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50th Anniversary of the U.S.O. 4/5/91 [OA 6897] [1]
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50th Anniversary of the U.S.O. 4/5/91 [OA 6897] [1]
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Originally Processed With FOIA(s):
FOIA Number:
S
S
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the George Bush Presidential
Library Staff.
Record Group/Collection:
George H.W. Bush Presidential Records
Collection/Office of Origin:
Speechwriting, White House Office of
Series:
Speech File Backup Files
Subseries:
Chron File, 1989-1993
OA/ID Number:
13750
Folder ID Number:
13750-009
Folder Title:
50th Anniversary of the U.S.O. 4/5/91 [OA 6897] [1]
Stack:
Row:
Section:
Shelf:
Position:
G
26
21
3
3
1 April 1991
MEMORANDUM FOR TONY SNOW
FROM:
JENNIFER GROSSMAN
SUBJECT:
USO/BOB HOPE MATERIAL
Beth, are you doing This?
USO BACKGROUND
Do you need help?
(excerpts from fact sheets)
- ATO
1)
"USO is a voluntary, civilian nonprofit organization devoted
exclusively to serving the needs of military personnel and
their families worldwide. USO is not part of the U.S.
government and receives no direct federal funding. It
relies on voluntary, private contributions from the American
public through individual and corporate donations, United
Way and Combined Federal Campaigns."
2)
USO was founded in 1941 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Interesting POTUS tie-in: " the late Prescott Bush, the
father of today's Honorary Chairman, President George Bush,
played a very significant role in the founding of USO.
Prescott Bush was one of four business leaders recruited by
President Franklin Roosevelt to organize the USO in 1941.
Mr. Bush was honored posthumously with the 1990 USO
Christmas Award for personally leading a fundraising effort
which netted $32 million for the USO war chest in 1942. "
3)
"USO is the channel through which the American public can
support the unique needs of our modern, transient, peacetime
military As long as military personnel continue to be
uprooted and transferred, and their families located far
from familiar support services, assistance to transients
will continue to be a primary focus of USO's programming. "
4)
"The goals of USO are well expressed in the words of one of
our country's first citizen soldiers, General George
Washington, who said: 'When we assumed the soldier, we did
not lay aside the citizen. "
5)
"During World War II, American soldiers numbered 12 million;
today they number 2.2 million. Fifty-four percent are
between 18 and 25 years old, married, and have children.
Including family members, the total population associated
with the services is over 5 million."
6)
"Since USO celebrated '50 years of service to service
people' on February 4, 1991, the organization continues to
vigorously fulfill its mission to America's military men and
women. Responding to the most recent enormous challenge of
Operation Desert Shield/Storm, USO established centers in
the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia."
7)
"In 1941, after the USO was incorporated, Camp Shows Inc.
was formed as a separate corporation affiliated with and
supported by the USO. From 1941-47 alone, USO/Camp Shows
presented almost a half-million performances to an audience
that totaled more than two hundred million people USO
shows demonstrate to military personnel that their country
is behind them and supports them, reinforcing the message
that America cares about its courageous men and women in
uniform."
QUOTES
1)
POTUS might introduce his remarks at the Bob Hope luncheon
by recalling the latter's remark:
"If I have to lay an egg for my country, I'll do it. "
--Bob Hope
2)
FDR, founder of USO, remarked upon an American quality we
have been privileged to see once again in action:
" the ability of the American people to face a tough
situation and to take orderly and united action in
their own behalf and in behalf of the things in which
they believe."
--FDR, Radio address on the 9th anniversary of the
administration's agricultural program, March 9,
1942.
3) MORE FDR:
"Wherever men and women of good will gather together to
serve their community, there is America."
--Radio address on Mobilization for Human Needs,
Oct. 13, 1940.
4)
STILL MORE FDR:
"Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or
softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not
have to be cruel in order to be tough. "
--ibid.
850 attendees
Reagan Ford Cheney Powell Hope
not there for meal
arrive at end, and then speak.
Fundraising for this event & uso ingeneral,
Bob Hope might by presented of
lifetime ach. award
50yrs of service
POTUS - non.ch.
- call Jay
put that in the speech
APR-02-1991 10:37 FROM
TO
12024562820
P.02
IVE 0.00 838
2022962568
F.01
Memorandum for Craig Wray
ANNIVERSARY
FROM:
Bob Odell
Kathy Phillips
The President of the United States
RE:
Bob Hope Award
George Bush
USO Honocary Chairman
DATE:
April 1, 1991
9:30 pm
Bob Hope
USO Ambassador of Good Will
In honor of Bob Hope's 50 years of personal
Admiral William J. Crowe, 3r., USN (Ret.)
contribution to the USO and the military men and
Former Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
women it serves, the World USO would like
Co-Chaiman, USO 50tb Anniversary
to award their "Lifetime Achievement Award" to
him at the luncheon on April 5.
Helox c. Prechter
Chairman, ASC Inc.
Co-Chairman, uso 50th Anniversary
It is my understanding that this award or another
is to be presented again to Mr. Hope during the TV
Alex G. Spanor
show by General Colin Powell.
Chairman, A.G. Spance Construction, Inc.
Salute Chairman
Bob Hope is attending the luncheon in part because
his close friend, Alex Spanos, is chairing the event.
General Bernard W. Rogers, USA. (Ret.)
Chairman. USO World Board of Governors
Further, I have been told that Mr. Hope has
personally requested that his award be presented
Honorable Chaprese B. Cox
by the President. President Bush serves, as every
President, World USO
President since Franklin Roosevelt, as the Honorary
Chairman of the USO.
In reviewing the agenda as presented, you will note
that Mr. Hope is introduced and speaks for 5
minutes before the President arrives. My goal was
that the audience will be prepared for the
President's arrival and that all speeches and
business will be concluded. If the President agrees
to give Mr. Hope his award, I would discourage Mr.
Hope from anything other than "thank you, Mr.
President."
The award has been contributed by Steuben and is
APR-02-1991 10:37 FROM
TO
12024562820
P.03
MEMORANDUM FOR CRAIG WRAY
April 1, I991
(Cont.)
I hope you can let me know the situation as I need
to get with Mr. Hope's person on what we expect of
him at the luncheon.
Many thanks.
50th Anniversary of the uso
Universal Studios
Los Angeles, CA
uso contact: Kevin McCarthy
783-8121
LA: Bob O' Dell
213-207-9700
or Abigail Perelmen
Robin Cherry
Jean Stafford 213-207-9700
Jernifer Glynn
Thank-you notes: Kevin McCarthy
601 Indiana Are. NW
W,DC 20004
USO
WORLD HEADQUARTERS 601 Indiana Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 783-8121 FAX: (202) 638-4716
1941 FIFTY YEARS SERVICE TO SERVICE PEOPLE . 1991
USO CASE STATEMENT
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
USO is a voluntary, civilian nonprofit organization devoted exclusively to serving the
human needs of military personnel and their families worldwide.
USO is not part of the U.S. government and receives no direct federal funding. It
relies on voluntary, private contributions from the American public through individual and
corporate donations, United Way and Combined Federal Campaign.
Since its founding by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1941, USO has fostered the
creation of a viable understanding and interaction between the military and civilian
communities in the United States and overseas and has responded to the special needs of
service personnel. And as those needs have changed over the past five decades, the USO
has adapted, developed, and improved.
USO today is far more than just another service organization; it's a vital element in
our nation's mobilization for peace. USO is the channel through which the American
public can support the unique needs of our modern, transient, peacetime military. The
morale and spirit of our servicemembers are prime factors in maintaining combat
readiness--America's first line of defense.
Over 2 million Americans wear an armed services uniform. Their spouses and
children add another 3 million, bringing the total military population to over 5 million.
