Hello! My name is Geneva Alexander, and I’m the main
character in the new mystery series that Linda is writing. I wanted to
introduce myself, and tell you a little bit about the United Service
Organization (or USO – the name you’re probably more familiar with). I’ve just
joined up, and I’m very excited to find out where I’ll be stationed.
The USO was founded in 1941 when President Roosevelt decided
there needed to some sort of organization to provide morale and recreational
services to the U.S. military personnel. He was elected honorary chairman. Six
civilian organizations came together one umbrella: the Salvation Army, YMCA,
YWCA, National Catholic Community Service, National Travelers Aid Association, and
the National Jewish Welfare Board.
The first facility was built in Louisiana in 1941, but it
wasn’t long before there were centers and clubs
around the world. The club was
the place to go for dances, movies, music and social events as well as a quiet
place to write a letter or get free coffee and doughnuts. The USO is probably
more famous for providing Hollywood celebrities and volunteer entertainers to
perform for the troops.
According to historian Paul Holsinger the USO did 293,738
performances between 1941 and 1945. There were 702 different troupes that
toured the world. There was even a Liberty ship named SS U.S.O. that was
launched in 1943.
USO work wasn’t as glamorous as it seemed. One entertainer
wrote that “We’ve played to audiences, many of them ankle deep in mud, huddled
under the ponchos in the pouring rain. We’ve played on uncovered stages, when
we, as well as the audience, got rain-soaked. We’ve played with huge tropical
bugs flying in our hair and faces…”
Despite the danger (twenty-eight performers died in the
course of their tours), I’m looking forward to serving the troops as they fight
the Axis powers. I hope you’ll follow along as I chronicle my experiences. Maybe I'll get to meet Bob Hope!
No comments:
Post a Comment