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According to Westheider, "The young women wore miniskirts no slacks were allowed." She scored a hit with the 1966 song, These Boots Are Made For Walkin. "[4] USO centers throughout the world recruited female volunteers to serve doughnuts, dance, and just talk with the troops. All editing, consultations, and workshops are free of charge. This Is The Untold Story of a USO Icon's Vietnam War Experience Clip from Bob Hope USO tour Cu Chi Vietnam 1968.DVD series available at Time/Life. Little about it is concrete. I watched from the stage, along with the entire cast of Guys and Dolls, as the soldier was hoisted up by his cheering buddies and tried to out-draw OBrien. The troop consisted of Doublemint Twins Terrie and Jennie Frankel, Gaslight Club singer Sara Sue, Comedian Tony Diamond and personality Sig Sakowitz. Bob Hope and entire troupe on . 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." As part of the multinational force the United States mobilized an expeditionary force composed of members of the United States Marine Corps and elements of the United States Sixth Fleet which operated out of the Mediterranean Sea. At the end of a dark hallway we entered another room. Either the families have no food, or everyone else has been killed in a bombing., The Church gives us a little money, she said. 2. Funds are paid by Greater Good Charities to benefiting organizations as a grant. I carried the crossbow and arrows throughout Vietnam and onto the plane that brought me home. Three entertainers killed & three wounded in the war Each crib held several babies. Special Services productions grew in number as replacement.[13]. Thats why youre here, remember? While there, she resumed work with the Red Cross for which she had worked before joining the USO in the 1950s. Patricia Krause was the host of the Armed Forces Radio Saigon Program, Whats New at the USO? during the Vietnam War. 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. Soldier Shows, which troops often experienced actors and musicians organized and held their own performances, were common. A middle-aged staff sergeant was standing near the crossbow. It happens sometimes.. What do you want? she asked, with a thick French accent. They sat on the ground or up on the hillside. Hispanic-American soldiers were entertained by artists such as Prez Prado's Show featuring Evita Muoz as his invited mambo dancer. [38] He adds that the tours made a "deep impression" on the stars as well. 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. Ever since I was a kid and fell in love with Robin Hood., Kinda unusual for a girl, he said. USO tours to the front lines include a diverse group of entertainers, such as in the 2018 USO Chairman's Tour, which featured actors Milo Ventimiglia . 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. Celebrities visiting this USO included Clarence Muse and the Mantan Moreland & Ben Carter duo.[29]. In the Detroit News article, Krause described what it was like to hear mortar shells flying past her Saigon residence: You can hear them coming, she said. Singer-actress-dancer Ann Miller described performing for badly wounded soldiers. List of entertainers who performed for American troops in Vietnam Between 1941 to 1947, more than 400,000 performances took place. Since 2008, the USO has shipped more than 2,000 kits to places like Afghanistan, Iraq, Egypt, and others. I rang it, wondering if I should get the hell out of there. I was afraid to sit anywhere. The second chairman was future senator Prescott Bush. 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. The USO was in Vietnam before the first troops arrived, having opened a club in Saigon in April 1963 2. The USO Takes the Stage | The Saturday Evening Post Veths letter also highlighted Krauses honor of meeting then-President Lyndon Johnson, who thanked her for her work in Vietnam. "There were so many restrictions. USO2GO is a service that provides customizable kits to military servicemen stationed in areas without a USO Center containing toiletries and snacks, furniture, electronics, and/or anything else they might need. As a way to thank United States troops for their service, the United Service Organizations (USO) plans a variety of events to entertain soldiers overseas. 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! Thank you for coming today, she said, grasping my hands in hers. At the height of the USO, in 1944, there were over 3000 clubs, and there were 700 shows a day. Maxene Andrews wrote, "The entertainment brought home to the boys. As black historian Megan Shockley noted, "Their work for the desegregation of USOs had begun during World War II, and it finally paid off. Presumably the Nazis appreciated Hope's value, since they thrice bombed towns while the comic was there."[21]. The Musicians of the United States Military, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=United_Service_Organizations&oldid=1148632992, 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, Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. It was this year that Bob Hope brought his first-ever Bob Hope USO Christmas Show to Vietnam with a star-studded cast ready to entertain service members just when they needed it most. Four hundred Marines stationed in Beirut attended the show.