Most military personnel are between the ages of 18 and 25 years, and over 54% are married
with children. More than a million are in the lowest paid enlisted ranks. For today's
military personnel and their families, TRANSIENCY is a way of life. At any given time,
over 820,000 men and women - plus many of their families - are stationed outside the
United States on a peacekeeping mission for our national defense.
Although military families mirror the trends of our ever-changing society (more
working mothers, an increased number of single parents, aggregate families with two sets
of divorced parents), the higher rate of transiency sets them apart from their civilian
counterparts.
Military service is a job to which no other can be compared. Armed forces personnel
are often uprooted and transferred several times during their careers, creating special
problems and needs for the young servicemember, spouse and children living in isolated
areas far from loved ones and familiar support services. Spouses leave careers, children
adjust to new schools in new, often unfriendly surroundings. The mission of service life
precludes any permanent basing. And military personnel have made a commitment to be
ready to fight and even die for that mission.
President George Bush
Bob Hope
Admiral William J. Crowe, Jr., USN (Ret.)
Heinz C. Prechter
Honorary Chairman
Ambassador of Good Will
Co-Chairman, USO 50th Anniversary Celebration
Co-Chairman, USO 50th Anniversary Celebration
Gen. Bernard W. Rogers, USA (Ret.)
Hon. Chapman B. Cox
Richard Henry
Martha C. Sundquist
Richard A. McKinnon
Chairman
President
Executive Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Hon. Charles T. Hagel
Doris I. Dixon
Senator Sam Nunn (D-GA)
Senator John W. Warner (R-VA)
Cathy M. Bolinger
Immediate Past President
Honorary Member
Honorary Member
Honorary Member
Assistant Treasurer
Hon. Harry N. Walters
Duane W. Acklie
Melvin M. Swig
Richard A. McKinnon
Gen. Glenn K. Otis, USA (Ret.)
Regional Vice Chairman
Regional Vice Chairman
Regional Vice Chairman
Regional Vice Chairman
Regional Vice Chairman
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Duane W. Acklie
Hon. Don Fuqua
Steven W. Lew
SMMC David W. Sommers, USMC
President and CEO
President
President/Chief Operating Officer
Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
Crete Carrier Corporation
Aerospace Industries Association
Universal Studios Hollywood
Benjamin J. Sottile
Hyo Young Ahn
Mary B. Galvin
Dr. Ken Lipke
Chairman, President & CEO
President. McAhn Industries, Ltd.
USO of Illinois
Chairman
Gibson Greetings. Inc.
President, USO Council of Korea
Gibraltar Steel Corporation
Hildegard Goehrum
Robert W. Spanogle
Margot Archambault
President
Dennis P. Long
National Adjutant
USO Council of Illinois
USO Council of Stuttgart, West Germany
Chairman of the Board
The American Legion
D.P. Long & Associates, Inc.
John S. Autry
John Gottschalk
George M. Steinbrenner, III
Vice President
Publisher/CEO
Maj. Gen. John R. McDonough, USAF
Chairman of the Board
Unisys Corporation
Omaha World-Herald
Chairman
American Ship Building Company
Armed Services Chaplains Board
Hon. William L. Ball III
Adm. James S. Gracey, USCG (Ret.)
Lee J. Stillwell
President
Washington, D.C.
Hon. James D. (Mike) McKevitt
Vice President, Public Affairs
National Soft Drink Association
Attorney-At-Law
American Medical Association
Georgenia Grandpierre
James E. Barrett, Esquire
Paris, France
Richard A. (Tony) McKinnon, Esquire
Martha C. Sundquist
President
Trammell Crow Company
Memphis, Tennessee
Stoney Creek Collectibles
Hon. Grant S. Green, Jr.
Vice President
Oliver M. Mendell
Alfred W. Swan, Jr.
Col. Ferdinand C. Bidgood, USA (Ret.)
International Planning & Analysis Center
Senior Vice President
President and COO
Springfield, Virginia
Chemical Bank
Bank South, N.A.
Charles P. Grier
Ronald W. Bradley, Esquire
Senior Vice President
Lucille G. Murchison
Melvin M. Swig
President
Dr Pepper/Seven-Up Companies
Dallas, Texas
Chairman of the Board
Wood. Burney, Cohn, & Bradley
Swig Weiler and Dinner
Hon. Charles T. Hagel
William F. Murdy
Edward J. Campbell
President/CEO
President
William G. Tobin
President and CEO
Private Sector Council
General Investment & Development Co.
Vice President
Newport News Shipbuilding
Korn/Ferry International
Theodore H. Halligan
Bruce S. Nevins
Hon. Chapman B. Cox
Managing Director
Chairman, Berleca Limited
Max E. Toy
President
Piper, Jaffray & Hopwood
President, BSN Associates, Inc.
President and Chief Executive Officer
World USO
Pillar Corporation
Hon. Lois Haight Herrington
Bruce G. Nitsche
John B. Curcio
Attorney-At-Law
National Director, Voluntary Services
Alex Trebek
Chairman/CEO (Ret.)
Disabled American Veterans
Television Producer
Mack Trucks, Inc.
Richard H. Hochman
Host of "Jeopardy!"
Managing Director
R. Kendall Nottingham
Gen. Michael S. Davison, USA (Ret.)
Painewebber
Chairman
James E. Turner, Jr.
International Affairs Consultant
American Life Insurance Co.
Vice President/General Manager
J. Allen Hollingsworth
General Dynamics
Gavin de Becker
Coronado, California
Kathleen P. O'Beirne
President
Writer-Consultant
Rudolph A. Vignone
Gavin de Becker, Inc.
Hon. Christopher Jehn
Vice President, Government Relations
Assistant Secretary of Defense
Gen. Glenn K. Otis, USA (Ret.)
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.
Hon. Ruth E. Denk
Force Management and Personnel
Corporate Vice President
Chairman/President
Coleman Research Corporation
Ray Volpe
Denk Baking Company
C. Lloyd Johnson
Chairman and CEO
Chairman and CEO
Keith L. Reinhard
The Maltese Companies, Inc.
Peter DuBose
C. Lloyd Johnson Co., Inc.
Chairman and CEO
Senior Vice President/Secretary
DDB Needham Worldwide Inc.
Hon. Harry N. Walters
Palmer National Bank
Wilhelm C. Kast
President
President
Riley Repko
Great Lakes Carbon Corporation
Mac S. Dunaway, Esquire
DP Corporate Services, Inc.
Director, Government Affairs
Dunaway & Cross
The Oracle Corporation
Morris Wax
Robert P. Kelsey, Jr.
President
Lt. Gen. C.W. (Bill) Dyke, USA (Ret.)
Consultant
Michael J. Roarty
Waxie's Enterprises, Inc.
Senior Advisor
Kidder, Peabody & Co., Inc.
Executive Vice President
Mitsubishi International Corporation
Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
James F. Williams
Ralph B. Kohnen, Jr., Esquire
Consultant
Arthur E. Engel
Kohnen, Patton & Hunt
Cliff Robertson
The Coca-Cola Company
President and Chairman
Actor/Director, AT&T Spokesperson
Southwest Marine, Inc.
Hon. Lawrence J. Korb
Robert T. Williamson
Director
Gen. Bernard W. Rogers, USA (Ret.)
President
Thomas H. Fey
Center for Public Policy Education
Senior Consultant
Royal Petroleum, Inc.
President
The Brookings Institute
The Coca-Cola Company
Godiva Chocolatier Worldwide
James Wood
Walter W. Krueger
Mary G. Sethness
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer
RADM James H. Flatley III, USN (Ret.)
President
Chicago, Illinois
The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
Non Commissioned Officers Association
Company, Inc.
Intermarine, USA
Martin R. Shugrue, Jr.
