Movie star Bruce Willis brought a rock concert to a desert airfield, with his band entertaining hundreds of soldiers some 35 miles from the Syrian border. Hundreds of soldiers — some sitting atop helicopters, others lounging in Humvees — sent cheers and whistles into night air Thursday as Willis and his band belted out rock and roll and the blues. Most soldiers here said they didn’t know Willis was a singer, but they approved of what they heard. "Somebody that supports the military like he has and that comes to visit soldiers — that’s important to us," said Spc. Greg Pagan, a bus driver and a postal officer with the 3rd Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division in northern Iraq. "It’s awesome. It’s great for morale" said Col. Michael Linnington, commander of the brigade’s "Iron Rakkasans" — the 187th Infantry Regiment. "He’s my favorite actor and my age," said Linnington, who turns 45 next week. "He’s a macho actor. Soldiers identify with action movies and action actors. He’s a guy’s guy." Willis, sometimes donning a military hat or a military jacket over his sweat pants, sang mostly oldies as he and his band — the Accelerator — stood atop two flatbed trailer trucks. "We’re here to support you," Willis told the soldiers. "If you catch him, just give me four seconds with Saddam Hussein." The crowd cheered.
Still waiting for all those "I don’t support the war but I support our troops" celebs to deliver... |