[45]. "USO" redirects here. Today, alcohol and tobacco are forbidden, but all snacks at USO locations are free to troops and their families. Gulf war 1990 - 1991. One day, while traveling back to our hotel after a show, I peered out the steel-mesh covered bus windows and saw some children. She held the gate open for me to leave. She did forty-eight shows for "broken soldiers," who were mostly lying on stretchers in the lobbies of hotels, watching as she entertained them. In the early days, Hollywood was eager to show its patriotism, and many celebrities joined the ranks of USO entertainers. Under our Publications tab, there are more than a dozen volumes of creative work crafted by veterans and their family members as well as a virtual art gallery. Performers and writers from throughout the army were recruited for the production; they remained soldiers and continued drills. Soon after his Christmas show in Saigon in 1967, he learned that the Viet Cong had planned to launch an attack at the hotel Hope's troupe was staying at, missing them by ten minutes. MEA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose primary mission is to work with veterans and their families to publish short stories, essays, poems, and artwork in our bi-annual publication, As You Were: The Military Review, periodic editions of Blue Nostalgia: The Journal of Post-Traumatic Growth, and others. Average performers were paid $100 a week; top stars were paid $10 a day because their wealth let them contribute more of their talents. [23], Twenty-eight performers died in the course of their tours, from plane crashes, illness, or diseases contracted while on tour. This Vietnam War Entertainers For more than 75 years, the United Service Organizations Inc. (USO) has supported U.S. military members by providing them programs and entertainment during their service. Mind if I join you?. Though blessed with talent, his life wasnt without struggles. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. During the war, almost every town in the United States set up a USO centerthere were more than 3,000 in all, staffed by 1.5 million volunteers. Case said that in her role of director of public information, Krause was the point of contact for people booking Hollywood celebrities who wanted to arrange visits to the troops in Vietnam. Consisting of sisters LaVerne, Maxene, and Patty, the group was quite active from the late 1930s into the early 50s, and boasted sales of more than 75 million records over the groups career. Everyone fully understood just what was really worth fighting for. Veterans and their families pay nothing for our services, and they never will. Over three weeks we performed shows for the Army, Marines, Air Force, and Navy, including on two aircraft carriers in the Gulf of Tonkin. This 1988-1991 television series chronicles the exploits of American women and men on a Vietnam Army base. We've played with huge tropical bugs flying in our hair and faces; we've played to audiences of thousands of men, audiences spreading from our very feet to far up a hillside and many sitting in the trees. Although it is congressionally chartered, it is not a government agency. His final Christmas show was during Operation Desert Shield in 1990. It was at Vung Tau Rehab hospital. We do our best. It's heartbreaking.[4]. They did this, he noted, by "nurturing in troops a sense of patriotic identification with America through popular entertainment. Veterans have recalled many of the USOs events, sometimes in vivid detail: On that cold, overcast day, there were more than five thousand troops in the audience. During his show, he said, "This is the most privileged moment of my life, the opportunity to be here with you. [4] The USO was incorporated in New York on February 4,[1] with the first facility erected in DeRidder, Louisiana, 1941. Estimates were that more than 161million servicemen and women, in the U.S. and abroad, were entertained. Im looking for information on a USO entertainer, Judy Larson,. Photo credit USO. Whatever the reason, I am haunted by the memory of those babies. Scholars debate about when the Vietnam War really began and in many ways it has never ended. Roosevelt said he wanted "these private organizations to handle the on-leave recreation of the men in the armed forces." "Live While You Can" A Tribute to . 