Stephen K. Lambright, Esquire
Trustee
James F. Young
Daniel T. Flynn
Vice President/Group Executive
Eastern Airlines
Special Assistant to the Chairman
Vice President/Management Supervisor
Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
Electronic Data Systems
Glennon & Company
Johnny Yune
Reverend James D. Ford, D.D.
Beverly Hills, California
Chaplain
U.S. House of Representatives
As of 1/10/91
Executive Summary
Page Two
Because of the unusual demands of service life (growing tensions in the world that
require long deployments and "remote" tours to locations away from family members),
military personnel and their families face numerous challenges not always present in the
typical American family.
Culture shock, language and ethnic barriers in foreign countries, loneliness and
boredom, lack of adequate on-base housing, financial difficulties and lack of adequate child
care are just a few of the stressful problems exacerbated by the unique elements of military
life.
USO services are aimed at today's transient military groups: military travelers on
their way to new assignments, fleet sailors and marines in foreign ports (and their visiting
families), groups on training exercises, servicemembers and families arriving at new duty
stations, and those on leave. USO plays an important role in providing the military family
with services and programs which are immediate, targeted to specific groups and needs, and
often focus upon preventive measures that can enhance military life.
At more than 160 locations worldwide including recently opened centers in the
Middle East, the core of USO today is a human service program offered through Airport
Centers, Fleet Centers, Family and Community Centers, Orientation and Intercultural
Programs and Celebrity Entertainment.
As long as military personnel continue to be uprooted and transferred, and their
families located far from familiar support services, assistance to transients will continue to
be a primary focus of USO's programming.
Through the assistance offered by USO, our military personnel are able to
concentrate more fully on the job at hand: defending our freedom.
The USO needs American citizens and corporations to support its efforts. Through
such support, USO can expand its commitment to serve the morale and well-being of the
men and women who are defending our national interests around the globe.
Snow/Grossman
April 1, 1991
Salute to the USO
1 p.m.
Draft Two
Presidential Remarks: Salute to the USO
Los Angeles, CA
April 6, 1991
6 p.m. (approx.)
Thanks, James. Barbara and I are thrilled to join this
tribute to the USO. The only time I've ever been surrounded by
so many stars was when I visited Saudi Arabia last year, and
visited the men and women who later served in Operation Desert
Storm. //
Many people think the USO just puts on road shows, but those
of us who have served know that it does much, much more. In
World War II, the USO also established more than 3,000 homes away
from home for GI's serving in Europe and the Pacific. Later, it
sought out housing and help for Korean veterans. By Vietnam, its
importance was so well understood that the Vietcong actually
tried to blow up Bob Hope! // And in Operation Desert storm, the
USO gave our troops "Oasis" packages, crammed with goodies from
home.
The USO exemplifies Americans' natural commitment to
goodness, decency, service. When American men and women risk
their lives in the service of principle, the USO is there. When
lonely troops yearn for the sights and sounds and humor of home,
the USO is there. When loved ones want to send their thoughts
and wishes and prayers, the USO is there. The USO provides
precious necessities for our troops: love, hope, happiness,
home. It lets those of us back home say what we so desperately
need to say: We care. We have not forgotten you. We will not
abandon you.
Franklin Roosevelt, founder of the USO, once noted that
"Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the
fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel in
order to be tough." The U.S.O. proves that maxim. As long as
the freedom demands sacrifice, the U.S.O. will extend the hand of
human kindness to Americans charged with the tough duty of
defending liberty.
So tonight, on behalf of a grateful nation, and on behalf of
the millions and millions of people the U.S.O has helped over the
past half-century, we say thanks.
God bless you, God bless the USO, and God bless the United
States of America.
Univiltitton 818-506-2500
Jennifer
FACT-CHECK Copy
(Hinchliffe/Blymire)
April 2, 1991 3 p.m.
USOBOB
Draft One
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: USO FUNDRAISER LUNCHEON
Los Angeles, CA
Acknowledgements
Friday, April 5, 1991
It's great to be here with all of you -- and great to be in
Los Angeles. But, you know, this isn't the only place in America
where you can find ideas for movies. Think of it: General Tom
Kelly -- cleverly dealing with Wolf Blitzer's questions -- now
starring in "Dances with Wolf." Or Buddy Roemer -- all these
years a Republican trapped in a Democrat's body -- finally
featured in "Awakenings." And maybe when t.v. covers the Mrs.
America Pageant, they can bill it as "The Battle of all Mothers." "
You know, when I try to tell a joke I think of Mr. USO here,
quis
memo
Bob Hope -- and what he said before fearlessly launching a mono-
logue: "If I have to lay an egg for my country -- I'll do it. "
Well, Bob, in your love for this country's sons and daugh-
ters serving far from home, you've done everything except lay an
egg. On stage, that is. On the golf course is another matter.
I'm proud to be able to take part in this country's anniver-
sary tribute to the USO -- an inspiring part of our lives for 50
years. 50 years of volunteers giving our servicemen and women
the precious gift of hometown caring. 50 years of fleet centers,
?
airport centers, family centers, community centers. 50 years of
orientation and cultural programs -- and of conversation and
dancing. 50 years of donuts and milkshakes -- literally a taste
of home. 50 years of celebrity entertainment. That adds up to
50 years of tremendous volunteer dedication.
2
The USO has always been special to me. First, because for
years it was a big part of my father's life -- and I'm glad right
now to have the chance to thank you personally for honoring him
with your 1990 Christmas Award.
But the USO also has special meaning for me because I got to
know it first-hand during WWII when I was a lonely pilot grateful
for its touches of home -- home that sometimes seemed so far
away. And now, I receive letters from our troops in the Gulf.
Letters that talk from the heart about how much it means to see
USO visitors (and American ice cream) in that distant desertland.
Haagen Dazs is American ?
But -- like most Americans -- my real image of the USO is of
Bob Hope wearing baggy camouflage and swinging a golf club on
stages half a world away. In front of young faces lit up with
laughter -- over even the corniest jokes. Sorry, Bob.
It made you want to cry, seeing those kids able to enjoy a
break from their daily struggles and fears. How many soldiers'
lives he brightened. How many burdens he lifted. And along the
way, millions came to see him as the symbol of America. Well,
Bob, I guess. that makes you a new kind of Bald Eagle.
[ANCEDOTE TO COME] For all these years, Bob's travelled on
behalf of all Americans. We couldn't go abroad to comfort our
sons and daughters so we sent Bob. He's a big chunk of our hearts
and our heartlands. Our gift to those who spoke with their
presence and their lives for principle -- for liberty -- for us.
For whenever freedom has demanded sacrifice, our young men
and women have answered its call. And wherever they have gone the
3
USO and Bob Hope have followed, extending the hand of America.
Bob -- your own name says it all. Your dedication brings us
all hope. It gives me the greatest pleasure to honor a true
Point of Light in the American constellation of caring. You
entertainment, inspire, and move us all.
For 43 years of dedication to the ideals of the USO -- and
the USA -- we're present to you this Lifetime Achievement Award.
Congratulations, Bob. May God bless you as you have blessed us.
#
#
#
#
#
50 yrs.
