“Brittany was a part of a large group that went on two different USO
tours,” Martines said. “The one with Alyssa went to Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar and also to an
aircraft carrier, where their pics were taken. That was in 2003.”

“She was always so sweet to us and although we were only around her for
those two tours it was nice to have her come back the second time and
know us by name,” he said. “Her commitment to the troops was both tireless and
effortless.

“She gave them all smiles and a little piece of her heart, which they all appreciated.”

The “USO family” and others in its sphere of influence were hit hard by news of Brittany’s sudden death.

Brittany was “a fun-loving young lady who got
it,” said Bernie Rone, the organization’s director of celebrity entertainment recruiting, on the USO’s official blog. “She went out on the tour for all the right reasons and the troops loved her.”

“The heat on that tour was unrelenting,” said John Hanson, a USO senior VP who, like Rone, was on the tour. “It was over 120
degrees everywhere we went. Brittany Murphy was
there for the troops 15 hours a day every day, and her commitment to
the troops was clear from the beginning. We will miss her compassion,
her charm and her generous spirit.”

Brittany made an impression, Rone said, by stopping to say hi and shake the hand of every service member she encountered. Plus, “she
actually performed and sang a few numbers with Wayne Newton’s band. And we were blown away by how good she was.”

Rest in peace, Brittany.

– Christie D’Zurilla

P.S. Keep in mind that the USO — “the way the American public supports its troops” — still has tours going strong. McCoy, Martines and others will be heading for Europe the last week in January for what will be McCoy’s 14th USO tour. Over seven days they’ll hit England, Belgium, the Netherlands
and Germany. And a private, nonprofit organization, can’t make that happen for free. Remember, “Until every one comes home.”

Photos: Brittany Murphy, top right, sings at Ft. Irwin in California in 2004; she and Neal McCoy, middle left, were together at the same event; Alyssa Milano and Brittany hang out on the carrier Nimitz in 2003. Credit: Les Martines / Used with permission by the Los Angeles Times’ Ministry of Gossip.