OZZY And SHARON Visit Wounded Soldiers

Michael E. Dukes of the Army News Service is reporting that Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne (photo) visited wounded Operation Iraqi Freedom service members at Walter Reed Army Medical Center July 21 to tell them they are thankful for their sacrifices and bravery.

The entertainers spent four hours in the hospital talking with and listening to the war stories of about 30 Soldiers, Airmen and Marines.

Some explained how their recovery was going, while others told Ozzy how they’ve loved his music for as long as they could remember. Nearly all of them knew Sharon from the "The Osbournes" on MTV; those who did not told her that their mothers were big fans of her "Sharon Osbourne Show".

When Marine Cpl. Kevin Rumley spoke with Ozzy, his first question was about the singer's tattoos. "Which one’s did you do yourself?" he asked. Ozzy quickly pointed to a few on his left forearm and hand. The Marine showed his tattoos, and asked the rock star if he would autograph his arm.

"I'm gonna get it made into a tattoo," he said with grin. To which Ozzy replied, "Really? That's cool man."

Another long-time fan, Spc. Kevin Pannell, said back in school he made a drawing of Ozzy's large dragon tattoo. When he asked if he could see it, Ozzy pulled his shirt up to his chin, exposing a blue dragon that was looking over his shoulder.

Spc. Leopold Pedraza showed the Osbournes how his myoelectric prosthetic arm worked, and how he could rotate the hand 360 degrees. Ozzy was fascinated by the technology asking if the soldier was getting good at using his "bionic" arm. Pedraza said he was making progress but he was told it would be a little time before he could wield the prosthetic with proficiency for normal daily tasks.

Along with the OIF patients, the Osbournes visited two teenage oncology patients on the hospital's Pediatric Ward and an 18-year-old girl in the intensive care unit who suffered from a congenital heart defect.

The Osbournes said they enjoyed their visit to Walter Reed and they look forward to stopping by in the future if they are in the area.

The visit to Walter Reed was part of an USO program that has brought nearly 100 celebrities to the hospital since over the last two years to help cheer the spirits of recovering service members.