See uso mag Hope
WELCOME HOME
AMERICA
A USO Salute
to America's Sons and Daughters
April 5th, 1991 Universal Amphitheatre
George Schlatter Productions 8321 Beverly Blv'd LA 90048 213-655-1400 Fax 213-852-1640
WHITE HOUSE ADVANCE
UNIVERSAL AMPHITHEATRE
FRIDAY MARCH 22, 1991
12:30
Executive Producer
Producer
Director
George Schlatter
Bob Wynn
Writer
Musical Director
Jeff Margolis
Buz Kohan
Glen Roven
Production Designer
Bob Keene
Talent Executive
Executive in Charge
Talent Coordinator
Maggie Barrett
of Production
Juliea Clark
Gary Necessary
For the USO
Executive Producers Kevin McCarthy & Ray Volpe
Producer Edd Griles
USO: 50
1941Fity Years Service to Service People.1991
TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION
WHITE HOUSE ADVANCE
"WELCOME HOME AMER
"A"
UNIVERSAL AMPHITHEATRE
MARCH 22, 1991
President
Routes:
Helicopter Pad to Tent (Luncheon and Staff Photo Op)
Tent to Amphitheatre (Cast Photo on Stage)
Stage to Presidential Suite
Presidential Suite to Amphitheatre Seat
Presidential Box
Location / Size / Access / Soldiers
Needs (Monitors Mikes) "Other Guests" (Brenda Schwarzkopf) /
Presidents Role
Speech
Schwarzkopf. Satellite Hook up
Finale
Secret Service Sweep
How much Time.
Everybody off stage?
Fundraisers Tent?
Movie Theatre?
President at Fundraisers Tent
Staff Photo Op
Seating
Dignitaries
Gen. Powell / Sec. Cheney / Gen. Neal / Pres. Reagan / Pres. Ford
Secret Service Others
Military
Wheelchair access for vets
POW's plus Guests
Other soldiers from other wars
WWII Korea Vietnam Reps (Navaho, Tuskeegee, Green Berets) VA Hospital
Talent Escorts Military
Press
Micro waves for press
SECRET SERVICE SWEEP?
"Roaming" Photographers inside SECRET SERVICE SWEEP
White House press corps
Show
Internal Communications Production to Secret Service?
Cast Photo Pre set lights & riser SECRET SERVICE SWEEP
White House / ABC / GSP photographers only
Cast photo Credentials with Numbers (plus guest backstage)
Audience
Metal Detectors location how many
Miscellaneous
Role for Reagans Fords??
Production Trailers for ABC GSP USO WHSS??
Credentials who handles? Type? / Photo Wrist change for day of show
Limos and Bus #s
Attendees for White House Advance
"WELCOME HOME AMERICA"
UNIVERSAL AMPHITHEATRE
MARCH 22, 1991
George Schaltter Productions
George Schaltter
Executive Producer
Bob Wynn
Producer
Edd Griles
Coordinating Producer
Gary Necessary
Executive in Charge of Production
Bob Keene
Production Designer
Maggie Barrett
Talent Executive
Suzzanne Stangel
Production Manager
Marrianne Sauvage
Publicist
John Field
Technical Director
Robert Odell and Associates (Fundraising Luncheon)
Robert Odell
Abigail Perlman
Robin Cherry
ABC
To Be Determined
The Brokaw Company (USO Publicist / Media)
Joel Brokaw
Sandi Brokaw
Diane Hadley
Nancy Block
USO
Rich Davis
relecopier 1020 3-21-91 i 2:16PM ;
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THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
PRE-ADVANCE PARTICIPANTS
Office of Presidential Advance
Spence Geissinger, Special Assistant to the President for
Presidential Press *
Leo Tomeu, Assistant Director of Presidential Advance for
Special Projects *
Patricia Conrad, Trip Coordinator *
Lucy Muckerman, Executive Assistant to the Special Assistant
to the President for Presidential Press Advance *
United States Secret Service
Lew Merletti, ASAIC
White House Military Office
Major Sean Byrne, Military Aide to the President
Captain Rex Jordan, AFI Advance
Fred Anderson, HMX Advance
White House Communications Agency
Mark Barnett, Operations
Kevin McHale, Trip Officer (drop in Los Angeles)
Peter Varljen, Trip Officer (drop in Houston)
Office of Political Affairs
Andy Foster, Associate Director *
Office of Communications
Bob Simon, Researcher *
Office of Cabinet Affairs
Doug Adair, Associate Director
our sons and daughters of Desert Storm gave a country back its
freedom; and a nation back its pride.
TS: new proposal; woman soldier; new freedoms; casualty
always special place in my heart -- at request of FDR, Prescott
served as USO's Ntional Campaign Chairman -- helped raise more
than $32 m. for USO in 1942; one of four business leaders
recruited by FDR to organize it in 1941; personally led
fundraising effort; 1990 USO Christmas Award
"heartstick, homesick and weary"
so young, so grateful
bringing touches of home -- and of the home spirit -- what's
truly American -- more than doughnuts or milkshakes or even phone
calls home
maybe nothing that speaks more -- and better -- of the American
character -- caring -- sharing (remember the USO shows, buddies
with arms around each other crying during "Silent Night" -- the
hospitals where
-reminder and comfort ; religious counsel and dancing i most of
all -- a taste of home
we can all be USO volunteers -- have been during Persian Gulf -
- it's always a piece of home -- a grateful home a remembering
home a loving home -- the best of Americans
Lee Greenwood
(for another time: civil war -- 17-year-olds -- same as in the
desert)
there for the simplest, best, most loving reason there is --
because there's a human need
always there with a smile -- like family
-hundreds of volunteers
even though is huge international undertaking now -- still
comes down to the same thing -- a smile, and a cup of coffee from
home -- but all it really comes down to is someone saying "we
care. We remember. We love. We're in it together. We're
Americans."
Soldier John Little -- "It's important to these guys to know
somebody
stands with them under the American flag. It let us
know that our country is behind us all the way."
to Tommy Hearns: "It just meant so much to me, words can't
describe how much you have helped me (-- may the Lord truly bless
you
because ) the Lord has blessed me through you. " Sgt.
Thigpen
James Michener, BRIDGES AT TOKO-RI, "Where did we get such
men?"
support from hoemfront: letters, homebaked brownies, Girl Scout
cookies, letters, etc. --- support and love from strangers --
Bangor, Maine
6,000 people; Universal Ampitheeater; taping for broadcast;
real patriotic -- honoring the troops; Cheney, Powell; 50 years
of USO (show -- do bits from all) i GB at the end, t.y.; one page
(2 minutes) ; just conclude the show; George Schlatter Productions
(Bob Wynn, producer; buzz cohen, writer; (213) 655-1400
great troops; America; Points of Light
fit into character of show -- not a speech -- will be
surroudned by troops
you don't have to wear a star to be a hero
vets of every conflict --
liberated country from old ghosts and doubts
illuminated our better selves. We liked what we saw. We want
to see more.
USO -- through the darkest times, was always a reminder -- a
call to our nation's soul -- a reminder of the values we were
founded upon the value of family, above all -- that's the
spirit that's so richly in the air during this great celebration
optimism; self -confidence, decnecy, feel good about self;
emotionalism
mail -- very touching --
unleash goodness you have to do deeds
What is the Am. character -- it's family. Neighbor helping
neighbor. Friendliness, kindness, generosity, patriotic. It's
the Pledge of Allegaicne at Rotary lunches -- it's saying we're
good and decent
down ceiver
can
FLOTUS? ?
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
uso
LAX- POTUS arr.
office
huge yellow ribbons wrapped around thebuildings
6,000
(military + families
other POTUSe
Hollywood types
CEDs
MARA
Voices that Care group?
history & welcome home
producer
George Schlatter Prod.
(213) 655-1400
Bobwynne, producer
Buzz Cohen writer
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
POTUS seated w/ troops
possible sat ellite hookupw/ Schwarzkopf
Mrs. Schwarzkopf might be seated w/ POTUS
after God Bless Am. or Am. the Beautiful,
he will speak (2min. tops)
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
"Why is America lucky penough to have
Such men?
Quote in spch now
is right!