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." [18], Fundraising was also aided by non-USO entertainment groups. Fifteen or sixteen, at best. Since its controversial beginnings, feelings toward the Vietnam Veterans Memorial have changed drastically. One female entertainer wrote about conditions while performing: We've played to audiences, many of them ankle deep in mud, huddled under the ponchos in the pouring rain (it breaks your heart the first two or three times to see men so hungry for entertainment.) List of entertainers who performed for American troops in Vietnam Tools The following entertainers performed for U.S. military personnel and their allies in the combat theatre during the Vietnam War (1959-1975) The Hondells October 1966 Bobby Rydell Roy Acuff (1970) Anna Maria Alberghetti Carroll Baker Madeleine Hartog-Bel Johnny Bench Polly Bergen The GIs roared with laughter. Patricia Krause traveled to the front lines and to remote locations to deliver care packages of food and toiletries to service members. They make everything by hand bow, quiver, and arrows. He pulled out a single arrow. Vietnam, mejor que Viet Nam | Buen Idioma With 40 percent of America's forces overseas and despite the Vietnam War's most dangerous moments, a total of 5,559 USO performances were staged. The most notable celebrity to entertain the troops, Bob Hope, created a legacy unequaled. These included famous entertainers such as s Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Frank Sinatra, and Marlene Dietrich, to name but a few. I saw the back of her habit flutter in the doorway, as she walked into the building. Id like that, I said. The show was closing, so he contacted someone he knew in the State Department. Women in Vietnam: An Oral History - C-SPAN.org None moved. I wondered if hed lied about his age to enlist. This Is The Untold Story of a USO Icon's Vietnam War Experience By Jean-Marie Bralley The annals of wartime history are illuminated by the lives of men and women whose deeds of devotion, courage, and sacrifice have been called heroic. [31] 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." Once the United States became involved in World War II, the USO was right behind them. Shows were also performed with comedian Joey Bishop of the Rat Pack. And besides, I dont know if Ill make it back. I was horrified. I tried to stick it out, but I was too upset. Most of us that served in Vietnam were occasionally treated to some entertainment in the form of Go-Go Dancers, singers and musicians who would come to Vietnam and entertain us. These USO performances on the front lines of World War II paved the way for the many decades to come of USO entertainment for the troops. I perform in a show for the American soldiers. "[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." His pale eyes flickered. The USO has hosted more than 8.1 million center celebrity visits across the world. The 10 Greatest USO Performers. The USO relies on your support to help service members and their families. "[28], Like much of American society and its World War II military, USOs were segregated. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Rooney also participated in USO tours during the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Bob Hope and His Dangerous History of Entertaining Troops With the USO I just fell apart and I think the shock of seeing those men with their arms and legs blown off it was just frightening. [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. She was scrapped in 1967. In 1947, the USO was disbanded,[30] due partly to lack of funds. No matter her official title, Krause did not spare herself in her work, pouring her heart and soul into her service of the troops. John Wayne. To support troops participating in Operation Desert Shield, USO centers opened in Saudi Arabia. In an effort to stop the violence in the region a Multinational Force of peacekeepers composed largely of U.S., Italian and French armed service members was created and sent to the region to attempt a restoration of order. Raquel Welch. Smokes, but not booze. USO in Vietnam United Service Organization The USO is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to support the troops by providing morale, welfare and recreation-type services to our men and women in uniform; G.I.'s "home away from home." Bob Hope USO Show in Long Binh 1970 Miss America USO Show in 1/9th helicopter hanger at Phuoc Vinh I saw two rows of baby cribs, perhaps nine or ten. Patricia Krause. Veth praised Krause for her work in both her roles with the USO in Vietnam and notes her acceptance of the National Jewish Welfare Boards Certificate of Achievement in 1966 and the certificate of appreciation she received from Army Gen. William C. Westmoreland, who commanded American forces in Vietnam from 1964-68. Our editors are based all over the country and includes college professors, professional authors, veterans advocates, and clinicians. They might still be poisonous.. The Stars Came Out for the 1st Cavalry in Vietnam By The Veterans Site. [24], One author wrote that by the end of the war "the USO amounted to the biggest enterprise American show business has ever tackled. A few children wandered around, aimlessly. "[57] 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." Today, she claims that "veterans were still stopping her and thanking her for visiting Vietnam over 30 years later."