MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Comedians visited Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, as part of the B4 They Made You Laugh III Martin Luther King Weekend tour hosted by Armed Forces Entertainment, Jan. 16, 2015.
Visiting comedians included Gary Owens, Rodney Perry and Daniel Dugar.
Both Owens and Perry said they enjoy giving back to service members what they received during their enlistments in the Navy.
“We served before, so coming here overseas is an easy decision,” said Perry. “It’s about the guys that are in harm’s way and, for an hour or two, taking their mind off of it. I think that’s our purpose as comedians: to lighten the collective burden.”
The comedians interacted with the crowd and told stories about past military experiences attendees could relate to.
“A lot of stuff I say here, I can’t say in the states because they don’t get it,” said Owens. “When I look back on this, it’s almost surreal I was out there at one point watching these shows in the military, and now I’m up on the stage performing for them.”
In the end, Dugar said it’s all about giving back to military members all over the world and letting them know they are not forgotten.
“Coming over here, looking at your guys facial expressions and knowing that we have helped with morale,” said Dugar. “Military members have a serious job, so if we come over here and share some laughs then it’s all well worth it.”