“The USO served also in providing a channel through which more than a million civilian men and women were able to help effectively in the war effort. This cooperative, voluntary undertaking has been in line with our democratic way of life and contributed greatly to victory.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower
The United Service Organizations, more popularly known by its acronym, the USO, has been providing services to America’s service members since 1941. After the end of World War I, it had become apparent that service men needed additional support during off-duty time. A rise in unhealthy behavior during downtime had made America’s military leaders aware that there needed to be an emphasis on welfare and the opportunity to attend religious services specific to various faith systems.
In 1940, General George C. Marshall proposed the unification of several leading support organizations with a shared mission of assisting America’s military. Organizations like the Salvation Army, YMCA and YWCA, National Catholic Community Services, National Travelers Aid Association, and National Jewish Welfare Board would band together under the USO banner to provide a cohesive service entity. With the support of President Franklin Roosevelt, the USO was officially incorporated in New York on February 4, 1941, on the cusp of America’s involvement in World War II.
The original plan called for the federal government to build, buy, or lease space that would house the USO, with local volunteers staffing these buildings, providing travelers’ aid, and creating a “home away from home” for GIs. Dances, other entertainment, and practical assistance were the hallmarks of the USO, whose mission to this day remains “to strengthen the well-being of the people serving in America’s military and their families.”
From the beginning, the USO was wildly popular. According to The New York Times, the first USO to open after the New York headquarters was reported to be in Anniston, Alabama, in November 1941. While the Anniston USO’s status as the first location is debated (the first federally funded USO was opened at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, North Carolina), what is clear is that by March of 1944, there were 3,035 USO recreational clubs. By 1945, the USO was operating in all 50 states and overseas, with some working in dangerous areas of the world. Over one million USO volunteers served over one million visitors in its first five years.
For over 80 years, the USO has served America’s military members, standing by their side no matter where their service takes them and providing entertainment and the comforts of home to those busy serving our nation. Today, the USO continues to focus on its mission to support America’s military men and women and their families. The USO offers airport hospitality and its trademarked USO tours to entertain those away from home, providing a little taste of home and the nation’s support to those dedicated to defending our freedom. In recent years, the USO has expanded its service offerings to include counseling and other human services that support the mental and emotional health of America’s military families. And the USO does all this as a private, congressionally chartered organization that depends on the generosity of volunteers and the support of other organizations and corporations. Its mission continues to be “to strengthen the well-being of the people serving in America’s military and their families.”
We celebrate the accomplishments of the USO and wish the organization a very happy birthday on February 4th. As General Eisenhower said so eloquently, “The USO has given an impressive demonstration of the way people in our country of different creeds, races and economic status can work together when the nation has dedicated itself to an all-out, integrated effort.” We encourage you to visit the Wright Museum to learn more about the time period in which the USO was founded and the World War II service men and women whom it served.
All information in this blog post came from the following sites. Please visit them to learn more about the USO, its mission, its history, and its meaning in American history.
Britannica, “United Service Organizations, Inc.”
The USO, “Here’s How the First USO Centers Were Created”
The USO, “On Its 80th Anniversary, the USO Looks Back on Eight Decades of Standing by the U.S. Military’s Side”
The USO, “The Organization”
The USO, “The USO: An Icon Born of Necessity”