[38]. The sisters performed extensively for troops of the Allied forces during World War II, frequently singing their hit song, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, as part of their USO performances. The USO is a not-for-profit organization and not part of the Department of Defense (DoD). The USO strengthens America's military service members by keeping them connected to family, home, and country, throughout their service to the nation. Even with some Americans at home debating Vietnam War policies, the USO continued to assist soldiers far away from home, by whatever means necessary. The 10 Greatest USO Performers - Page 2 of 4 - The Veterans Site News Ahm from Kentucky. He stopped. The eldest daughter of legendary crooner Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra went on to have a successful singing career of her own in the 1960s and early 70s. Bob Hope devoted 48 Christmases overseas . [52] During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization assembled thousands of care packages for troops in mandatory 14-day quarantine en-route home. Even prior to taking over as director of public information, Krause was the host of the Armed Forces Radio Saigon Program, Whats New at the USO? according to Veths letter. Steve Martin is a wild and crazy guy who has brought his unique comedic style to television and the silver screen since the late 1960s. Although the book's publishing representative for the signing event would not allow her to sign anything other than her book, the veteran's wife recalls: She took one look at the photo, tears welled up in her eyes, and she said, 'This is one of my gentlemen from Viet Nam and I most certainly will sign his photo. Sort by: View: 25 names 1. Over the last seven decades, some of the country's best performers have taken the USO stage to entertain troops with music, dancing, and comedy routines. Hope, of course, was one of the biggest stars involved. Its now one of the most popular memorials in Washington. Kerry later wrote, "The visions of Ann Margret and Miss America and all the other titillating personalities who would have made us feel so at home hung around us for a while until we saw three Chinook helicopters take off from the field and presumed that our dreams had gone with them. It was 1967. Stick to subjects like where they are from, their favorite sports team, stuff like that.. Within the United States, the number is "significantly higher. "[39], But for GIs who saw the show, it was worth it: "We turned to watch Ann perform, and for about two minutes of American beauty, the war was forgotten. I looked up. Well, goodbye. He kissed me lightly on the cheek and left. 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. Photo credit USO, On a lighter but still important point, Veth wrote about Krauses insistence on dressing femininely despite the less-than-ideal conditions in which she would find herself. I didnt know whether to be impressed or to feel sorry for him. I want you to have it. He handed me the bow and quiver. Here's a look at 10 of the greatest performers to grace the USO stage. Bob Hope took his annual USO Christmas tour to Vietnam for nine consecutive years from 1964 to 1972. We went on board and entered a depressingly large ward. The orderlies jumped on him, trying to hold him down while shouting and hitting him. Itincluded comedians Chico Marx, Laurel and Hardy, singer Jane Pickens, dancer Ray Bolger, and actor John Garfield, who acted as master of ceremonies. As reported by the USO, the unpaid volunteer to paid employee ratio overseas is 20 to 1. While local and volunteer talent might be found on the bill, stars of huge magnitude soon gravitated to the events. [35]:51. The tip is dipped in poison, in case the enemy is still alive. Our History USO San Diego I saw the children from our bus., I see, she said. [43], In 1983, a bloody civil war was raging in Lebanon. The USO's fundraising efforts were controversial. But when you do it, you do it. The Guinness Book of Records called him the most honored entertainer ever. Two wore soiled cloth diapers; three were naked. None showed any expression. Stars and Stripes news special-reports vietnam-at-50, Tet Offensive & Khe Sahn Vietnam War Footage, Vietnam War Casualties Listed by Home of Record. A bell hung on a rope. Enter your email address to subscribe to us and receive notifications of new posts by email. One service member recalled, "Hope was funny, treating hordes of soldiers to roars of laughter. 1967-12-25 Bob Hope USO Christmas Show Long Bihn Bear Cat South Vietnam "Twelve reels of silent and composite coverage of the Bob Hope, USO Christmas Show. 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. In Riverside, California a Negro USO was established to serve the March Field service population. Every night we play a different place.[4]. The USO also did shows in military hospitals, eventually entertaining more than 3million wounded soldiers and sailors in 192 different hospitals. Draft-card burnings on college campuses angered him". 2023 Military Experience & The Arts. 