Daily Show's Stewart 'Quietly Visiting' Ailing Iraq Soldiers

Comedy Central's Jon Stewart was in Washington, DC Tuesday night for the USO-Metro Awards Dinner, where the Daily Show host was honored with a Merit Award from Joint Chiefs vice-chair General James Cartwright. If it seems an odd fit for a comic who consistently lampoons the Bush administration, the Washington Post's Reliable Source informs readers that all the comedic comfort Stewart gives critics of the Iraq War is matched by his efforts to comfort our wounded soldiers:

Turns out the comedian has been quietly visiting soldiers at Walter Reed and Bethesda hospitals, trips he began in 2004 to better understand the Iraq war. "I felt that I was living in a world of theory," he told the audience, "but I hadn't touched the reality and the humanity of it." The first patient he met was "funnier than I was" -- and Stewart's been a regular ever since.

Stewart told the Post, "I certainly get a lot more out of it than they do...If anything, it's made me angrier... You can be for the war, against the war, but you can't be uninformed about it. To see the human cost is part of the equation."

RELATED:

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Alive Day Memories From Iraq: A Focus On The Walking (And Wheeling, And Crutching) Wounded [HuffPo]
America Supports You: Star-Struck Marines Meet, Greet Celebrities [Military Connection]
Cause and effect [TONY]
Greg Mitchell: The 'Unsung Heroes' in 5 Years of War -- Even Stephen Colbert [HuffPo]
Paul Rieckoff: Troops Die While Bureaucrats Blunder: The Fight Against Red Tape [HuffPo]
Jon Soltz: Helping The Wounded During the Season of Giving [HuffPo]

The Bob Woodruff Family Fund

Comments

[wolf58]

As a soldier and a father of a wounded soldier I thank Mr. Stewart. I'm sure he brought a little brightness to some who are going through some dark times....h­e is a class act.

[bar1ed]

as a Vietnam vet ---- welcome home, and the best of luck

[Pquid]

Heart out to you and your son, Wolf.

[FightingTheRight]

Visiting wounded troops for 4 years without turning it into a photo op.

You know he isn't a RepubliCON!

[Vurz]

So, Jon Stewart wins a Merit Award from Joint Chiefs vice-chair General James Cartwright because he has been visiting wounded soldiers since 2004 and some Huffpo want to give him grief for it? Why?

Because the award was publicly given? That's the only reason anyone found out about it. If you must spew bile, do it at someone that deserves it.

[brooklyncitizen]

Ran into Jon Stewart about a year ago in the West Village.

It was mid-morning and walking towards my direction I saw a father playing with his three year old/ toddler (a litttle guy) ; the father took his time and the son played and ran ahead and they both laughed. It struck me as strange that this man was not at a "job" on a weekday at 10:00 am and then what struck me is how happy he seemed; very at ease and right where he needed to be. (THe subject of happiness had been preoccupying me).

As he approached I realized that it was Jon Stewart, he glanced my way maybe in the hopes that he wouldn't be recognized or bothered . As I passed him I smiled and told him I liked his show. He smiled and that was that.

He strikes me as someone doing what he needs to be doing and who is true to himself, his values and beliefs. Seems like the most natural way to live but has become somewhat of a rarity with people in the public eye. Lastly I don't always agree with him and sometimes feel he can push harder but he (and Colbert) is providing a service in a time when the commercial media has completely failed America.

THis visiting the vet story is another reflection of his sincerity.

[ColoradoDan]

Who cares if it is quiet or not ... GREAT to see any politico, comedian, commentator or celebrity visit the VA Hospitals and communicate one-on-one with those who really know the story ... who have taken the very tough hits while wearing our nation's uniforms. Regardless, it's been quiet for the first four years of Stewart's visits. Maybe he is now hinting to others that it is okay to do the same ... if one feels real compassion for our Vets, is it not okay to demonstrate it personally?