City/State: I SAngeles CA
Event: USO
Date:
3/22
OFFICE OF PRESIDENTIAL ADVANCE
CONTACT SHEET
Name
Office
Phone Number
Presidential Advance Office
202/456-7565
Presidential Advance Fax Number
202/456-2820
Patncia Conwad
wt Afianc
202.456.7545
Inney Block
Brokdw Company
213 273-2060
Diane Hadley
Brokew Company
213273-2060
Jack Brokaw
Brohaw Co
213273-2060
Reger Neal
WH PDVANCE
213-856-9008
Lucy muckerman
WH Press Advance
202-456-7565
Spencer Geissinger
WH Press Advance 202-456-7565
GARY Necessary
George
JUDY LEVY
LEVY, PAZANTI E Assoc 213/386-8014
KATHLEEN HICKOK
Rococo, /NC
818 909 - 0990
JEFF VOLKMAN
REGAL RENTS
213 204 - 3382
JOHN BADNey
6,58
313-655-1400
John B. FIELD
G.S.P.
805/492-5316
SUZZANNE STANGEL
G.S.P.
213-821-2190
LauRa Yule
G.S P.
213/655 1400
GARY M'. LANVY
UNIVERSALAMP UNIVERSAL Amp
818 777 4446
LORA SALMON
UNIVERSAL Arne.
(818)977-4405
Jennifer Dreesen Universal AMP
777.4459
HARRY T. SmiTH UNIVERSAL CITYStunios 7773001
WilliAM D. DE CINCES
11
H
11
7773161
PAT RYAW
PARTY PLANNER WEST 213.305.1000
PAULARADIN
=
JOAN BULLARD universal Studios Hollywood 8/8 7773848
UNIV. Ample
818 777-5454
Sciond sheet
City/State: Los Angeles CA
Event: USD
Date: 3/28
OFFICE OF PRESIDENTIAL ADVANCE
CONTACT SHEET
Name
Office
Phone Number
Presidential Advance Office
202/456-7565
Presidential Advance Fax Number
202/456-2820
Julis A. MATDS
Universal Parking
818 777 8052
MICHAEL O'NEAZ OPERATIONS MG(2,U/Amovt
818
777-8620
AL ARAGON
OpERAtions
818-777-4961
ROBERT HURWITZ Amph. bEN M.R. 818-777 4469
Abigail Perlman
Rabin Cherry
Colell, Roper Representing Luncheen contact (213) 207-9700 213 207 - 9700
USO
Odell, Roper/ USO
201-9700
Rich Davis
uso WORLD Headgharters
(213) 655-1400
Linda Johnson Universal Amphitheatre 818 7774464
BOB ODELL ODELL, Roper / uso 213-207-9700
Bob
Simon
WH Speechwriting
202-456-7750
SEAN BYRNE, ARMY AIDETO THE PRESIDENT (202) 395-1747
ANDY FOSTER WH POLITICAL AFFAIRS
(202) 456-6510
Fred Anderson
MARINE ONE Advance
(703) 640-2364
Bob Steele
WH COMMUNICATIONS
(202) 395-4024
Brad Fugitt WH Communications
(202) 395-4040
MAC McKeawu White House Communications (202)395-5206
MARK BARNSTER
WRITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS AGENCY (075) 202 - 395 - 4040
BOB WYNN G.S.P.
213 655 1400
Georae Schlatter Executive Producer
(213)655-1400
Claquie Bawett Executive in ChargeofTalent (213)655-1400
Juliea Clarke Talent Coordinator
(213)655-1400
EDD GRILES
Coordinating Producer
(213) 655-1400
Mariaune Saurage Publicist
(213) 655.1400
USO
WORLD HEADQUARTERS
601 Indiana Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 783-8121 FAX: (202) 638-4716
1941 FIFTY YEARS SERVICE TO SERVICE PEOPLE . 1991
USO's MISSION
The USO is a congressionally chartered, nongovernmental, nonprofit organization.
For over 50 years, its mission has been to enhance the quality of life for military
personnel -- single or married -- and their families by helping them adjust to the special
rigors of a transient military life style and by fostering a viable partnership between the
military and civilian communities.
The goals of USO are well expressed in the words of one of our country's first
citizen soldiers, General George Washington, who said: "When we assumed the soldier,
we did not lay aside the citizen." In other words, military personnel have the same
social needs and commitments to loved ones as other private citizens. USO's mission
is to address those needs.
To achieve its mission, USO:
Articulates the needs and desires of the military and civilian communities
to each other;
Develops and delivers support services for integration of military personnel
and their families into civilian communities;
Initiates and implements programs that promote interaction between the
military and civilian communities;
Promotes the "quality of life" of military personnel and delivers pertinent
services to support them.
To ensure continuing financial and volunteer support, part of USO's mission is to
make the public aware of the services it provides to military personnel worldwide. This
is becoming increasingly difficult since fewer people have had military experience, and
those who have not are less aware of the rigors of military life. During World War II,
American soldiers numbered 12 million; today they number 2.2 million. Fifty-four
percent are between 18 and 25 years old, married, and have children. Including family
members, the total population associated with the services is over 5 million. USO must
continue to inform the public that USO is not funded by tax dollars, but depends on
the generosity of the American public.
President George Bush
Bob Hope
Admiral William J. Crowe, Jr., USN (Ret.)
Heinz C. Prechter
Honorary Chairman
Ambassador of Good Will
Co-Chairman, USO 50th Anniversary Celebration
Co-Chairman, USO 50th Anniversary Celebration
Gen. Bernard W. Rogers, USA (Ret.)
Hon. Chapman B. Cox
Richard Henry
Martha C. Sundquist
Richard A. McKinnon
Chairman
President
Executive Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Hon. Charles T. Hagel
Doris I. Dixon
Senator Sam Nunn (D-GA)
Senator John W. Warner (R-VA)
Cathy M. Bolinger
Immediate Past President
Honorary Member
Honorary Member
Honorary Member
Assistant Treasurer
Hon. Harry N. Walters
Duane W. Acklie
Melvin M. Swig
Richard A. McKinnon
Gen. Glenn K. Otis, USA (Ret.)
Regional Vice Chairman
Regional Vice Chairman
Regional Vice Chairman
Regional Vice Chairman
Regional Vice Chairman
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Duane W. Acklie
Hon. Don Fuqua
Steven W. Lew
SMMC David W. Sommers, USMC
President and CEO
President
President/Chief Operating Officer
Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
Crete Carrier Corporation
Aerospace Industries Association
Universal Studios Hollywood
Benjamin J. Sottile
Hyo Young Ahn
Mary B. Galvin
Dr. Ken Lipke
Chairman, President & CEO
President, McAhn Industries, Ltd.
uso of Illinois
Chairman
Gibson Greetings, Inc.
President, USO Council of Korea
Gibraltar Steel Corporation
Hildegard Goehrum
Robert W. Spanogle
Margot Archambault
President
Dennis P. Long
National Adjutant
USO Council of Illinois
USO Council of Stuttgart, West Germany
Chairman of the Board
The American Legion
D.P. Long & Associates, Inc.
John S. Autry
John Gottschalk
George M. Steinbrenner, III
Vice President
Publisher/CEO
Maj. Gen. John R. McDonough, USAF
Chairman of the Board
Unisys Corporation
Omaha World-Herald
Chairman
American Ship Building Company
Armed Services Chaplains Board
Hon. William L. Ball III
Adm. James S. Gracey, USCG (Ret.)
Lee J. Stillwell
President
Washington, D.C.
Hon. James D. (Mike) McKevitt
Vice President. Public Affairs
National Soft Drink Association
Attorney-At-Law
American Medical Association
Georgenia Grandpierre
James E. Barrett, Esquire
Paris, France
Richard A. (Tony) McKinnon, Esquire
Martha C. Sundquist
President
Trammell Crow Company
Memphis, Tennessee
Stoney Creek Collectibles
Hon. Grant S. Green, Jr.
Vice President
Oliver M. Mendell
Alfred W. Swan, Jr.
