At home or overseas, in 1952 it was serving 3.5million in the armed forces using much the same methods of operation as it did in World War II. In 1991, 20th Century Fox produced the film For the Boys, which told the story of two USO performers, and starred Bette Midler and James Caan. Each author or poet who submits work to us is afforded the chance to work one-on-one with a mentor to polish their work or learn new skills and techniques. Take good care of it. None looked up. was launched. There were five babies. There were no doors. Everybody was sent to a government health clinic for a series of shots against tropical diseases. Involvement in the USO was one of the many ways in which the nation had come together to support the war effort, with nearly 1.5million people having volunteered their services in some way. Many stars, both well-known and new, came to perform, including Bob Hope, Errol Flynn, Debbie Reynolds, Piper Laurie, Jane Russell, Paul Douglas, Terry Moore, Marilyn Monroe, Danny Kaye, Rory Calhoun, Mickey Rooney, Linda Coleman, Al Jolson and many others. 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. During a gala marking the USO's 75th anniversary in 2016, retired Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr., the chairman of the USO Board of Governors, estimated that the USO has served more than 35million Americans over its history. Upon her departure from Vietnam, Krause became assistant director of public relations for USO National Headquarters in New York. Its a highly effective weapon. He paused, as if weighing the crossbow in his hands, Here, he said, handing it me. USO promotional literature stated its goals: The story of USO camp shows belongs to the American people, for it was their contribution that made it possible. I smiled and spoke to a few. [52] During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization assembled thousands of care packages for troops in mandatory 14-day quarantine en-route home. 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. She held the gate open for me to leave. Its still fought in the bodies and minds of the men who waged it all those decades ago. Let's see how fast you can draw a six-shooter!" It was 1967. USO centers number more than 160 around the world. Thankfully, Laurel and Hardy's Driver's License sketch needed only a few simple props. Download our app to find events, locations and programs near you. I saw the back of her habit flutter in the doorway, as she walked into the building. I met her in Nha Trang in 67. 2. We were thrilled to have Kaye and his entertainers in our area. Most were so drugged they could barely respond. To support troops participating in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, USO centers opened in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar. We do our best. The men and women who valiantly fought in the Vietnam War certainly deserve the title of hero. | The American Presidency Project", "Quentin Reynolds Talks on Terrific Job Big and Little Showbiz is Doing Overseas", "Dear Donna: A Pinup So Swell She Kept G.I. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. You try to keep their spirits up. Especially when youre working in the interior. He paused. Celebrities in Hollywood that have donated their time and talents helping our troops and USO both in US & overseas. Steve Martin. Between 1941 to 1947, more than 400,000 performances took place. There were 23 centers set up in Vietnam, which serviced a million members a month. The show was fantastic, but the escape the Bob Hope tour provided us in expectation for days before, and after, helped us keep in touch with what we were there for God, Country, apple pie and Ann-Margret! They provided soldiers a place to eat, write a letter back home, play . Bob Hope Actor | The Ghost Breakers Comedian Bob Hope was born Leslie Townes Hope in Eltham, London, England, the fifth of seven sons of Avis (Townes), light opera singer, and William . [24], One author wrote that by the end of the war "the USO amounted to the biggest enterprise American show business has ever tackled. The USO was in Vietnam before the first troops arrived, having opened a club in Saigon in April 1963 2. Performers Killed During USO, Bond Tours or in Air Raids: Al Bowlly in the 1930s Al Bowlly (January 7, 1899 - April 17, 1941): Al Bowlly was a crooner who rose to fame in the 1930s with Ray Noble's orchestra, known for songs like "The Very Thought of You." Many of these people are well-known and well-lauded. "There were so many restrictions. Two long rows of folding cots ranged down both sides. [8], The USO also brought Hollywood celebrities and volunteer entertainers to perform for the troops. I tried to stick it out, but I was too upset. The USO was officially created on February 4, 