You will note those many politicans, those responsible for our ' 'War' , who don't seem to be making regular rounds visiting these Veterans who've paid the heavy consequences. And those same politicans seem to succeed in keeping that fact succesfully quiet indeed.

Compassion seems to be in short supply to those busy tallyng up the oil and war profits.

[Serena67]

Well said, Dan. You're my HuffPost pick. :)

[Rockyman]

Well said CoDan. Seems the Neocons think compassion is for the weak!

[mikelartist]

Take note Sean Hannity and all the other blow hards. Jon Stewart is a GREAT AMERICAN.
That is how it is done.

[qwr]

I don't see the value of having a Douglas Feith on the program and humanizing the guy. The problem with the MSM and pols in general is that they substitute personal relationships and loyalty for the issues, and lose sight of the fact that half a million people died in Iraq. This is the direction that Jon Stewart has been taking. He is becoming more and more of an insider. One poster called his soft touch "class." What about a little backbone and moral outrage instead?

[batgirlevi]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N3kWksY8jI

[stonepier]

Jon Stewart is the real deal.

[MadeinAmericaProud]

This story needed to told for one reason only. Mr. Jon S. makes his money having you laugh at the real horror. However, does anyone who is angry do anything? He show is a distraction because during the Vietnam era, we were censored from the war with entertainment the war was in our lives for where ever the TV is in house.

Americans starting MARCHING instead of sitting at home being entertained by a comedy show.

We are no better off than the people in Cuba if we cannot see every thing going on about the war no matter how bad it is. It our children being killed miles from home while we are laughing and being entertained.
I read how a comedy show should be held to a higher standard than our News media who's job to provide public service over taxpayers air waves. I have never had children. I am a female vet of over 27 years of service training soldiers to service others soldier with top quality service. No short cuts. The Quartermaster Crop was out-sourced to Halliburton and KBR. (the companies American call private companies being paid with tax payers money). We are self destructing at a fast pace. The rats are leaving the ship in Wash DC. Why won't they stay and support Mccain. Karl Rove has destroyed the Demo chance with getting us to hate each other even more this time. Why?

[brooklyncitizen]

Interesting points but during Vietnam we had professional journalists doing their jobs and reporting on the war....liv­e and some even got killed. If we had real news today then maybe the Daily Show wouldn't have skyrocketed to fame. I marvel at the education we receive from this show and Steven Colbert 's(his to know a Congressman etc.) . Our "news" is nothing short of entertainment.

Lastly, they are both working in a long standing tradition of satirists. Even in King Lear the king had a jester to tell him the truth in a way that cushioned the blow. In France we had artists like Honore Daumier imprisoned for almost a year for his caricatures of the king and of the rampant govt corruption­....and of course we have Goya and his disasters of war series a still powerful critique of one of the most brutal of the Napoleonic wars and war in general.

I agree that these shows are not enough; but they have brought awareness and perspective to the idiocy thar has cahracterized the Bush adminstration.

[cblcar]

Have you bothered to check lately on how many brave professional journalists have been killed in Iraq trying to do their job of informing you?

[splastershoes]

HuffPost's Pick

Physical marches are tremendously powerful statements against the war. However, to think that they are the only effective method of protesting or influencing the politics surrounding the war indicates an old world mindset. The millenial generation doesn't need to "march on Washington" (even though they just did for 3 days), they connect to each other much, much faster and more efficiently through the internet. They raise money through the internet. They send out mass emails and buzz the blogosphere on the internet. They capture the hearts and minds of impressionable voters, or voters simply on the fence, through the internet.

This isn't the Kent State generation, it's the KoS generation. This is the This is the HuffPo, Politico, Move On, Code Pink, etc. generation for young liberals. It may not be as romantic as thousands of protestors storming down Pennsylvania Ave, but this is the way of the future. Thousands of new protest videos appear on YouTube daily. This is the way to connect. We should adapt to more easily understand the new sentiments.

[DC]

How effective is the net generation?