Col. Ferdinand C. Bidgood, USA (Ret.)
International Planning & Analysis Center
Senior Vice President
President and COO
Springfield, Virginia
Chemical Bank
Bank South, N.A.
Charles P. Grier
Ronald W. Bradley, Esquire
Senior Vice President
Lucille G. Murchison
Melvin M. Swig
President
Dr Pepper/Seven-Up Companies
Dallas, Texas
Chairman of the Board
Wood, Burney, Cohn, & Bradley
Swig Weiler and Dinner
Hon. Charles T. Hagel
William F. Murdy
Edward J. Campbell
President/CEO
President
William G. Tobin
President and CEO
Private Sector Council
General Investment & Development Co.
Vice President
Newport News Shipbuilding
Korn/Ferry International
Theodore H. Halligan
Bruce S. Nevins
Hon. Chapman B. Cox
Managing Director
Chairman, Berleca Limited
Max E. Toy
President
Piper, Jaffray & Hopwood
President, BSN Associates, Inc.
President and Chief Executive Officer
World USO
Pillar Corporation
Hon. Lois Haight Herrington
Bruce G. Nitsche
John B. Curcio
Attorney-At-Law
National Director, Voluntary Services
Alex Trebek
Chairman/CEO (Ret.)
Disabled American Veterans
Television Producer
Mack Trucks, Inc.
Richard H. Hochman
Host of "Jeopardy!"
Managing Director
R. Kendall Nottingham
Gen. Michael S. Davison, USA (Ret.)
Painewebber
Chairman
James E. Turner, Jr.
International Affairs Consultant
American Life Insurance Co.
Vice President/General Manager
J. Allen Hollingsworth
General Dynamics
Gavin de Becker
Coronado, California
Kathleen P. O'Beirne
President
Writer-Consultant
Rudolph A. Vignone
Gavin de Becker, Inc.
Hon. Christopher Jehn
Vice President, Government Relations
Assistant Secretary of Defense
Gen. Glenn K. Otis, USA (Ret.)
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.
Hon. Ruth E. Denk
Force Management and Personnel
Corporate Vice President
Chairman/President
Coleman Research Corporation
Ray Volpe
Denk Baking Company
C. Lloyd Johnson
Chairman and CEO
Chairman and CEO
Keith L. Reinhard
The Maltese Companies, Inc.
Peter DuBose
C. Lloyd Johnson Co., Inc.
Chairman and CEO
Senior Vice President/Secretary
DDB Needham Worldwide Inc.
Hon. Harry N. Walters
Palmer National Bank
Wilhelm C. Kast
President
President
Riley Repko
Great Lakes Carbon Corporation
Mac S. Dunaway, Esquire
DP Corporate Services, Inc.
Director, Government Affairs
Dunaway & Cross
The Oracle Corporation
Morris Wax
Robert P. Kelsey, Jr.
President
Lt. Gen. C.W. (BIII) Dyke, USA (Ret.)
Consultant
Michael J. Roarty
Waxie's Enterprises, Inc.
Senior Advisor
Kidder, Peabody & Co., Inc.
Executive Vice President
Mitsubishi International Corporation
Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
James F. Williams
Ralph B. Kohnen, Jr., Esquire
Consultant
Arthur E. Engel
Kohnen, Patton & Hunt
Cliff Robertson
The Coca-Cola Company
President and Chairman
Actor/Director, AT&T Spokesperson
Southwest Marine, Inc.
Hon. Lawrence J. Korb
Robert T. Williamson
Director
Gen. Bernard W. Rogers, USA (Ret.)
President
Thomas H. Fey
Center for Public Policy Education
Senior Consultant
Royal Petroleum, Inc.
President
The Brookings Institute
The Coca-Cola Company
Godiva Chocolatier Worldwide
James Wood
Walter W. Krueger
Mary G. Sethness
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer
RADM James H. Flatley III, USN (Ret.)
President
Chicago, Illinois
The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
Non Commissioned Officers Association
Company, Inc.
Intermarine. USA
Martin R. Shugrue, Jr.
Stephen K. Lambright, Esquire
Trustee
James F. Young
Daniel T. Flynn
Vice President/Group Executive
Eastern Airlines
Special Assistant to the Chairman
Vice President/Management. Supervisor
Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
Electronic Data Systems
Glennon & Company
Johnny Yune
Reverend James D. Ford, D.D.
Beverly Hills, California
Chaplain
U.S. House of Representatives
As of 1/10/91
A PROUD HISTORY
Responding to a call for action from President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1941, six
nonprofit agencies pooled their resources to form a new organization -- the USO
(United Service Organizations). The six civilian agencies were the Salvation Army,
Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), Young Women's Christian Association
(YWCA), National Catholic Community Services, National Traveler's Aid Association
and the National Jewish Welfare Board.
Throughout World War II, USO was the channel for community participation in
the war effort. In over 3,000 communities, USO centers were established to become
the G.I.'s "Home Away From Home." Between 1940 and 1944, U.S. troops grew from
50,000 to 12 million and their need for a variety of services grew accordingly.
With the United States' entry into the Korean War, USO was on hand here and
abroad. The ending of the Korean conflict in 1953 had relatively little effect on
decreasing the need for USO services -- more than a million servicemembers remained
stationed abroad.
In the absence of overt conflict, the early 1960s were a difficult time for military
personnel. The G.I. had become a forgotten figure and contributions to USO declined.
A National Ad Hoc USO Survey Committee in 1963 reaffirmed the need for USO, "not
merely during wartime, but perhaps even more during peacetime."
USO played an especially important role for the troops in Vietnam. But in the
early 1970s, with the ending of conscription, the question of USO's mission resurfaced.
In 1974, a report of United Way of America's Committee on National Agency Support
(CONAS) questioned the need for continued financial support for USO. United Way
of America and the Department of Defense conducted a major review of USO
programs and services.
After making on-site visits to USO operations and military bases around the world,
the findings of the committee members concluded, "If there were no USO, another
organization would have to be created Isolation of the military from civilian influences
is not, we believe, in the interest of this nation."
The results of the study launched USO into a new era of peacetime service to the
all-volunteer force. USO international headquarters was relocated from New York to
Washington, D.C., and the USO was firmly established as an international agency
serving the nation's armed forces around the globe.
A Proud History
Page Two
As the 1980s unfolded, the composition of the U.S. Armed Forces changed
dramatically -- no longer primarily single and male; but male and female -- young --
and married. Over 54% of today's military servicemembers are between 18 and 25,
and are married with children. They must handle frequent moves and long separations
-- often in isolated areas--with or without their families on hand-where they face the
problems of culture shock, loneliness, and lack of adequate on-base housing.
USO continues its close association with military leadership. This cooperation
was reemphasized in 1987 with the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding
between USO and the Department of Defense. The agreement names USO as a
principal channel representing civilian concern for the U.S. Armed Forces worldwide,
under the auspices of the President of the United States and the Secretary of Defense.
It authorizes USO to play an active role in coordinating local civilian community
resources and fostering general civilian interest in the welfare of U.S. Armed Forces
personnel and their families.
Since USO celebrated "50 years of service to service people" on February 4, 1991,
the organization continues to vigorously fulfill its mission to America's military men and
women. Responding to the most recent enormous challenge of Operation Desert
Shield/Storm, USO established centers in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and
Saudi Arabia. Also, two "USOasis Mobiles"--mobile vans equipped as full-service USO
centers--were built to travel to the front lines in order to bring a touch of home to
those stationed in more remote locations.