1941, with one of the first centers opening on May 28 at the Charleston Navy Yard. (Author on left) "Okay, soldier, come up on the stage. Where are you from? I asked, the requisite opening question. She was the assistant director of the United Service Organizations center at Saigon, the home base for all USO Vietnam and Thailand operations. Our USO troupe consisted of thirteen singer/dancer/actors, as well as four musicians. [13] 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. Within five months 36 overseas units had been sent within the Americas, the United Kingdom, and Australia, and during 1942 1,000 performed as part of 70 units. In New York OBrien had played Sky Masterson, the gambler who falls for a Salvation Army girl. Patricia Krause hosted Whats New at the USO? a radio show that often featured celebrity interviews with guests such as Charlton Heston, Lana Turner, Nancy Sinatra, Bob Hope and James Garner, who is pictured with Krause. And besides, I dont know if Ill make it back. No matter her official title, Krause did not spare herself in her work, pouring her heart and soul into her service of the troops. I saw two rows of baby cribs, perhaps nine or ten. My first week here ah got malaria out there in the Delta, so they put me in the hospital. General William Westmoreland spoke about his loyalty to the GI throughout the gritty Vietnam years. Well, goodbye. He kissed me lightly on the cheek and left. [43], In 1983, a bloody civil war was raging in Lebanon. [50][51], The organization sends toiletry and snack care packages to servicemen including travel-sized hygiene products of which 170,000 were shipped in 2019, healthy snacks, and drink mixes. Krause would then offer to send copies of letters as well as names and addresses to service members who would otherwise go for weeks without a single postcard. If I had any doubts about our countrys involvement, I had none about giving the men a ninety-minute break from the harsh reality of the war. John Wayne. (LogOut/ "[4] Afterwards, Miller described the experience: We went from ward to ward to ward, singing and dancing and trying to boost the morale of these men. Little about it is concrete. I wondered if theyd enjoyed the narrow, iron-framed beds festooned with mosquito netting, soggy mattresses, and creaky ceiling fans. Each club had a snack bar, gift shops, a barbershop, photo developing, overseas phone lines, and hot showers. "[21], According to historian Paul Holsinger, between 1941 and 1945, the USO did 293,738 performances in 208,178 separate visits. [38], When providing entertainment, the USO did its best to attract known stars from back home to help relieve the stresses of war. Soldier Shows, which troops often experienced actors and musicians organized and held their own performances, were common. The landing was hair-raising. Shows were also performed with comedian Joey Bishop of the Rat Pack. Bob Hope. Eleanor Roosevelt on White House lawn with "Hollywood Victory Caravan" entertainers (seated, from left) Oliver Hardy (1892-1957), Joan Blondell (1906-1979), Charlotte Greenwood (1890-1977), Charles Boyer . Stars of the stage and screen weren't just entertainers back in the 1940s. People leave them here. 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. Froman returned to Europe on crutches in 1945 to again entertain the troops. [53], The USO hosts baby showers for military parents-to-be. That day we gave two shows, the last at twilight. Bob Hope. Vintage USO photos of celebrities entertaining the troops Over the last century, America has been involved in a whole host of different wars across the globe - and whether you're a pacifist or not, the troops who led us through to victory in those wars deserve the utmost respect for standing strong in solidarity. who was with a USO tour that visited Chu Lai in August 1967. Her self-sacrificing, tireless devotion did not go unnoticed by the military. I followed her into the building. [9], 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".[10]. Please take a moment to let our troops know how much we appreciate their service and sacrifice. "[26], Women were also key entertainers who performed at shows. "[4], The first national campaign chairman was Thomas Dewey, who raised $16million in the first year. Patricia Krause traveled to the front lines and to remote locations to deliver care packages of food and toiletries to service members. I had an opportunity to travel all over Vietnam visiting remote sites, delivering gifts, just talking with men and bringing them a bit of home.. Restrictions were placed on USO performers after all five members of an Australian rock-and-roll band, performing at a forward firebase, were killed by an incoming Viet Cong (VC) mortar round that fell on the makeshift stage. She seemed to