The USO turns 75

In 1941, with the United States gearing up for war, there were a great many young men in uniform at bases, old and new, around the country. There was a general feeling that some means of entertainment for these troops be provided. With that thought as the driving force, on Feb. 4, 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt once again asked the Salvation Army, the YMCA, the YWCA, the National Catholic Community Service, the National Travelers' Aid Association, and the National Jewish Welfare Board to come together under one umbrella to support the troops -- to handle the on-leave recreation for the men in the armed forces. These organizations had provided this type of service during World War I, but had disbanded once the war ended, and the President asked them to come back again. Their answer was a resounding "Yes!"

The government built the buildings, the USO provided the funds, from private and corporate sources, to carry on their mission of boosting morale in the military. Under Thomas E. Dewey, of New York, the first Chairman, the group quickly raised $16 M. USOs soon sprang up around the world, in churches, barns, railroad cars, museums, in beach clubs, and log cabins. They became the GI's home away from home, where boys could go for dances, social events, movies, play a game of ping pong, write letters home, or have a free cup of coffee and a donut.

In addition to the permanent USO Centers, another part of the USO mission was that of bringing entertainment to the troops, at the various bases in this country, and as the war expanded, to the troops stationed at far flung posts throughout the world -- sometimes at GI posts near the front lines of the war. Many of the popular radio shows began to originate from military bases around the country. Entertainers for USO tours (soldiers in greasepaint) came from all walks of the entertainment industry -- Hollywood, Broadway, and the Sports World. They worked for no pay, and considered it to be their contribution to the war effort, in keeping up the morale of our troops. Between 1941 and 1947, 428,521 (!) USO shows were put on for our boys, in locations around the world. These trips were anything but fun for the entertainers. Travel was intense. Days were long, with many shows per day, some late into the night.

Accommodations at the bases were often very poor. Sometimes they were so close to the front lines that it was not really safe. Yet the girls who traveled with the USO shows had to always be beautiful, and in good spirits. After all, the boys expected it, and they did not want to disappoint. They were representing all the girls back "home".

By early 1942 some 70 overseas units had been formed, with over 1000 performers, spanning the globe to entertain the troops. The singer, Al Jolson, was a very early, enthusiastic performer. He made a number USO tours during the war. When the Korean War began in 1950, Jolson resumed his overseas trips, and a movie was planned about his involvement with the USO. Unfortunately, before the movie could be made, he died. His death was attributed, in part, to the exhausting schedule of his latest USO tour to Korea to entertain the troops.

In May, 1941, Bob Hope, made his first overseas USO show for the troops. Then, for 50 years, Hope kept up his USO shows, to far-flung outposts around the globe (including McCook Army Air Base in 1944), and annual Christmas shows for the troops. His last overseas appearance was in 1990, when Hope and his wife, Dolores, entertained US forces in Saudi Arabia for their Christmas Special, during Operation Desert Storm.

Sometimes the USO trips took on a comic touch. One such trip occurred during the Korean War. In 1950, X Corps, made up of Marines, Army, and ROK (Republic of Korea) forces was chosen to make a landing on the east coast of Korea at Wonsan---not unlike the great invasion that had taken place at Inchon some months before. They were taken aboard warships at Inchon, and made their way around the southern tip of Korea, to the eastern side of the peninsula. Because the waters off Wonson were heavily mined, the ships carrying the troops steamed back and forth outside the harbor until those waters were cleared of mines. Then their great assault took place. But, the "Invasion at Wonson" was without opposition, and to make things even more embarrassing for the Marines, when they set foot on land, they were greeted by Bob Hope. "Where have you guys been? We've been waiting for you." Hope and his USO Company were waiting to "entertain the fighting men." Hope's group, coming from the south, had followed the ROK forces pursuing the fleeing North Koreans, up the peninsula, to the cleared area around Wonson. (The heavy fighting in that area came a bit later.)

Hope, whose name became almost synonymous with the USO, was widely recognized for his participation in USO shows for the troops. In 1997, the Navy christened a new type of Naval vessel, the Hope (AKR 300 series), named Bob Hope. A month later, the USAF dedicated a new Air Force reconnaissance plane, the C-17 in his honor. Hope was honored five times by the United States Congress, including the Presidential Medal of Honor. In 1997, Hope received what he considered his greatest honor---Congress named him an "Honorary Veteran", the first civilian ever to receive such an honor.

In 1951 I was privileged to attend a Bob Hope USO show in Seoul, Korea. At the time I was on the graveyard shift at the bakery, so I was free in the daytime to attend the show at Kimpo Airfield, which was just across the Han River from our base in Yong Dung Po. (I think that was the only time anyone ever offered to trade shifts with me to work the 12- 8 am shift.) Hope's show had been widely advertised and was eagerly anticipated by the GIs in the area.

When we got to the show at Kimpo, there was a collective groan when they announced that Bob Hope would not be there. Hope and his side-kick, Jerry Colonna, had gone ahead to lead part of their troop in a show for troops in the field, near the 38th Parallel. In his place, Frances Langford, looking tired, and anything but glamorous in oversized GI fatigues, greeted us and introduced the band and actress, Patricia Neal, another comedian MC, and a singer, who would sing couple of popular sings. Then Miss Langford left the stage, while the rest of the troop went on with the show.

It didn't take long before we forgot our disappointment over not seeing Bob Hope, and there was much enthusiastic applause, especially when Miss Langford and Miss Neal reappeared, now beautiful in slinky black dresses, and they sang and joked for the rest of the show. (If we had paid we certainly would have gotten our money's worth.)

Over the years since World War II and Korea, the USO has continued to provide a "Home Away From Home" for our fighting men, whether at home or abroad, with its permanent facilities and with its Camp Shows, wherever the boys may be serving, during the Vietnam War, the Gulf Stream War, Afghanistan, or Iraq -- hence, the USO motto, "Wherever They Go!"

In 2016, on the occasion of the USO's 75th birthday, it is gratifying to report that the USO is alive and well, still fulfilling its mission, virtually unchanged from 1941, of serving as that vital bridge, connecting service members and their families to the American public, through 160 USO Centers worldwide, and through its work in bringing Camp Shows to our men in service, "Wherever they might be called upon to serve."

Recently, Retired General George W. Casey, the current Chairman of the USO Board of Governors, estimated that the USO had served more than 35 million American servicemen and their families over these last 75 years -- and, we might add, served them with great distinction!

As Bob Hope would say, Thanks For The Memories.