While some U.S. troops deployed to Afghanistan and Qatar tried to avoid social media so there was no risk of an “Avengers: Endgame” movie spoiler, one airman’s wife managed to get the movie to the troops.
The troops stationed at Bagram Air Field and Al Udeid Air Base had accepted their fate that they wouldn’t be able to see the blockbuster Disney film until they returned home, until 36-year-old Kat Lancaster took to Twitter and ask Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger, Stars & Stripes reported.
Her tweet to Disney CEO, said, “Hey Bob, any chance you could get Endgame to the troops deployed overseas sooner than later? I know Al Udeid and Bagram both have theaters and our folks in uniform could use a morale boost!”
will check!
— Robert Iger (@RobertIger) April 27, 2019
Kat took a short nap and when she got up, she had a response from Iger that said, “will check.” Within 30 minutes, it was a done deal.
After Iger got in touch with the Army and Air Force Exchange Service in Dallas, he tweeted, “We’re going to get @Avengers Endgame to Al Udeid and Bagram next week!” Iger’s account tweeted. “Thanks @KatAtDisney for suggesting this!”
We’re going to get @Avengers Endgame to Al Udeid and Bagram next week! Thanks @KatAtDisney for suggesting this! @WaltDisneyCo honors, appreciates & respects our American men & women in the miliatary!
— Robert Iger (@RobertIger) April 27, 2019
Lancaster said her husband, Air Force Maj. Joshua-Lee Lancaster, is stationed in Qatar and they are both Marvel superhero fans.
Lancaster said, “When people say this is silly or just a movie – I think small gestures like that can really benefit our troops. It shows our troops people are thinking about them.”
I’m overwhelmed by this gesture and my heart is full. So often our deployed members are left out of cultural moments while they risk their lives for us.
This gift from the @WaltDisneyCo is sure to bring sheer joy and a small moment of escape from the realities of war. Thank you. https://t.co/gZNBah6a6S— Military Meowsketeer (@KatAtDisney) April 28, 2019
The film was shown at Bagram Air Field eight times in two days and the troops had fun offering impressions of superheroes and entering trivia contests.
Troops in Afghanistan were able to see “Captain Marvel” in March, although it was a bit delayed due to Pakistan’s Feb. airstrike by India.
Don Baumgartner, the Morale, Welfare and Recreation director at Bagram said, “We’ve had several people here around Bagram asking for some time if we were going to get the movie here and up until this weekend, the answer was no. So the fact that Bob Iger wanted to make this happen and as short notice as he did — it was definitely really cool, and I think thousands here in Bagram are grateful for this opportunity.”
Even though the troops could have watched a bootleg version of the film, that would never have done the movie justice, so most had decided to wait it out until they could see it on the big screen.
Wu, a combat medic with the 349th Combat Support Hospital and huge Marvel enthusiast who has watched every one of the 21 movies in the series said, “Getting ‘Endgame’ out here was the biggest morale boost, ever, in Afghanistan.”