USO's PROGRAMS TODAY
The image of USO in wartime is familiar. Founded when tens of thousands of young men
were drafted on the eve of America's entry into World War II, today's USO has broadened
its scope to reflect the needs of today's service personnel and their families in peacetime. An
updated picture would include the following vignettes:
A young wife travels halfway around the world to meet her husband's ship. She arrives in a
foreign port only to find that the ship has been directed to another location. The USO Fleet
Center staff and volunteers help reunite husband and wife.
A military family arrives in the Washington, D.C. area after a few years overseas. Shortly
after they move into a trailer with their young daughter, it's destroyed by fire. The USO of
Metropolitan Washington's Family Service Program provides an apartment for the family for
two months--rent free.
A TOUCH OF HOME FOR THOSE IN TRANSIT
Through a broad range of programs at over 170 locations-stretching from the DMZ in
Korea to Iceland to the Middle East--USO meets the needs of our citizen soldiers, sailors,
airmen, and marines.
USO programs serve the unique needs of today's transient military groups: military
travelers, fleet sailors and marines in foreign ports (and their visiting families), groups on
training exercises, military families arriving at new duty stations, and those on leave.
Described here are some of the contemporary USO programs that support the military.
AIRPORT CENTERS
USO Airport Centers at more than 39 locations worldwide provide a personal touch and
help with such travel hassles as cancelled connections, foreign language translation, extremely
long lay-overs and missing luggage. Several USOs are open 24 hours a day and offer
important services when other airport facilities are closed.
FLEET CENTERS
At more than 45 locations in the Mediterranean, Pacific, Atlantic, Caribbean, and Middle
East, USO Fleet Operations assist U.S. Navy and Marine personnel and their families in
foreign ports or new domestic assignments. USO fleet staff and volunteers provide a range
of services, including information on hotels, affordable shopping areas, assistance with
language and currency exchange.
USO's Programs Today
Page Two
Critical services are provided especially when ship visits are cancelled, and
families coming from the U.S. are scrambling to get to the next scheduled port of call. USO
fleet support is vital especially in places without American bases such as Haifa, Israel and
Cannes, France, where USO acts as an "official" liaison between host communities and visiting
ships.
FAMILY AND COMMUNITY CENTERS
No matter where American service personnel are stationed, their concerns are similar
to any American family. They must make adjustments to critical life changes, such as new
marriages, parenthood, family separation and relocation.
Family and Community Center programs help military families-often newly married with
a young child--adjust to new surroundings with information on babysitting co-ops, employment
opportunities, parenting, nutrition, budgeting and children's recreational programs.
ORIENTATION AND INTERCULTURAL PROGRAMS
Many USO affiliates offer orientation programs geared to educating new arrivals about
resources within the civilian community, and to help ease the feelings of cultural shock.
Intercultural Understanding is a hallmark of USO's community orientation programming
overseas, fostering positive interaction between local host citizens and their American military
personnel guests.
Community involvement programs enable servicemembers and families to interact with
local residents in programs which benefit the local community while broadening the horizons
of the military personnel involved.
USOs worldwide provide access to important community resources through information
and referral services.
ANOTHER DIMENSION Celebrity Entertainment
In 1941, after the USO was incorporated, Camp Shows Inc. was formed as a separate
corporation affiliated with and supported by the USO. From 1941-47 alone, USO/Camp
Shows presented almost a half-million performances to an audience that totaled more than
two hundred million people. Camp Shows is considered the largest single undertaking in the
history of entertainment.
USO's Programs Today
Page Three
Today, USO shows featuring popular entertainers--Lee Greenwood, Billy Joel, Marie
Osmond, Earth, Wind & Fire, The Pointer Sisiters, and Randy Travis among them--are
effective morale boosters. Even in peacetime, USO shows have a serious purpose. Emotional
fatigue and the stress of living overseas can affect the mental preparedness of troops.
Celebrity entertainers provide a much-needed break in the midst of duty tours overseas. More
importantly, USO shows demonstrate to military personnel that their country is behind them
and supports them, reinforcing the message that America cares about its courageous men and
women in uniform.
The USO has been able to make its celebrity entertainment tours financially
self-sufficient through an innovative marketing program involving corporate sponsorships
between USO and Procter & Gamble, Anheuser-Busch, AT&T, Pan Am, and Northwest
Airlines. Sponsoring corporations receive signage on stage posters, logo visibility on Armed
Forces Radio and Television (AFRTS) broadcasts, and inclusion in all USO press releases and
media events.
THE ORGANIZATION
Today, the USO is made up of more than 170 locations around the world. It has a paid
staff of 750 and utilizes the services of some 20,000 volunteers, including those who serve on
the World Board of Governors, the USO's governing body. Since its founding under the
direction of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, each succeeding U.S. president has maintained
an active presence in USO as Honorary Chairman.
In fact, the late Prescott Bush, the father of today's Honorary Chairman, President George
Bush, played a very significant role in the founding of USO. Prescott Bush was one of four
business leaders recruited by President Franklin Roosevelt to organize the USO in 1941. Mr.
Bush was honored posthumously with the 1990 USO Christmas Award for personally leading
a fundraising effort which netted $32 million for the USO war chest in 1942.
The organizational structure is comprised of two components -- USO World Headquarters
and USO affiliates worldwide. All USO affiliates and their governing councils are chartered
through USO World Headquarters, which acts as the enabling body for all programs, setting
overall policy and strategies, providing training and technical assistance.
USO delivers programs and services to the U.S. Armed Forces community on the local
level through the Chartered USO Council. USO Headquarters entrusts each Council to adapt
its structure, program services and activities to the needs of the local military community, in
conformity with international USO World Headquarters policies and any prevailing Status of
Forces Agreement.
Like most nonprofit agencies, USO depends on dedicated volunteers who give their time,
talents, and services. A recently instituted USO five-year strategic plan strengthens the
organization's volunteer leadership overseas. Volunteer leaders are being prepared to take
more of an active role and assume more fiscal responsibility for USO operations.
(March, 1991)
How long do they want the
to be
(Hinchliffe/Blymire)
March 28, 1991 6 p.m.
THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN
USO Draft Two
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE USO
April 5, 1991
Universal Amphitheater Los An
You know, James Michener ends his war novel THE BRIDGES AT
TOKO-RI by asking: "Where did we get such men?" Well, I look out
at these thousands of faces -- veterans from WWII to the Persian
Gulf -- and all I can do is echo his admiration and pride: "Where
did we get such men and women?" The answer -- from the heart of
America. You are the heart of America.
That's what the USO has known all these years. That the men
and women serving for us so far away are the brothers and sisters
of our hearts. From Pearl Harbor to the skies over Kuwait, the
USO has known what homesick, weary warriors have needed.
Something very simple. A touch of home.
The most important thing the USO has done for 50 years is to
say to our troops, on behalf of America: hey, we miss you. We're
thinking about you. We care about you. You can't be home with
us, so we're sending a little bit of home to you. Maybe it's a
phone call to your folks. Or a friendly stranger just to talk
to. or Bob Hope in a Vietnamese hospital. But what we're really
giving you is a smile and a thought from your grateful country.
The USO sums up what's best about this nation. For the USO
is made up of volunteers -- there for the simplest, most loving
reason of all -- because they see a human need and want to help.
The USO is family -- the most important word in the American
use expression Points A Light
on 1000
2
vocabulary -- our country's family caring about and caring for
each member. And the USO is America -- showing the world the
optimism, decency, and good-hearted generosity that fills this
land from coast to coast.
When our troops went to the Gulf, the USO went with them.
It inspired those left behind to join in its spirit --- the proud,
yellow-ribbon spirit of thinking about every single son,
daughter, brother, sister, father, mother over there.
£ Desert Storm gave a country back its freedom. Together
Americans have given a nation back its pride.
this
Even though today's USO is immense, my father would recognize
it as the same organization President Roosevelt asked him to help
??
