LOS ANGELES – Even TV mobsters have a soft spot for U.S. troops serving abroad. James Gandolfini (search) and Tony Sirico (search) of HBO's "The Sopranos" are on a USO-Armed Forces Entertainment tour in the Persian Gulf, the USO said Wednesday.
Gandolfini, who stars as mob boss Tony Soprano, and Sirico, who plays Paulie Walnuts, are signing autographs, posing for pictures and watching movies with the troops, the organization said.
The trip is part of the USO-AFE (search) tradition of bringing celebrities to the "front lines" of combat activities, the USO said. Among those who have participated this year are Wayne Newton, 50 Cent, Toby Keith, Tom Green and Rob Schneider.
It was not clear whether the actors visited Iraq. For security purposes, details about the trip were being withheld, including specific locations they were visiting and how long they were in the region, USO spokeswoman Donna St. John said.
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