Tribute to the USO

The USO was founded in 1941 in response to a request from President Franklin D. Roosevelt to provide morale and recreation services to U.S. uniformed military personnel. Roosevelt was elected as its honorary chairman. This request brought together six civilian organizations: the Salvation Army, Young Mens Christian Association (YMCA), Young Womens Christian Association (YWCA), National Catholic Community Service, National Travelers Aid Association and the National Jewish Welfare Board. They were brought together under one umbrella to support U.S. troops. Roosevelt said he wanted "these private organizations to handle the on-leave recreation of the men in the armed forces." 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."
After being formed in 1941 in response to World War II, "centers were established quickly... in churches, barns, railroad cars, museums, castles, beach clubs, and log cabins."[4] Most centers offered recreational activities, such as holding dances and showing movies. And there were the well-known free coffee and doughnuts. Some USO bases 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.
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. 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. From 1941 to 1947, the USO presented more than 400,000 performances, featuring entertainers such as Joe E. Brown (comedian), Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Frank Sinatra, Marlene Dietrich, Hattie McDaniel, Ann Sheridan, Laurel and Hardy, The Marx Brothers, Jack Benny, Larry Adler,Zero Mostel, James Cagney, James Stewart, Gary Cooper, Doraine and Ellis, Danny Kaye, The Rockettes, Al Jolson, Fred Astaire, Curly Joe DeRita,The Andrews Sisters, Joe E. Brown, Joe E. Lewis, Ray Bolger, Lucille Ball, Glenn Miller, Martha Raye, Mickey Rooney, Betty Hutton, Dinah Shore, and most famously, Bob Hope.

Category:

Entertainment

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• uso
• andrews
• sisters
• bob
• hope
• kate
• smith
• judy
• garland
• marlene
• dietrich
• frank
• sinatra
• lauren
• bacall
• james
• cagney
• al
• jolson
• danny
• kaye
• kay
• kuser
• lucille
• ball
• bing
• crosby
• ann
• sheridan
• abbott
• costello
• laurel
• hardy
• hollywood
• wwii
• world
• war

[HelloHello563]

A great utube show!

[djmusicjac]

awesome absolutely fantastic, this music is coming back NOSTALGIA its back in fashion

[1dpoppyman]

My mother used to say to me "In those days we all used to pull together." Pull Together. The Greatest Generatiion..

[GROPIUS2570]

While watching, I wondered why Al Jolson wasn't part of this thoughtful tribute. After all, Jolson performed for the USO during WWII in Alaska, South America, Africa, Italy and the UK. He also did the USA circuit of hospitals and camps. Afterwards he was the first entertainer to travel to Korea. He died soon after that trip, a casualty of his efforts.

[MegaFilthyMcnasty]

I would give ANYTHING to be in the 1940's. This video is a sad reminder of times better times past. Sad because they are gone.

[iluv2singa]

Wonderful tribute...may God always bless the USO. The only person missing from this video collage is the performer who was first to go over in both WWII and Korea, and that is Al Jolson.

[robbyfan7]

Love the video and the music with it!! It's great. Thanks for posting it. :)

[JudyGarland38]

Look at Judy!! I LOVE THIS VIDEO!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR POSTING!!! THIS VIDEO IS PRICELESS! ABSOLUTELY PRICELESS! Thank you so much for posting!

[JudyGarland38]

Look at Judy!! I LOVE THIS VIDEO!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR POSTING!!!

[FreedomTruckerUSA]

@bashbrannigan A true story and a great story too.