He was later "mystified," writes Faith, "and ... increasingly intolerant of the pockets of dissent. [5][6] More USO centers and clubs opened around the world as a "Home Away from Home" for GIs. Since 1941, it has worked in partnership with the Department of War, and later with the Department of Defense (DoD), relying heavily on private contributions and on funds, goods, and services from various corporate and individual donors. According to historian Emily Yellin, "The government was to build the buildings and the USO was to raise private funds to carry out its main mission: boosting the morale of the military. In 2009, Stephen Colbert performing his last episode of weeklong taping in Iraq for his The Colbert Report show, carried a golf club on stage and dedicated it to Bob Hope's service for the USO. [13][14] He had already been active back home selling war bonds, and donated $100,000 to the USO. Every night we play a different place.[4]. [4] The USO was incorporated in New York on February 4,[1] with the first facility erected in DeRidder, Louisiana,1941. "[18], According to historian Paul Holsinger, between 1941 and 1945, the USO did 293,738 performances in 208,178 separate visits. Draft-card burnings on college campuses angered him ..." "Can you imagine," Hope wrote in a magazine article, "... that people in America are burning their draft cards to show their opposition and that some of them are actually rooting for your defeat? On this day in country music, provides information on country musicians who where born on this day, like country recordings, country gigs, country musician deaths, country chart positions and significant country music events on this day. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. She adds, however, that the G.I.s in the USO audiences "tended to see these women in a different light – as reminders of and even substitutes for their girls back home, as a reward for fighting the war, as embodiments of what they were fighting for. [20], Twenty-eight performers died in the course of their tours, from plane crashes, illness, or diseases contracted while on tour. There were 702 different USO troupes that toured the world, some spending up to six months per tour. Vietnam historian James Westheider noted that the USO "tried to bring a little America to Vietnam." But the organization became mostly known for its live performances called Camp Shows, through which the entertainment industry helped boost the morale of its servicemen and women. The site provides information on the #1 / No.1 country singles or #1 / No.1 country albums. Special Services productions grew in number as replacement.[11]. "[48] In the spring of 1973, Hope began writing his fifth book, The Last Christmas Show, which was dedicated to "the men and women of the armed forces and to those who also served by worrying and waiting." Yellin notes that on one tour, Hayworth visited six camps, gave thousands of autographs, and "came back from Texas with a full-fledged nervous breakdown from over-enthusiasm! in the NIATP (New Iraqi Army Training Program) under Vinnell Corporation, Program Director Lieutenant General George Allen Crocker (when meeting Mr Willis)", "Actor Charlie Sheen gives $1M to troops, USO", "Bob Hope: First and only honorary veteran of the Armed Forces", Big Picture: United Service Organization (USO): Wherever They Go, USO Camp Shows publicity records, 1941–1955, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. Some in that audience never made it back. Polaroid pictures were taken by Mr. Peppard's escort officer, autographed, and given to the men. [34] He adds that the tours made a "deep impression" on the stars as well. They sat on the ground or up on the hillside. Soldier Shows, which troops – often experienced actors and musicians – organized and held their own performances, were common. They were brought together under one umbrella to support U.S. troops. General William Westmoreland spoke about his loyalty to the GI throughout the gritty Vietnam years. They went to black businesses and fraternal organizations in order to find sponsorship for their USO group, and later expanded to fulfill the needs of soldiers during the Korean War. Jonesboro is the home of "Christmas Wonderland in the Pines", a local festival held annually. 7 PM – 3:00 AM – Info Call: (903) 707-0841 [11] 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. But I really felt she was like a girl from back home." It covered a 50-year timespan, from the USO's inception in 1941 through Operation Desert Storm, in 1991. As black historian Megan Shockley noted, "Their work for the desegregation of USOs had begun during World War II, and it finally paid off. [11], War correspondent Quentin Reynolds, wrote in an article for Billboard magazine in 1943, that "Entertainment, all phases of it – radio, pictures and live – should be treated as essential. This request brought together six civilian organizations: the Salvation Army, YMCA, Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), National Catholic Community Service, National Travelers Aid Association and the National Jewish Welfare Board. Four hundred Marines stationed in Beirut attended the show.[41]. Until fall 1944 overseas units contained five performers or fewer; The Barretts of Wimpole Street, using local theaters in France and Italy, was the first to use an entire theater company, including scenery. An MGM film, Mr. Gardenia Jones, created to assist the USO in its fundraising campaign, was nearly withdrawn from theaters due to objections by the War Department, mainly because of scenes showing soldiers jumping with joy at the opportunity to shower in canteens and rest in overstuffed and comfortable USO chairs. Maxene Andrews wrote, "The entertainment brought home to the boys. [17][11] The This Is The Army stage production toured worldwide until it closed in October 1945 in Honolulu. Presumably the Nazis appreciated Hope's value, since they thrice bombed towns while the comic was there."