Hollywood Stars

Specialist Stephen Judd poses with actress Kelly Hu and rock star Mitch Allan Christmas Day. Hu and Allan visited troops at Forward Operating Base Warrior during a USO tour. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Paul Schultz)

Blackanthem Military News, BEYJI, Iraq, December 31, 2005 11:18

Typically, when Soldiers see stars in Iraq, they see them in the clear desert night sky. But this Christmas Day, despite the clouds and cold, rainy weather blanketing north-central Iraq, Soldiers on Forward Operating Base Warrior got a special visit from some stars you might only see in Hollywood.

Actress Kelly Hu, most known for her roles in X-Men 2 and CSI: New York, and rock star Mitch Allan from the band SR-71 spent their Christmas with Soldiers and Airmen of FOB Warrior while on a two-week morale visit sponsored by the Ambassadors of Hollywood and the Army’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation program.

After arriving via helicopter, the duo and their entourage went to the dining facility for a quick bite to eat amid stares and double-takes by mesmerized troops.

Later they stopped by the 1st Brigade Tactical Operations Center for a surprise visit to see one of Hu’s biggest fans – Maj. Scott Hooper, operations officer.

"This is awesome, thanks for stopping by," Hooper said with a boyish grin on his face, right before he literally swooped Hu off her feet for a photo opportunity of a lifetime.
 

Singer for the band SR-71, Mitch Allan, plays a few of his bands hits as well as a solo for Soldiers and Airmen at FOB Warrior on Christmas night. (Photo By: Spc. Barbara Ospina, 1st BCT Public Affairs)

The celebrities made their way to the "Clamtina," the FOB’s after-duty place-to-be, where Allan performed a few of his band’s songs and some of his own solo pieces.

Following the performance, Hu and Allan signed countless autographs and took pictures with the troops, many of whom brought their personal Kelly Hu posters and cut-outs of Hu’s photo spread from the July 2005 edition of Maxim magazine.

The line of eager Soldiers and airmen coiled around the Clamtina and troops waited for hours for their moment to meet the two stars up-close.

Specialist Stephen Judd, a fire support Soldier in the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, said it was worth the wait.

"I love the band SR-71 and Kelly Hu is really hot," Judd said. "It was pretty cool that Mitch Allan signed his autograph to my 4-year-old son. He even knows who [SR-71] is."

Judd added, "It was nice of them to come here. It shows their patriotism. They could have stayed home with their families, but they decided to spend Christmas with us."

Hu and Allan stayed until every Soldier and Airman made it through the line.

Both of these stars have personal connections with the military. Hu’s father served in the Army and her brother is currently a lieutenant colonel stationed in the Pentagon. "I’ve made it to Iraq and he hasn’t," she joked.

Allan’s father served in the Air Force.

"I thought I’d take the opportunity to support the troops since I didn’t have a chance to serve," Allan said.

Hu said she loved getting the chance to see first-hand what Soldiers are going through.

"It makes me appreciate them even more and it really puts everything in perspective," she said.

"For me," Allan added, "it confirms that CNN is full of [rock star expletive]."

By: Maj. Gregory Bishop
1st BCT Public Affairs