The National Training Center and Fort Irwin commander, Brig. Gen. Ted Martin, and the host of “The Tonight Show,” Jay Leno.
“The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno hosted Soldiers from the National Training Center and Fort Irwin for the taping of a Thanksgiving Day show, Nov. 27.
The event closed out an era of Thanksgiving specials with servicemembers of all branches, since the show will be in New York next year with Jimmy Fallon as the new host. This was the 13th year that the late night show had invited Soldiers from this installation to be part of a military audience for the holiday broadcast.
Jay Leno holds mementos provided by Brig. Gen. Ted Martin (left of Leno), while taking a photo with Soldiers of the National Training Center and Fort Irwin.
The commander for the NTC and Fort Irwin, Brig. Gen. Ted Martin, attended the taping, which aired the next night, and presented Leno with a plaque and coin. Leno then took photos with servicemembers.
Leno, a supporter of the military, has traveled overseas to visit with troops and once came out to the NTC with his rocket car. “The Tonight Show” also provided a Thanksgiving buffet for servicemembers on the night of the taping.
Jay Leno and his rocket car at the National Training Center in 2004. This was the 13th year that Leno and “The Tonight Show” had invited Soldiers from this installation to be part of a military audience for a Thanksgiving Day holiday broadcast.