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. We were quickly herded onto military buses for the drive to our hotel, the Meyerkord. Change). | Hope for America: Performers, Politics and Pop Culture Real sick.. The following year the show was made into a film by the same title, again starring Ronald Reagan. The USO Camp Shows kicked off in October of 1941, two months before American's entry into World War II. John Benning Chapter, Daughters of . And bandleader Les Brown, who was with him during many of his tours, mentioned that his band "had seen more of Hope's ass in the last forty years than any of Hope's immediate family. Their eyes looked like buttons on a stuffed toy. [15][16] He had already been active back home selling war bonds, and donated $100,000 to the USO. How long have you been over here?, Several years, he said. People leave them here. I stayed with him until hed relaxed his grip. Vietnam War: Racquel Welch 1967 - YouTube And during his 1993 televised birthday celebration, when he turned 90, General Colin Powell saluted Hope "for his tireless USO trouping", which was followed by onstage tributes from all branches of the armed forces. The USO has over 200 locations around the world in 14 countries (including the U.S.) and 27 states. 32 Vintage USO Photos Of Military Entertainment Starting With WW2 Its occupant looked like a young kid. Was it because Id broken the rules? Singer and actress Connie Stevens remembered her 1969 tour with Bob Hope, when she decided to go despite the fact she had two children both under the age of two. Interestingly, Krause did not appear to be a stranger to the military even before joining the USO. "[4], The first national campaign chairman was Thomas Dewey, who raised $16million in the first year. Subsequently, she worked as the director of public information for the entire USO Vietnam undertaking, spending a total of three-and-a-half years in these capacities from late 1965-68. The name Bob Hope just seems to be synonymous with the USO, as Hope devoted so much time to the organization and the troops. Accompanied by military escorts, Krause traveled to the front lines and to remote locations to deliver care packages of food and toiletries to service members, Case said. Soons ah could walk they sent me back out but ah got malaria again so ah ended up in the hospital. It is an important part in the life of your sons, your brothers, your husbands, and your sweethearts. I met her in Nha Trang in 67. The show was not easy, notes Faith. Are you admiring the crossbow? a male voice asked. Naval Forces in Vietnam, for the VFW 1968 Unsung Heroine Award. We've played on uncovered stages, when we, as well as the audience, got rain-soaked. Bob Hope - Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund After every performance he'd choose a volunteer to join him in a quick-draw contest. There were five babies. 3. From June 8 to 11, 2009, TV personality Stephen Colbert traveled to Iraq to film his show The Colbert Report for four days in a USO sponsored event. Those children out there, she said, indicating the toddlers in the yard, are the older ones. The non-profit began in 1941, in partnership with the Department of War, and then later with the Department of Defense. Williams was known for his role in the film "Good Morning, Vietnam . USO performance in Vietnam, 1967. He paused. 10. 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 . United Service Organizations - Wikipedia I left the room, too upset to speak. The film starred Ronald Reagan, then a captain in the Army Air Force. Despite the death of LaVerne in 1967, the Andrews Sisters remained active until disbanding in 1975. [20], 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. "Until everyone comes home" is the motto of United Service Organizations (U.S.O.) 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. Theres also the picture of her with the U.S. Army nurses so she made sure every segment as much as she could as an individual person got the benefit of the USO touch.. The USO: a GI's "home away from home" since 1941 - Warhawk Air Museum USO centers in combat zones provide free phone calls home and internet access to service members through its private telephone network and high-speed internet. Vietnam War: Racquel Welch from Bob Hope Christmas Special 1967Help us caption & translate this video!https://amara.org/v/t1fU/ 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. Our USO troupe consisted of thirteen singer/dancer/actors, as well as four musicians. Happens all the time.. "[57] After WWII was declared over, the USO had sent out an "impassioned bulletin" asking entertainers not to abandon the GIs now that the war was over. 60 new units went to Europe after V-E Day, and 91 new units went to the Pacific after V-J Day. 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 1990, Martin and his wife visited troops in Saudi Arabia at the beginning of the Gulf War. There were 702 different USO troupes that toured the world, some spending up to six months per tour. The USO initially disbanded in 1947, but was revived in 1950 for the Korean War, after which it continued, also providing peacetime services. The United Service Organizations, popularly known as the USO, was incorporated in New York on February 4,1941, to provide recreational opportunities and resources for members of the U.S. Armed Forces on leave. Thankfully, Laurel and Hardy's Driver's License sketch needed only a few simple props. USO