Back from Iraq!

				posted 10.18.10 at 12:00 am
 On Saturday I returned from a grueling 10 day tour of the Middle East with 9 fellow members of the National Cartoonists Society, sponsored by the NCS and the USO.






Not a bad way to be welcomed to DC.





Along with myself were Bill 'Tank McNamara' Hinds, Tom 'Philidelphia Enquirer' Stiglich, Mason 'B.C.' Mastroionni, Ray 'Mad Magazine' Alma, licensed Disney and Warner Bros illustrator Dave Mowder, Rob 'Adam@Home' Harrell, Jeff 'Navy Times' Bacon, Dave 'Speedbump' Coverly and Chad 'Tundra' Carpenter.  It was an honor to be included in this group, and so far no one has let them know that I'm kinda out of my league here.




Hinds, me, Stiglich (the tall guy), Mastrioinni, Alma, Mowder and Carpenter.  Not shown: Rob Harrell, Coverly and Bacon.  They were getting help with their bowties.





Our first night in DC coincided with the annual USO celebrity gala, a black tie event that started our trip out with a bang.  Military big shots, dignitaries, politicians and celebrities abound, the group of cartoonists at their own table felt out of place, but were given a shout out by the MC during the banquet, Blue Collar comedian Bill Engvall, so that made things better.








During the intermission, some of us walked onstage for a shot like this.  Turns out the whole event was simulcast on the internet, and during the intermission the cameras were not turned off.... Classy.



The presidential marching band played, Trisha Yearwood sang, and necks were stretched to the breaking point when word that Mike Cullen and Neil Armstrong were in attendance.




Trisha Yearwood. She's a country singer.

 




Rose McGowan.  Just doing my duty as an American.



We drank, drew and shmoozed into the night, but had to prepare for an early morning, as we were scheduled to have a drawing day the next day at Walter Reed and the Bathesda Medical Centers downtown.




 




Along with Coverly and Harrell, we were joined by the USO-DC rep.



The first day was a relatively easy one, going in a two groups from hospital room to hospital room to talk with and draw for injured men and women from the front lines in Afghanistan and Iraq.  We all visited roughly 10-15 rooms each, and by the end of the day had put lots of smiles on lots of soldiers and their families, which is why we do this in the first place.




 


Coming up tomorrow: Off to Kuwait!


 


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1 Comment so far...

		

								Effin' Cool!

								Posted by Alex on October 18 at 2:55 PM
							
						

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