National Cartoonists Society Brings Comic Relief and Illustration to Troops in Germany and Middle East on Annual USO Visit

Todd Clark, Paul Combs, Bruce Higdon, Bill Janocha, T. Lewis, John Read III, Debbie Schafer, Rob Smith, Jr., Ed Steckley and Sam Viviano Brighten Spirits for Military Personnel

ARLINGTON, Va. (Oct. 19, 2011) – National Cartoonist Society (NCS) member Todd Clark (“Lola”) joined fellow illustrators on morale boosting USO/Armed Forces Entertainment tour to Germany and Middle East. Among those visiting and bringing comic relief to troops overseas and downrange are, cartoonists/caricaturists Paul Combs, Bruce Higdon, Bill Janocha (“Beetle Bailey”), T. Lewis (“Over the Hedge”), John Read III, Debbie Schafer, Rob Smith Jr. (“Glenn Beck”), Ed Steckley (MAD Magazine) and Sam Vivano (MAD Magazine).

Details:

• Just a few days into the group’s week-long USO tour, the group has visited hundreds of troops and their families stationed in Germany. Among the places visited so far are Ramstein Air Base, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and the USO Warrior Center.
  
  
• Throughout the week the group will sign autographs and spread words of encouragement to service men and women. The artists will also bring laughter to troops, listen to combat stories and extend their heartfelt gratitude.

• This is the first USO tour to the Middle East for the group, with the exception of Higdon, who traveled to Kuwait and Iraq in October 2009.
  
• The NCS traces its association with the USO to World War II, when professional cartoonists made repeated trips overseas to spend time with 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 USO trips since 2005.
• In 2009 and 2010, the USO sponsored more than twenty cartoonists to travel overseas and visit troops, drawing over 3000 personalized sketches. Cartoonists who recently participated in USO tours include, Jeff Keane, Tom Richmond, Garry Trudeau, Stephan Pastis, Rick Kirkman, Chip Bok, Mike Peters, Michael Ramirez and Jeff Bacon, among many others.

Quotes:

Attributed to Todd Clark:

            "I can't adequately describe how proud our troops make me feel. It's an honor and a             pleasure to
spend time with them."

Attributed to Paul Combs:  

"It is an honor to serve with the USO on this tour. My hope is to bring a little piece of home and maybe a smile or two to our soldiers and their families through my artwork."

Attributed to Bruce Higdon:

            "I never tire of being surrounded by heroes.  The smiles and laughter on the faces of             our troops after spending a few minutes with these wonderful cartoonists is absolutely             priceless.  It is a joy to be able to bring a little bit of home to those, away from home,             selflessly defending our freedom."

Attributed to Bill Janocha:

            “It is an honor and pleasure to meet in person the men and women who represent our             country and place themselves in danger in order to keep us safe. The USO is a             delight, and I only wish I could stay long enough to draw cartoons for every single one             of these valiant soldiers.”

Attributed to John Read III:

            “It is truly an honor and a blessing to be able, with just a little conversation and a             drawing, to bring some tiny bit of home to the heroes of our military who are serving so             far from our country.”

Attributed to Ed Steckley:

“It's an honor and very humbling to be a part of this tour.”

Attributed to Sam Viviano:

“In 35 years as a professional illustrator and cartoonist, I have never felt such satisfaction and pride in what I do as when I have sat and drawn -- and spoken with -- the men and women who are out here protecting our country. It has been not only a pleasure but a privilege to spend a little time with them and to do a little drawing as a sign of appreciation for their efforts.”

Multimedia:

Social Media and Other Web Sites:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/the_USO, http://twitter.com/armedforcesent, http://twitter.com/mluckovichajc and http://twitter.com/art4mad

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/theUSO and http://www.facebook.com/Armed.Forces.Ent,

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/USO4troops
Web: www.uso.org, www.armedforcesentertainment.com,

www.artstudioseven.com, www.punderstatements.com, http://artgirl.com/, http://www.robsmithjr.com/, http://www.edsteckley.com/ and http://www.samviviano.com/

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Oname Thompson
(703) 908-6471
othompson@uso.org 

About the USO

The USO (United Service Organizations) lifts the spirits of America’s troops and their families millions of times each year at hundreds of places worldwide.  We provide a touch of home through centers at airports and military bases, top quality entertainment and innovative programs and services. We also provide critical support to those who need us most, including forward-deployed troops and their families, wounded warriors and their families and the families of the fallen.

The USO is a private, non-profit organization, not a government agency. We rely on the generosity of our volunteers and donors.  In addition to individual donors and corporate sponsors, the USO is supported by President’s Circle Partners: American Airlines and TriWest Healthcare Alliance and Worldwide Strategic Partners: AT&T Inc., BAE Systems, The Boeing Company, Clear Channel Communications, The Coca-Cola Company, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation and Procter & Gamble. We are also supported through the United Way and Combined Federal Campaign (CFC-11381).  To join us in this patriotic mission, and to learn more about the USO, please visit http://www.uso.org.