Cover Story: Holiday USO Tour Packs Stars Saluting Our Troops

The USO’s latest globe-trekking tour during the holidays showcased a true power-packed lineup, including the Seven-Time Tour de France Winner, an Academy Award-Winning Actor, Grammy musician and reigning Miss USA.

And yet, it was meeting the troops which struck awe in the stars, and not vice versa.

"It was one of the most rewarding trips of my life. I look forward to going back and spending time with OUR armed forces. They are heroes," Lance Armstrong said on his Web site upon returning after Christmas.

Joining Armstrong was his good friend Robin Williams, as they jointly took swipes at their least favorite nation, France. Music star Kid Rock strummed "Sweet Home Alabama," comedian Lewis Black grumbled about a snow during their stop in Afghanistan, and Miss USA Rachel Smith told the troops to keep "kicking butt."

Some 500 American soldiers watched the all-star USO cast perform under a steady snowstorm at a U.S. base in Kabul. The stop was part of a six-day, 14-show tour that saw the entertainers begin their day with a performance in Iraq.

For the USO group, it included stops at major US bases in Italy and Spain, as well as Iraq and Afghanistan. The stops in Europe allowed many families of troops to participate, while the Middle Eastern stops did not have all the comforts of home—and ultimately brought the realities of war to the tour.

"Flying in blinding snowstorms is not the only new experience. It took four and a half hours to fly from Iraq to Afghanistan because we had to go around Iran. We were flying with the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Adm. Mike Mullen), with whom we had an interesting conversation about the geopolitics of this area ... and a pretty good explanation for our flight plan," Armstrong said.

The audience of soldiers — bundled in hooded jackets and warm hats — stood in the snow before a makeshift stage waiting for Williams and company to arrive after the performers were delayed by rough weather.

Adm. Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, took the microphone first, telling the soldiers it was a tough time to be away from home.

"We brought a few celebrities tonight to try and lift your spirits," he said before introducing Miss USA Rachel Smith, to a burst of cheers.

As Lance says on his blog:

"Despite all that, we have never felt truly scared or in danger. We are surrounded by our nation’s finest. They are incredibly skilled and courageous. They have shown us the kind of hero’s welcome that they deserve."

Armstrong’s own Web site continues to host a blog about the tour, and has lots of great photos. Click here for photos and commentary from Lance.

The weather was not totally friendly in Iraq either. The group faced sandstorms in Tikrit, Saddam Hussein’s home town. And as Lance comments, it was clear they were in an "active war zone."

Williams, a USO veteran making his fourth trip to Afghanistan who convinced Armstrong to join the tour, told the soldiers that he woke up on Thursday in the desert sands of Iraq and closed out his day with snow in Kabul. "From sand to snow, mother nature is having hot flashes."

Among the many soldiers in the crowd wearing wide smiles on their faces was Lt. Col. Larry Terranova.

"Afghanistan is sometimes called the forgotten war and we don’t get a lot of attention here and conditions are pretty miserable so it means a lot," said Terranova, 48, who is based out of Fort Sill, Okla.

He said he would miss his four children and four grandchildren over the holidays.

Rock, who performed on acoustic guitar and had soldiers sing the chorus to "Sweet Home Alabama," said he volunteers for the sake of the soldiers.

"I’m here for one reason, to entertain these guys," he said in an interview after the show. "To be a source of entertainment, give them a slice of home."

"How can you not come?" he said.

"Especially at Christmas," Williams said, "to let people know they’re not forgotten."

Smith, the reigning Miss USA who was born on a military base in Panama, said she wanted to give something back because she knows what the troops are going through. She said the troops’ work was invaluable.

"We wouldn’t have the opportunities and freedoms that we have back at home if you guys weren’t over here kicking butt," Smith said.

"Since the beginning of my year as Miss USA, I made a priority to participate in events supporting our troops. My family’s ties to our military (Army to be exact, Hoo-ah!) are very strong. In particular, I have always expressed interest in traveling to Iraq, to observe the progress that is taking place with the war first-hand and to personally thank the troops," she later said on her Web site.

"You meet kids that look like you want to see some ID. You see girls in flack vests on the line. You see nurses taking care of guys that come to the show with them to make sure they can get up the stairs," Williams said. "You get that sense that if it helps for one moment -- with the stuff that they go through -- it’s a good thing."

Armstrong said he was first introduced to USO tours through Williams, a longtime friend.

"I feel like it’s important for us as entertainers or sports figures to step up and support our troops regardless of what you think or don’t think of the conflict," Armstrong said. "The bottom line is that they sign up to defend our country."

photo credit: Black’s blog

photo credit: Armstrong’s blog