U.S. Troops Love Chuck Norris
The first time I ever saw Chuck Norris was in the Roxy Theater in downtown Kapaa, Hawaii (pop. 3000) in 1973. He was fighting one of my boyhood heroes, Bruce Lee, in the Coliseum in the film “Return of the Dragon,” the sequel to “Enter the Dragon.”
It was one of the best hand to hand fight scenes ever filmed. Bruce barely won.
But Bruce died not long afterward, leaving Chuck the only other WMD on the planet.
Did you know: Chuck Norris once ate a whole cake before his friends could tell him there was a stripper in it.
Yep.
FALLUJA, Iraq - Hollywood action star Chuck Norris, known for his martial arts prowess and tough-guy image, has become a cult figure among the U.S. military in Iraq and an unlikely hero for some in Iraq’s security forces.
A small cardboard shrine is dedicated to Norris at a U.S. military helicopter hub in Baghdad, and comments lauding the manliness and virility of the actor have been left on toilet walls across Iraq and even in neighboring Kuwait, soldiers say.
“The fastest way to a man’s heart is with Chuck Norris’s fist,” reads one message at the shrine, which consists of a signed photo of the actor surrounded by similar statements.
“Chuck Norris puts the laughter in manslaughter,” reads one and “Chuck Norris divides by zero,” reads another.
Known as Chuck Norris “facts”, the claims have already become an Internet phenomenon, and scores are featured on www.chucknorrisfacts.com, including “Superman wears Chuck Norris pyjamas”, and “There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, Chuck Norris lives in Oklahoma”.
The actor has visited Iraq several times and was made an honorary Marine last year. Some 20 U.S. military personnel and support staff spoken to by Reuters could recite at least one Norris “fact”, despite many having not visited the Web site.
U.S. troops in Iraq say his support for them and Norris’ invincible image has made him their idol and insist the exaggerated and satirical claims are not meant to mock him.
“The jokes all add to his legend. They’re not derogatory. He’s an icon,” said Sergeant Joe Lindsay at a base in Falluja in Iraq’s Western Anbar province, which Norris has visited.
Bearded and muscled, Norris shot to fame fighting kung fu legend Bruce Lee in the 1972 film The Way of the Dragon, and later films show him devastating groups of men with one kick.
“Norris visited Iraq when violence was its worst and other celebrities were skittish. He’s one of the guys,” U.S. military public affairs officer Specialist Mark Braden said in Baghdad.
“The Marines love him. He’s like a mythical legend,” Staff Sergeant Amy Forsythe in Falluja said.
Soldiers cited many reasons for his appeal. Some appreciated his films and fighting ability — Norris is a martial arts guru, and many of his films have military themes.
Others said the masculine and plainly dressed actor was an antidote to the preening and moisturized metrosexual male.
Some praised his Christian and political values. The actor recently endorsed Republican Party presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee, though in the spirit of the Norris “facts”, Marines argued it was Huckabee who endorsed Norris.
“He’s helped us a lot. The appeal is also his martial arts, and sheer physical presence … I don’t think I go a day without hearing a Norris joke,” said Corporal Ricardo Jones in Falluja.
Norris’ appeal is not restricted to U.S. troops either. At an Iraqi police graduation ceremony in Falluja, graduates called out for their “Chuck Norris” to pose with them for photos.
“Truthfully, I didn’t know who he was. I asked the Americans, and they said he was a great fighter, and that’s why they named me after him. They showed me a video, and it’s true, he’s a great fighter” said police trainer Mohammed Rasheed.
With his handle-bar moustache, Rasheed has a vague resemblance to Norris.
Another police trainer said Chuck Norris was a role model for the police in Falluja, which until 2007 was an al Qaeda stronghold and the scene of fierce battles with security forces.
“I’ve seen his videos, he’s a hero. He saves the city, he protects women and children and he fights crime wherever it is. We should all be like Chuck Norris,” Khaled Hussein said.
Reuters article By Mohammed Abbas here.
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He can’t act worth a shit, but I respect his capability as a karate man, and appreciate his patriotism………(even tho he was on the Huckleberry payroll!)
March 10th, 2008 at 8:58 amChuck Norris does not do push-ups - he does “earth downs.”
March 10th, 2008 at 9:07 amIt’s nearly impossible to not like Chuck. The jokes are so damned great! I always liked his “Missing in Action” films and the first “Delta Force” movie (featuring Lee Marvin, one of Hollywood’s true badasses). All you need to know about the Norris, “Norris visited Iraq when violence was its worst and other celebrities were skittish. He’s one of the guys,” U.S. military public affairs officer Specialist Mark Braden said in Baghdad.
Other than Huck’s Fair Tax proposal, Chuck was the only other highlight of his campaign.
My fav Chuck fact: As a teen, Chuck Norris had sex with every nun in a convent tucked away in the hills of Tuscany. Nine months later the nuns gave birth to the 1972 Miami Dolphins, the only undefeated and untied team in professional football history.
March 10th, 2008 at 9:11 amChuck doesnt have a chin underneath his beard, just another fist.
One time Chick pulled a whole tree to the ground just to save a cat.
March 10th, 2008 at 9:27 am“Others said the masculine and plainly dressed actor was an antidote to the preening and moisturized metrosexual male.”
“‘I’ve seen his videos, he’s a hero. He saves the city, he protects women and children and he fights crime wherever it is. We should all be like Chuck Norris,’ Khaled Hussein said.”
A-Men.
March 10th, 2008 at 11:12 amSeems I recall Chuck lost a brother in VietNam which inspired the “Missing In Action” movies. Yeah, Chuck’s real.
March 10th, 2008 at 11:56 amChuck Norris was born in a log cabin that he built himself!!!
If you need a good laugh, visit http://www.chucknorrisfacts.com/.
March 10th, 2008 at 12:45 pm1. Jesus loves you, but Chuck Norris is His favorite.
March 10th, 2008 at 3:32 pm2. You can’t get blood from a stone, but Chuck Norris can.
3. Diamonds are forever, and so is a roundhouse kick in the face from Chuck Norris.
I got to see the backside of Chuck Norris at the local military hospital.
I was very impressed at the high level of engagement he had with the people around him and that he looked no different in real life than he does on camera. He’s the real thing!
March 10th, 2008 at 10:55 pm