USO celebrity tour heads to Central Asia

By Dawn Tamir
CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A star-studded USO troop kicked off its frontline tour Wednesday in Arlington, Virginia, before heading to Central Asia to perform for U.S. troops fighting in Operation Enduring Freedom. Wayne Newton and comedian Drew Carey headline the entertainers, who include pop singer Jessica Simpson, country singer Neal McCoy, and the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders.

The "Deliver America" tour embarked on a six-day trip to U.S. bases in Afghanistan and the surrounding areas.

Newton, who has done previous USO tours, has been entertaining troops since the Vietnam War. At a news conference before the group's departure, Newton said "we eat, we work, we do things because it's our job. The USO we do because it's our love. And it's our way of giving back."

Jessica Simpson said the holiday season is an especially appropriate time to entertain U.S. forces.

"We get to come back on Christmas Eve and still be with our families, and they don't have that out there so I think us going will hopefully bring 'home' to them in some way," Simpson said.

The group departed from Andrews Air Force Base to board an overseas flight to an undisclosed location. The USO has been entertaining U.S. soldiers serving overseas for more than 60 years.