Continuing our USO/NCS cartoonist adventures in Kuwait, my pals and I had a few more moist moments at Camp Arifjan during our first full day in that arid country. As guests of the base, we were fortunate to be able to run through the 120s heat from one air conditioned situation to another. Despite having that luxury, we were often wet with our own sweat. It gave us a real appreciation of the working conditions of many of the soldiers we met who are stationed there for nine months to a year before they are assigned a new location.
Eddie Pittman and Michael Ramirez shooting the breeze where there was none.If telling you to stop in two languages isn’t enough, then the base is prepared to stop you in other ways.At each installation, the base commanders like to meet guests and welcome us to their facility. After meeting with the Camp Arifjan commanders, they presented us with certificates commemorating our time with their troops. Sam Viviano, art director of MAD Magazine, made a presentation of his own to them.
Whenever we had drawing sessions, we would just sit and talk with these folks like a good friend from home. Sometimes it was just heart wrenching to hear the stories of what they have had to deal with while in the service. At Camp Arifjan, I remember meeting a young woman who was very smiley and perky and was so excited to meet us. I commented that she looked quite young, and she readily told me she was only 19. (I ended up meeting many teenagers over there serving our country.) When I asked her what she did there in Kuwait, her face sunk and her voice dropped as she quietly said that she worked in Mortuary Services, the one job that was allowed only a 6 month run. I could tell by her demeanor that I should not ask any more about her job, but tried to encourage her and give her more reasons to smile. Later, her supervisor sat for me, and he opened up about what their work entailed. Basically, they process the bodies of our fallen, and prepare them for transport back to the States. It is a morbid duty, and it made my heart break even more for the young people who have to face that reality in their work over there.
Many folks would ask for caricatures of themselves or for sketches of characters we have been known for drawing. I drew many of the Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh gangs for our troops, having worked on television shows featuring both. Often a soldier would ask for a sketch of themselves with a Disney character, and it was always fun to see their faces light up at the end when the finished drawing was revealed.
This soldier told me of a time when he was stationed in another country, he was in the latrine with a buddy when the bomb sirens sounded. They hesitated to leave for cover in their present state, but their better sense got a hold of them and they pulled up and ran. About 100 feet away from the latrine, a bomb descended and destroyed the structure. I looked him right in the eye and said, “Isn’t it interesting that your adventure with poo that day has led you to have THIS adventure with Pooh today?” His ever present smile turned into hearty laughter.Just a quick shot of the smelly Persian Gulf next to which our hotel was located. We were told that much sewage finds its way into the Gulf. Despite the heat, something NOT in the Gulf were swimmers.When possible while traveling abroad, I enjoy taking interesting pictures of locals. These gentlemen were working on improvements to the hotel grounds.
You never know who you will bump into while in Kuwait. Our hotel was home to two other American groups in town, like we were, to do special things for the local U.S. soldiers. One was a group of Ultimate Fighting Championship athletes with whom we actually caravanned to Camp Buehring on our second day. I had the chance to meet in conversation nine time UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes, which was far better than meeting the receiving end of his profession. There was also a troupe of actors staying in our hotel that included Natasha Lyonne, Jay O. Sanders, Joanne Tucker, and her husband who will be playing Kylo Ren in the upcoming Star Wars movie, Adam Driver.
Just a couple of Hollywood guys in Kuwait after having discussed how cool it was that Adam was illustrated by Drew Struzan on the new Star Wars movie poster.Located just 12 miles from the Iraq border, Camp Buehring was as dusty and dry as they came.Everything comes in a delightful shade of beige in Kuwait.Normally cartoonists are used to fighting with our art. The base thought it would be a good idea to give us some practice on their simulator shooting range. You can see we were confused by the funny pens they made us hold.We were also taken out to the helicopter field to meet some of the soldiers who operate some of the big stuff. Here we are with an Apache pilot who explained the finer aspects of these fascinating flying machines. L to R: Ed Steckley, Chip Bok, Eddie Pittman, Sam Viviano, the Apache pilot, yours truly, Michael Ramirez, Bruce Higdon, Rick Kirkman, and Paul Combs.Ed Steckley promptly forgot everything the pilot taught us.It will be interesting to see how Rick Kirkman can turn this experience into material for Baby Blues.We also were able to meet with a crew of a medical chopper who were members of the National Guard stationed in Kuwait.Paul Combs, who works on the side as a fireman, swapping rescue stories with a soldier.Michael Ramirez ready for take-off.Later in the afternoon, we met with the base commander and his staff where the Q&A was quid pro quo – we asked them questions, they asked us questions! Answers for everyone!
That evening we had a big drawing session for the soldiers on base. The line was so large and I was so busy drawing that I forgot to take pictures except for just this one below.
Despite Kuwait being unforgivingly hot, dry, and dusty, and that the soldiers were restricted to base, we saw so many smiles throughout the day when we met folks. These two personified our welcome at Camp Buehring.The next day we were off to the airport on our next adventure. Even at the airport, they had designated prayer rooms for the Muslim required prayer rituals.Even with two suns, the planet Tatooine has nothing on the single sun of Kuwait.A parting shot of Kuwait City as we winged our way to Africa.
Tomorrow is a new dawn in the African country of Djibouti.