be omnipresent, said Michael Case, the USOs senior digital archivist. It takes two men: one to hold it while the other shoots. A plane blew up during takeoff, we were told. I stayed with him until hed relaxed his grip. I emptied my purse and gave her all the money I had. I had trouble breathing in the damp, sticky, humid air. Mark Hopkins, Jr., taking his last name and moving to the San Miguel military base in the Philippines. Two kids. Ill be careful, I said, fighting back tears. She was the recipient of multiple certificates and awards of achievement and appreciation from military leaders and other groups. According to Westheider, "The young women wore miniskirts no slacks were allowed." I looked up. Text STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Some looked emaciated. Go on, we were told. Its tough on them when youre away so long. List of entertainers who performed for American troops in Vietnam, Soapography, "Rick Springfield and Kimberly McCullough", aired June 16, 2007, on SOAPnet, "List of entertainers who performed for American troops in Vietnam", Learn how and when to remove this template message, Denise Perrier (African American Female Entertainers in Vietnam), The Ralph Kimbrough and Dee Steele Show (1969), On the Road: USO Shows: Bob Hope and American Variety (Library of Congress), Bob Hope's Overseas Christmas Tours: Around the World with the Troops 19411972 (1980)(TV) (IMDb.com), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_entertainers_who_performed_for_American_troops_in_Vietnam&oldid=1126390848, Quintessence 1970 (Clive and Stanley Romney, Sheryl Albiston, Jack McDonald, Ruth Sorensen), This page was last edited on 9 December 2022, at 02:50. The Army, noted the New York Times, "feels this is not good for morale as it implies that there are no showers or other comforts for soldiers in military camps." One recognition came in the form of a nomination by Navy Rear Adm. Kenneth L. Veth, commander of U.S. What was that? I asked the nearest orderly. Another movie was planned in 1950 but never made. 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. "[9] An article in Look magazine at the time, stated, "For the little time the show lasts, the men are taken straight to the familiar Main Street that is the goal of every fighting American far away from home." They are the unsung heroes. But the malaria wont go away. ' During the Vietnam War, Sinatra visited and sang for troops at the U.S. military bases near Saigon. Thats why youre here, remember? During his show, he said, "This is the most privileged moment of my life, the opportunity to be here with you. In 1988, a car bomb targeted the USO club in Naples, which killed five people including a U.S. Navy officer. "[35] By the end of the war, over 113,000 American USO volunteers were working at 294 centers at home and abroad. A month later, after stops at Air Force bases in Maryland and San Diego and refueling in Taipei, we arrived at Tan Son Nhut airport near Saigon. To this day I cannot understand why I didnt tell the other performers in our company. When I looked around, I saw that many of our group had left. The non-profit began in 1941, in partnership with the Department of War, and then later with the Department of Defense. Celebrity waiters. Dont mean nothin, he said. This runway is actually too short for this type of plane, our liaison officer said. Just another guy thinks hes back in combat. We've played to audiences in small units of 500 or so, and much oftener to audiences of 8 to 10,000. The USO's fundraising efforts were controversial. Moreover, they worked to merge black and white USOs into one desegregated unit. 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.[46]. Roosevelt said he wanted "these private organizations to handle the on-leave recreation of the men in the armed forces." Its your duty to raise morale, he said. The USO has over 200 locations around the world in 14 countries (including the U.S.) and 27 states. New York. I smiled, thinking of home. I was uncomfortable even before we arrived. You can quote me as saying that we should use entertainment as an essential industry so long as it's for the boys in service. 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. Thank you for coming today, she said, grasping my hands in hers. The second chairman was future senator Prescott Bush. Danny was okay, with his stories and jokes, but after all, we knew what American men looked like. Our blog posts feature short pieces that cover a wide range of opinion editorials, literary reviews, and profiles on veteran artists and writers. 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. 3. The lobby had a few armchairs and potted plants. During the Vietnam War, USO social facilities ("USOs") were sometimes located in combat zones.