Society Draws Smiles on Week-Long USO Tour to Germany and Persian Gulf

 

(Back row from L to R) Cartoonist Jeff Bacon, Stephan Pastis, Mike Peters, Michael Ramirez, Garry Trudeau, (front from L to R) Chip Bok, Rick Kirkman, Jeff Keane, Bruce Higdon, and Tom Richmond pose for a group photo during a USO tour to Germany, Kuwait and Iraq, on Oct. 19, 2009.

photo creditUSO photo by Jackie Zettles

 

From October 14 to 23, 2009, ten of the world’s most recognized cartoonists and caricaturists participated in a week-long USO tour to Germany, Kuwait and Iraq. As part of their overseas adventure, the group spent quality time with wounded troops at the USO Warrior Center at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center as well as nine military installations in the combat zone. In total, more than 1,600 service men and women were touched by the tour.

Among those bases visited were Camp Buehring, Camp Virginia, Camp Ali Al Salem/LSA, Q West, FOB Marez, FOB Warrior, FOB Sykes, Camp Victory and Camp Liberty. Tour participants included, Jeff Bacon (Broadside/Greenside); Chip Bok (Creators Syndicate); Bruce Higdon (Army Times, Army Magazine, Soldiers Magazine, and Stars and Stripes); Jeff Keane (The Family Circus); Rick Kirkman (Baby Blues); Stephan Pastis (Pearls Before Swine); Mike Peters (Mother Goose and Grimm); Michael Ramirez (Creators Syndicate); Tom Richmond (MAD Magazine); and Garry Trudeau (Doonesbury).

Tour Highlights (Written by Tom Richmond)

 
 

photo creditUSO Photo by Jackie Zettles

 

The National Cartoonist Society traces its association with the USO to World War II, when professional cartoonists made repeated trips overseas to entertain troops. Whether visiting military hospitals, entertaining troops with chalk talks, or sharing words of encouragement, approximately one hundred professional cartoonists and caricaturists have participated in military-related trips. In 2008, the USO sponsored eight cartoonists to travel to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, National Naval Medical Center and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. A similar trip was organized earlier this year.

 

Want more? Check out news articles, video footage and additional blog posts highlighting the tour.