DeGeneres gives cruises to troops’ kin and friends

For relatives and friends of U.S. troops serving in Iraq, “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” was the place to be.

Studio audience members, all with a military connection, were surprised with the gift of a free cruise at a taping Tuesday. The episode of the syndicated talk show, with guest Tom Hanks, aired Wednesday.

A total of 250 seven-day cruises for four, along with taxes and fees, were given in appreciation of troops deployed from three California bases: Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Camp Pendleton and Ft. Irwin.