Published: April 12, 2006
Operation Swashbuckle Entertains Rakkasans
Capt. Amy A. Bishop, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
BAJYI, Iraq (April 11, 2006)- Operation Swashbuckle. No, it isn't a plan to capture insurgents, gather intelligence or take down the enemy.
The members of Operation Swashbuckle pose with Sgt. Barry Stange from 1/187th Inf. Regt, 3rd Brigade Combat Tm, 101st Airborne Div., after a performance at Forward Operating Base Summerall, March 28, 2006.
U.S. Army photo: Capt. Amy A. Bishop |
The Operation Swashbuckle Comedy Tour is the brainchild of the Shakespearian sword fighting comedy duo Hack and Slash. John Davis, as Sir Nigel Hack, knight extraordinaire, and Spencer Humm, the dubious squire Montant Slash, have been working together for over 15 years creating laughter, especially for troops of the armed forces around the world.
Joining Hack and Slash on the Swashbuckle tour are two other very talented comedians: Todd Key, now on his fourth tour and David Vanderveer, the newcomer, on his first tour with the show.
David Vanderveer balances a soldier's M4 on his chin during a performance of Operation Swashbuckle at Forward Operating Base Summeral.
U.S. Army photo: Capt. Amy A. Bishop |
The comedy tour is in its sixth run, with this being the 106th show to troops around the world for Armed Forces Entertainment. The tour has been seen in Europe, Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait and all of Southwest Asia and they hope to continue into a seventh tour.
On this day, the performers have done two shows for the Rakkasans of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team. The first was in the morning at Forward Operating Base Brassfield-Mora for the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry, and another in the evening at Forward Operating Base Summerall for the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry. According to Slash the pace is grueling, having done 2 shows a day for the last three days, but it is well worth it.
The show is very physically demanding, comprising of sword fighting, bullwhipping, juggling, balancing, fire twirling, a bed of a 1000 nails, and lest we forget, a whole lot of comedy. Audience participation is a must in this show and is a good distraction for the troops.
Todd Key performs multiple tasks while performing an extraordinary balancing act during a performance of Operation Swashbuckle.
U.S. Army photo: Capt. Amy A. Bishop |
"This is the first show we have had here at Forward Operating Base Summerall and [it has proven] to be a good opportunity for [the troops] to get away from their jobs and relax for awhile," said Chaplain Scott Cosley, the facilitator for the event. The chaplain believes that the show was a great success. "I have recommended to the leadership that we have more shows like it during the second half of our deployment here."
According to the cast, Operation Swashbuckle's objective is to spread laughter and boost morale for our deployed armed forces.
"Some of these Soldiers have the most stressful jobs imaginable and, because they come face to face with the native peoples of the distressed nations they are deployed to, they are our ambassadors to the world," said the comedy duo. "We think it is so very important that these men and women who are representing the United States bring calm, compassion and humor to their important work. We hope to help as many as we can to exercise their smiles."
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:
Audience participation is an integral part of the Operation Swashbuckle show. Todd Key (right) uses Staff Sgt. Matt Evans (left) to demonstrate one of his tricks and later as part of a comedy routine during a show at Forward Operating Base Summerall, March 28, 2006.
U.S. Army photo by Capt. Amy A. Bishop |
Montant Slash prepares for his demise as Nigel Hack attempts to break the concrete block on Slash's chest with a sledge hammer while he lies on a bed of 1000 nails during a performance of Operation Swashbuckle at Forward Operating Base Summerall, March 28, 2006.
U.S. Army photo by Capt. Amy A. Bishop |
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