MWR shows in Kandahar Afghanistan, Jan 2005-Aug 2006
Your tricks were good, but your personality stold the show. Thank you for making KAF a little more magical. SPC Nantena Beller KIandahar AFB
I like the houmor while doing magic. Keep up the good work. I cant wait to see next weeks show. SPC Geoff Motke
DUDE!!! The tricks were good, but the verbal portion KICKED ASS! Had a killer time
SSGT. Ryan Perez Kandahar Afghanistan
Thank you for your support, Your magic shows are a nice diversion from our every day. It is nice to have a silly laugh once in a while. SPC Kitarogerez
I believe David Wonders is exciting. The stories that went with the effects had a meaning. It was very amusing Sgt. Quibodeaux FA
It takes a genuine person to do what you do, God Bless! Damon Hines KBR
I liked how you sued the word effect in the place of magic trick. It was much more attuned to an adult audience, great attitude toward everything. Pfc. Bush U.S. Army
Good show, upbeat sense of humor does us all a bit of good out here PFC Carl 10th mhn
I think you are very talented and a longer show would be better SPC Gibbons 23 AG Postal
Good Show, thanks for caring. We appreciate it a lot. SPC McCallister
Excellent sense of humor, Keeps the crowd entertained. Shelia Molina/ Canada
The show was as funny as fu**. It really helped boost my morale. Spc. Rodriquez DCO 2/4 Inf.
I can say truthfully that was a very enjoyable and funny performance. Thanks
for the coin. Stu 3rd battalion parachute regiment ( British)
David, Very Exciting Show- Thank you very much for your time, It was very entertaining.
The Brits
Very Good, I was very impressed SPC Foster B5/25 FA
It was a great show! Keep up the good Job Guilernmo KBR
Good Show! Cpl. Parker R3 MMR
Het ging wel alleen Uuh mueiels!!! Beter uodrberjden en Uijh 20 homo achlig
Nederland Holland
It was nice show, See you next time. Greets : Holland
Your sleight of hand was enjoyable, Good Job! Capt. Reeves/ Canadian
BA role 3 MMU Kandahar
Good attitude through the show, Thanks SPC Joshua Clark
Magician makes combat tensions disappear
(Excerpted from Stars and Stripes)
By Spc. Robert Honeycutt
345th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan—Turning fire into glitter, making flowers reappear and pulling a rabbit out of a hat aren't things you will see anywhere, but these are some of the magical illusions at the David Wonders magic show at the Morale Welfare Recreation, or MWR center, here in Kandahar.
"I want bright colors and I want it to be fun to watch," said Wonders, whose real name is David Gish, from Tyler, Texas. But his performance isn't all about magic, it's about fun. "Being fooled isn't necessarily being entertained. I play for a laugh," he added.
Gish, a Kellogg, Brown and Root, or KBR employee has performed his magic show for over 35 years. He and his wife, Linda, operate a small business back in Texas called Tract-n-Friends, which provides clowns and magic shows for adults and children of all ages.
Army Cpl. Mario Cano, from 1st Battalion, 102nd infantry regiment, Company C, was among the audience at the Wonders show. "I really appreciate him coming out here," said Cano.
Performing magic in Kandahar was not part of Gish’s contract with KBR, but he found a way to do what he enjoys most, entertain. “I just draw so much energy from the crowd,” he said.
In Texas, Gish mainly performed for children at parties and schools. But soon after he arrived in Kandahar, he decided to volunteer his time at the MWR and had his magic kit mailed from home. In June of 2005, Gish started performing his shows weekly to entertain Soldiers.
“Doing magic here is so different,” said Gish, who explained that during his show, Soldiers are not that quick to assist in pulling a rabbit out of a hat.
“Kids fight to volunteer, but out here, nobody wants to volunteer.” But Gish said that performing visual acts is what works with adults because it entertains everyone and is a great distraction from Soldiers stressful jobs. “They’ve got all day to something that they don’t want to do, so when they come to my show, I want them [soldiers] to have a good time,” said Gish.
Magicians never tell their secrets but Gish encourages people that are interested in magic tricks, to learn more about it. “If you really want to know, you will find out,” said Gish, who learned most of his talents from reading and practicing. "It all started with books." Gish not only learned magic, but also ventriloquism and balloon art.
Gish’s family in Texas is still entertaining children while he is away. After Gish taking the job as a KBR employee, his daughter Bekka, 23, took. “I’m so proud of her. She’s filling in on the magic shows,” he said.
Gish has expressed a desire to perform for more service members at the various forward observation bases and is currently trying to get other MWR centers to allow him to perform. “I really want to go out to other bases,” he said.
Like an illusion, the Wonders show may soon disappear. So, if you want to catch Gish’s act, check out the MWR center on Mondays at 8:00 p.m. local time and see how his tricks can make your stress vanish
