Traveling Tuesday: Following the USO

Traveling Tuesday: Following the USO

Founded in 1941 and although congressionally chartered, the USO is not a government organization. Dependent on private funding, approximately thirty-three million dollars was raised by Thomas Dewey and Prescott Bush (today's equivalent=$433 million) between its founding and 1945. The organization's motto is "Until everyone comes home."

Known for its traveling camp shows and clubmobiles, the USO operated over 3,000 centers worldwide. Staffed by volunteer Senior and Junior hostesses, the centers provided recreational opportunities and dancing, a quiet place to write letters home, snacks and cigarettes (but no liquor), and even boxing rings. Not only did celebrities entertain the troops, but many volunteered as waitstaff or kitchen help.

Beginning in 1942, the mobile units toured every one of the forty-eight states during the war. The trucks carried generators, screens, and film projectors and many of the vehicles featured a public address system, turntable and records, sports gear, board games, and snacks. Most importantly the local USO would provide hostesses to dance with the young men.

Despite the danger, camp shows also operated in combat zones, and as a result thirty-seven performers lost their lives, including singer Tamara Drasin. According to historian Paul Holsinger the 702 traveling troupes conducted 293,738 performances during 208,178 separate visits entertaining more than 161 million service men and women. Mind-boggling numbers!

Today, the USO operates 160 centers worldwide and still depends on the generosity of others to provide funding.

The character in my current work-in-progress, Geneva Alexander, leaves home to join the Baltimore, MD USO. Where would you have been willing to serve?

Perhaps at one of these centers operating during WWII:

French Riviera USO

El Paso, Texas

USO in Elbow Beach, Bermuda

Temperature taking booth in Spain

USO in Hawaii

Talkshow Thursday: USO

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!