[18]. A Senate resolution declared him "a part of American folklore." The Musicians of the United States Military, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=United_Service_Organizations&oldid=1010244833, Non-profit organizations based in Arlington, Virginia, United States military support organizations, United States National Medal of Arts recipients, Patriotic and national organizations chartered by the United States Congress, Articles with dead external links from July 2018, Articles with permanently dead external links, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2014, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from May 2018, Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia, Wikipedia articles with SNAC-ID identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. According to war historian Paul Edwards, between 1952 and 1953, not a day went by without the USO providing services somewhere in Korea. Yellin writes, "During her last show she collapsed and had to be taken home on an Army airplane. The Guinness Book of Records called him the most honored entertainer ever. The USO has a paid staff of approximately 300. "[36], The visits by the stars meant a lot to the men and women in Vietnam. [46], In 1997, the U.S. Congress honored Bob Hope by declaring him the "first and only honorary veteran of the U.S. armed forces. ... We've played to audiences in small units of 500 or so, and much oftener to audiences of 8 to 10,000. [19] In 1943, a United States Liberty ship named the SS U.S.O. Entertainers performing for the troops included Bob Hope, Jay Leno, Steve Martin, Delta Burke, Ann Jillian, Gerald McRaney, Marie Osmond, the Pointer Sisters, country singer Gina James, and Bob Hope on his final USO tour.[42]. The United Service Organizations Inc. (USO) is an American nonprofit-charitable corporation that provides live entertainment, such as comedians, actors and musicians, social facilities, and other programs to members of the United States Armed Forces and their families. There were a lot of negatives in Michigan State’s two-game sweep on their trip to Minneapolis. Soon after his Christmas show in Saigon in 1967, he learned that the Vietcong had planned a terrorist attack at his hotel against him and his entire troupe, missing him by ten minutes. During the Vietnam War, USO social facilities ("USOs") were sometimes located in combat zones. We've played on uncovered stages, when we, as well as the audience, got rain-soaked. Learn how to find the big ones and put them in the boat with guides who fish Toledo Bend. Philip Ahn, the first actor of Korean descent to become a Hollywood star, became the first Asian American USO performer to entertain troops in Vietnam. They have aired WWE RAW from Afghanistan and Iraq every Christmas in the United States in a pre-taped show from the combat zone. [39], In 1983, a bloody civil war was raging in Lebanon. National Commander. Jolson was the first to volunteer, but due to lack of USO funds traveled to Korea at his own expense[28] (he was also the first to entertain troops during World War II).[29]. [16], Fundraising was also aided by non-USO entertainment groups. "[47][48] According to Hope biographer William Faith, his reputation has become ingrained in the "American consciousness" because he had flown millions of miles to entertain G.I.s during both wartime and peace. After the show, they returned to the fighting in the hills. In 1947, the USO was disbanded,[26] due partly to lack of funds. USO promotional literature stated its goals: In 2011, the USO was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Barack Obama "for contributions to lifting the spirits of America's troops and their families through the arts".[8]. "It was not just the entertainment; it meant that they were not forgotten that far away from home," writes Westheider. [50], "USO" redirects here. The troop consisted of Doublemint Twins Terrie and Jennie Frankel, Gaslight Club singer Sara Sue, Comedian Tony Diamond and personality Sig Sakowitz. This would be among the largest single monetary donations ever given to the organization. Jay Fultz, author of a biography of Reed, states that soldiers "often wrote to her as if to a sister or the girl next door, confiding moments of homesickness, loneliness, privation and anxiety."[25]. The United Service Organizations Inc. (USO) is an American nonprofit-charitable corporation that provides live entertainment, such as comedians, actors and musicians, social facilities, and other programs to members of the United States Armed Forces and their families. The USO has over 200 locations around the world in 14 countries (including the U.S.) and 27 states. Average performers were paid $100 a week; top stars were paid $10 a day because their wealth let them contribute more of their talents. Similarly, Ann-Margret during a book signing was approached by a veteran who asked her to sign a photo he took of her performing in Vietnam. Actor George Raft stated at the beginning of the war, "Now it's going to be up to us to send to the men here and abroad real, living entertainment, the songs, the dances, and the laughs they had back home."