Actor Wilmer Valderrama said he was reminded of his purpose as an entertainer in 2007 while visiting injured American soldiers who were recovering from their wounds at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. At the time, the 44-year-old was fulfilling his duties as a United Service Organizations (USO) Global Ambassador. Valderrama gained notoriety portraying the character Fez in the sitcom “That ‘70s Show” and subsequently in the procedural ”NCIS” as Special Agent Nick Torres.
“Our service brothers and sisters have experienced combat,” he said. “And here I was, walking through those rooms and just talking to them. It made me realize how incredibly brave and unbelievable our men and women are.
Even as they’re wounded, they’re so proud to have been serving.” One wounded solder in particular captured Valderrama’s heart because his unit had reportedly been hit hard and he was likely the only survivor. “These soldiers are so proud to put that uniform back on,” Valderrama said.
“I was not taken aback by that, but my heart was taken by that. These individuals who wear the uniform take an oath, and it’s to this country. The idea is that they would pay the ultimate sacrifice because they’re proud to have our flag continue waving at the end of the day.
I was so taken by that. I was so humbled by that.” The USO provides support to U.
S. Armed Forces troops and their families in a private, nonprofit manner. Valderrama’s involvement with the .