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May 15, 2008

Special Treat for the Troops

The United Services Organizations ("USO") was founded in Times Square, NY February 4, 1941 in response to a request from President Franklin D. Roosevelt to provide moral and recreation services to uniformed military personnel.This request led 6 civilian agencies; The Salvation Army, YMCA, YWCA, National Catholic Community Services, National Jewish Welfare Board and the National Travelers Aid Association-- to unite in support of the troops.

USO centers and clubs opened around the world in order to be a "Home Away from Home" for GIs. It was a place to go for dances, social events, and movies and music. It was also a quiet place to talk or write a letter home, or for a free cup of coffee and doughnut. The USO also began bringing Hollywood celebrities and volunteer entertainers to perform for the troops.

At its high point in 1944, the USO had more than 3,000 clubs, and curtains were rising on USO shows 700 times a day. From 1941 to 1947, the USO presented more than 400,000 performances. These were big name entertainers too. Bing Crosby, Jim Cagney, the Andrews Sisters, Glenn Miller, and of course Bob Hope. These were just a few of the "Soldiers in Greasepaint" who volunteered their time and talents to tour with the USO.

Hollywood stars provided entertainment and escape, in an effort to sustain the morale of troops stationed on the front lines. Bob Hope, became one of the influential propaganda figures in the war effort through his participation in the USO camp shows. Mr. Hope started traveling in 1941 to the bases worldwide, his first show at a military base.

In 1950, when the United States entered the Korean War, the USO once again brought its vital services and entertainment tours, including Marilyn Monroe to the troops. This continued after the war ended and the USO expanded to serve the more than 1 million troops who remained stationed overseas.

During the 1960's, as tensions escalated in Vietnam, the USO began to open centers in combat zones. The 23 centers in Vietnam and Thailand served as many as a million members a month and the USO presented more than 5,000 performances during the Vietnam War.

Today, the USO is alive and well, observing 67 years of serving our men and women in uniform and their families around the world. To support troops participating in Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom, USO centers opened in Afghanistan, Kuwait and Qatar. USO centers number at least 132 around the world. The USO provides a variety of services, including orientation programs, family events, travel assistance, free Internet and e-mail access, and recreation services. USO entertainers continue to boost troop morale and feature such celebrities as Robin Williams, Toby Keith, Wayne Newton, Jessica Simpson and so many more who are willing to give of their time to go and entertain our troops.

It is so very important that our troops get to escape even for a short while from what they are experiencing and be entertained. They've earned it they deserve it.For many of those deployed this is the closest thing to being back home. Thank you to all the entertainers who give of their time and put themselves in harms way to take care of our military. Bob Hope made his last appearance with the USO in 1990 during Operation Desert Storm.

Most of all, Thanks for the Memories Bob. Without you who knows if the USO would have continued to grow and become what it is today. You will be forever missed.