[MadeinAmericaProud]

Wonderful, I am open to the millenial generation and their new way of thinking and actions are much more effective being behind the scene on the internet for our nations future.
Since the last major elections of years pass, the millennial group did not remove the old thinker and put in the new thinker in to lead the nation. therefore, the old guards are holding that power and apparently have not taken the millennial group serious being behind the scene. They still think like I did (until your reply) making your voice heard, needed for them to see the bodies in their faces. I believe they are not as informed as I am now the facts are most old guards are not on the internet to see your internet protest..

Again, thank you, I hope your way of supporting our nation future also keep more soldiers stay alive to come home with out going through hospitals to receive false body parts.
However, I still remain firm in my statement, This nation have been in so many wars. For years we had a group called the silent majority. They were so silent I nation is in a very deep hole. I just wish we stop digging and united to change to go up and out of this hole.

[BetterDays]

Aaaaaah, John, I couldn't respect you more. Compassion, tremendous wit and that fabulous sense of humor. You have brought more truth to America through humor than the msm does with their real news.

[NicoleAnonymous]

It probably would have been even "quieter" if he hadn't mentioned it in public knowing that reporters would then tell everyone about it.

[mikelartist]

Learn to read moron. He started visiting in 2004.

[NicoleAnonymous]

I did read it and I know when he started visiting them but thank you for insulting me anyway.

[Titonwan]

I don't even have to guess. The hate spewing tags you as a bitter Hillary supporter.

[NicoleAnonymous]

Actually I wanted Edwards to win and I don't have a preference between Obama and Clinton because I don't think they're that different.

I am angry that some people such as Larry "women belong in the kitchen" David and other men who hate/fear women, insult her in a way that if offensive to women. But I don't really support her. I'm only pointing out that it probably would have been "quieter" if he hadn't mentioned it.

[ched]

Hate to burst our bubble, dude, but Stewart is a Hillary supporter

[aceholiday]

damn. that's really going pretty low

[anelder]

Well it has been 2004 that he's been at this and not until a public award presented to him did it come out. Of course he could have said, give me the accolade but don't mention what it is for.

I believe youngun your seeing things the way you want too. I hope that just a situational thing and doesn't reflect the way you see everything.

[Lyria]

As reported in the full Reliable Source piece linked, Stewart made his comments to reporters after the ceremonial event. You know, get an award, columnists ask you about it after the show.

[hppygrl15]

Thanks Jon

[GBecker]

You rock, Jon! Thank you.

[AllenKonigsberg]

How quietly can he be doing this, if it's on the front page of Huffington Post?

[transendentilist]

I think the article said "has been quietly visiting." I don't suppose it's quiet now, after the news got hold of it.

[anelder]

And just how quiet can it be when one is pointed out by an award dinner. Oh, maybe be arranged for that honor to be given.

Grow up kids.

[rebeccaj]

Read the article. The only reason the news got out was because Jon got an award from the military. Why are some people so cynical and nasty.

[magicmary]

This is called argument for the sake of argument. I'm rolling my eyes skyward so far my brain hurts! At the end of the day, do you really care whether he's been visiting soldiers quietly or noisily?
John, my 82 year old mom and I love you!!

[mikelartist]

His visits began in 2004.

[marsgeek]

Again. No matter what your political ax to grind with Mr. Stewart maybe.
You should not be so petty that you cannot give the guy credit for doing a truly stand up thing.

I have serious problems with Jon's fawning all over McFraud, but I can over look it and give him credit.

[wisechild]

May I say I love you, Jon Stewart and your kick ass show! If recognition is the source of laughter, you guys nail it every night...

I gave up all news programs and have found your show to be more on target, more comprehensive and informative than any of them ever were.

I salute the manner in which you chose to support the troops even tho it was clear from the start you didn't support the war.

It is true that TDS is watched by our troops in Iraq. They appreciate it and whether Jon chose to go to Walter Reed or not, he would still be known to them.

Now that is patriotism. No lapel pins, no affectations on the war and the other BS, no flag waving.

Class act, that guy. Thanks for what you do...