[7]. Shows were also performed with comedian Joey Bishop of the Rat Pack. [21], One author wrote that by the end of the war "the USO amounted to the biggest enterprise American show business has ever tackled. The show was not easy, notes Faith. Elite Series – High School Central Open – Big Bass Marina Night Open Team Tournament. The USO dissolved in December 1947, after having spent $240 million in contributions on Camp Shows, canteens, and other services. The USO initially disbanded in 1947, but was revived in 1950 for the Korean War, after which it continued, also providing peacetime services. BASSMaster Tournament Trail. Berlin, who had written and produced the similar Yip, Yip, Yaphank during World War I, took the entire 165-person cast on tour in Europe in 1942, raising nearly $10 million for the Army Emergency Relief Fund. Box 919 McKinney, TX 75070. 2/5/2015 2/6/2015 2006 3206 8/1/2007 12/6/2007 1801.8135 1893.4955 12/17/2007 7/13/2008 2/22/2013 0.99. Some USO centers provided a haven for spending a quiet moment alone or writing a letter home, while others offered spiritual guidance and made childcare available for military wives. '[37], In November–December 1968 the Sig Sakowitz troop from Chicago performed over 36 shows in South Vietnam with the USO in: Pleiku, Dalat, Danang, Cam Ran Bay, Phu Bai, Phu Loy, Hue, Natrang, Tan Son Nhut Airbase, Saigon and places in the boonies known only to military intelligence and the lonely soldiers yearning for a taste of home. His final Christmas show was during Operation Desert Shield in 1990. According to Kerry biographer Douglas Brinkley, "When the Swift finally made it back to the My Tho River, the crew confronted the heartbreaking sight of a huge Navy landing craft ferrying the troops back. Although it is congressionally-chartered, it is not a government agency. 2/6/2015 2/6/2015 8/1/2007 12/6/2007 1118.34509 1171.50109 [33], In addition, the USO operated centers at major U.S. airports to provide a lounge and place to sleep for American servicemen between their flights. But there were also a few positives that can be built upon with the season soon coming to a close. At home or overseas, in 1952 it was serving 3.5 million in the armed forces using much the same methods of operation as it did in World War II. Froman returned to Europe on crutches in 1945 to again entertain the troops. According to Emily Yellin, many of the key foot soldiers in the USO's mission were women who were "charged with providing friendly diversion for U.S. troops who were mostly men in their teens and twenties. The USO show was over." "[48], War correspondent Quentin Reynolds wrote in 1943, "He and his troupe would do 300 miles in a jeep, and give four shows ... One of the generals said Hope was a first rate military target since he was worth a division; that that's about 15,000 men. By 1946, hostesses had served more than two thousand soldiers a day while also providing facilities for the wounded and convalescent who were on leave. The audience was millions of American fighting men, the theatre's location: the world, the producer: USO camp shows"[7] Performances continued after the end of the war in 1945. Just 10 days after Al Jolson returned from entertaining troops in Korea, he agreed with RKO producers to star in a new movie, Stars and Stripes for Ever, about a USO troupe in the South Pacific during World War II. [17] Others, such as Al Jolson, the first entertainer to go overseas in World War II, contracted malaria, resulting in the loss of his lung, cutting short his tour. USO centers number more than 160 around the world. We especially liked the young women in the show. Household junk and debris from construction or home improvement projects are typically allowed in a dumpster. [32] And 126 units had given 5,422 performances to servicemen in Korea and the wounded in Japan. Author Linda Granfield in describing the show, writes, "For two hours, the men could forget they were soldiers at war. They went as volunteers to entertain, and celebrities continue to provide volunteer entertainment, in military bases in the U.S. and overseas, sometimes placing their own lives in danger, by traveling or performing under hazardous conditions. "[23], Women were also key entertainers who performed at shows. We were thrilled to have Kaye and his entertainers in our area. Another movie was planned in 1950 but never made. She did forty-eight shows for "broken soldiers," who were mostly lying on stretchers in the lobbies of hotels, watching as she entertained them. He remembered a "Bob Hope Follies" USO show, which included actress Ann-Margret, Miss America, football star Rosey Grier, and others. On July 16, 2012, Hollywood actor Charlie Sheen announced that he would donate at least $1 million to the USO. [clarification needed], The USO also brought Hollywood celebrities and volunteer entertainers to perform for the troops. "[22], African-American women scrambled to rally the community around the soldiers and create programs for them. "I had never danced with a celebrity before, so I felt delighted, privileged even, to meet her. [27] In 1951, when the United States entered the Korean War, Secretary of Defense George Marshall and Secretary of the Navy Francis P. Matthews requested that the USO be reactivated "to provide support for the men and women of the armed forces with help of the American people." His contribution to the USO began in 1941 and ended with Operation Desert Shield in 1991, spending 48 Christmases overseas with American service personnel. [11] In one such instance in 1943, a plane carrying a USO troupe crashed outside Lisbon, killing singer and actress Tamara Drasin, and severely injuring Broadway singer Jane Froman.