Ifame sure is). in
start in 1941. Because For 50 years, the USO has proven you
don't have to wear a star to be a hero. Its volunteers have
lifted the spirits and ennobled the hearts of generations of
lonely kids abroad, and their lonely families here at home.
I thought I'd leave you with some words a homesick soldier
in the Saudi desert wrote to boxer Tommy Hearns after he made a
better
knecok
X
celebrity USO tour a few months ago. Sergeant Thigpen of the 437
magh
farmel
Supply Deployed wrote: "It just meant so much to me (that you
came), words can't describe how much you have helped me
may
cowbat
3
the Lord truly bless you because the Lord has blessed me through
This
but
you. "
bach
Taking some license with the words of Lee Greenwood, who's
the
majbe
39
made many USO tours: "There's pride in every American heart and
it's time we stand and say
God Bless the USO."
a
one
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
91 MAR 28 PH 6:30
March 28, 1991
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
THROUGH:
TONY SNOW
TS
FROM:
BETH HINCHLIFFE
SUBJECT:
USO 50TH ANNIVERSARY
On Friday, April 5, you will address 6,000 attendees in the
Universal Amphitheater in a tribute to the USO, celebrating their
50th anniversary. Your remarks are 4 minutes in length, and will
be on teleprompter.
ALWAYS HOMF
VOL.1 NO.1
JANUARY 1991
THE MAGAZINE OF TODAY'S USO
STARTMENT OF THE NAVY THE NAVY
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
UNITED UNITED STATES OF THE OF
THE NAITY: MIT:
DEPARTMENT DEPAR OF THE AIR FORCE
9
BUTTO &TATES UNITED STATES MARINE
UNITED STATES MEMERIN or AMERICA
YEARS
1941
GREAT
1991
USO
Fifty years ago, GM helped build som
public
79
ning vital to America's armed forces.
The USO.
General Motors is proud to have been
instrumental in the founding of the USO
in 1941. We provided cars and trucks to
transport some of the greatest names
in entertainment on their first morale-
building tours of U.S. military installations.
USO
OVE
GM made other contributions to
America's defense effort half a century
ago - planes, tanks, engines - but few
survive outside museums or mothballs.
None has proved so durable as the USO.
It is a tribute to the strength and vitality
of the USO that today, fifty years after its
founding, it continues to accomplish its
mission - bringing a touch of home to
servicemen and women in every corner
of the world.
The USO has earned the thanks of
generations of American service personnel.
And a proud salute from General Motors.
The General Motors plant in Trenton, N.J., made Grumman
Avenger torpedo bombers for the U.S. Navy during World War II.
GM
MARK OF EXCELLENCE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
MIKE TESI
7
LETTER FROM THE
PRESIDENT
USO*
1941 FIFTY YEARS SERVICE TO SERVICE PEOPLE 1991
9
LETTER FROM THE
USO World Headquarters
601 Indiana Avenue, N.W.
CHAIRMAN OF THE
Washington, D.C. 20004
JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF
(202) 783-8121
11
United Service Organizations, Inc.
LETTER FROM THE USO
(USO) is a civilian non-profit
501(c)(3) organization devoted exclu-
12
sively to serving the off-duty needs of
U.S. Armed Forces personnel and
A HISTORY: 1941-1991
their families worldwide. Not part of
By Teresa Tynes, Danny
the U.S. government, USO receives no
Devine, Philip C. Clarke,
direct federal funding. It is supported
by private contributions from individ-
and Dewey Blanton
uals and corporations, United Way,
For 50 years, the USO has
and the Combined Federal Campaign.
taken pride in bringing
American servicemen
President George Bush
and women all over the
HONORARY CHAIRMAN
world a touch of home.
Adm. William J. Crowe, Jr.,
USN (Ret.)
26
CO-CHAIRMAN,
USO 50TH
ENTERTAINING THE
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
TROOPS!!
By Mark Scheerer
Heinz C. Prechter
Celebrities who have tour-
CO-CHAIRMAN,
USO 50TH
ed with USO Shows recall
52
67
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
some sobering experi-
THE HEIGHTS
MILITARY AIRLIFT
Bob Hope
ences and some unforget-
OF GLORY
COMMAND
AMBASSADOR OF GOOD WILL
tably touching moments.
By Robert A. Webb
By Dewey Blanton
Black soldiers in the
Gen. Bernard W. Rogers,
32
If you're traveling
USA (Ret.)
Civil War had to fight for
through St. Louis on the
CHAIRMAN, USO WORLD BOARD
HEART WITHOUT
the right to fight before
OF GOVERNORS
MAC system, you'll find a
A HOME
they could fight for
warm welcome at the
By Mary Patricia Lee
Chapman B. Cox
freedom itself.
world's largest USO center.
PRESIDENT
The winning entry in a
fiction contest open to all
58
69
Richard Henry
active duty members of
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
THE LUDLUM
STATUS SYMBOL
the armed forces.
IDENTITY
STEREOS
Cathy M. Bolinger
38
By Wendy Smith
By Ken C. Pohlmann
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Robert Ludlum, best-
The latest and most awe-
THE OTHER UNIFORM
Janet Bandows Koster
selling author and
some technology in
DIRECTOR OF
By Robert Sullivan
Marine Corps veteran,
portable and home audio/
PROGRAMS & COUNCIL RELATIONS
Some of America's top
talks about the influence
video systems.
professional athletes
of his service on the
Margaret F. Gorman
DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES
have exchanged one
17 suspense novels
70
uniform for another to
he has written.
FREE-SPIRITED
Kevin J. McCarthy
serve their country.
SPORTS CARS
DIRECTOR OF
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
62
By Norman S. Mayersohn
Always Home EDITORIAL
46
"DON'T SHOOT,
The hottest, fastest and
UNIFORMLY FEMININE
IT'S ONLY ME"
sleekest American-made
Amy E. Adler
MANAGER OF
By Julie Brown
A few recollections
performance machines
PUBLICATIONS & INFORMATION
Always Home EDITORIAL & RESEARCH
Women are playing an
about touring the world
on the road today.
increasingly visible and
for the USO, from a new
Richard J. Davis
critical role in our coun-
book by Bob Hope with
The cover illustration by R. M. Schneider com-
SPECIAL EVENTS MANAGER
memorates the USO's 50 years of service to the
Always Home DISTRIBUTION
try's armed forces.
Melville Shavelson.
five branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Always Home is published for the USO by Sports Marketing Group, Inc., Times Mirror Magazines, Two Park Ave., NY, NY 10016 and Sports Marketing International, 850 Third Ave., NY, NY 10022
Dewey Blanton, Editorial Consultant
Edd Griles, Creative Consultant
Kodak
M
Show Your True Colors.™
Political Asia map with index of countries
EUROPE 1/3000000 47 miles miles (approx.)
PASSPORT
Kod
Multi- Pur Print Film
1
Kodacolor USA FILM Gold 200 Kodaco
Gold 200
Kodak
AUTOFOCUS
TRUE TOUR PACKAGE.
Kodacolor Gold film. No print film gives you truer, more accurate color. Made in America. Trusted around the world.
© Eastman Kodak Company, 1989
In A Changing World Some Things
Deserve To Remain Just The Way They Are.
When it comes to the environment,
anticipate the environmental impact of
progress can mean maintaining the
their growth and development.
status quo.
In fact, at IBM we're developing a
That's why at IBM we're applying
variety of new technologies to help keep
advanced technology in ways that help
the environment the way it was meant
preserve the world, rather than change it.
to be.
The Global Resource Information
Because we believe that sometimes
Database (GRID) is just one example.
the best thing that can happen to the
With the help of IBM, this far-reaching
world is absolutely nothing at all.
United Nations effort is gathering and
analyzing crucial environmental infor-
®
mation that's helping countries worldwide
© 1990 IBM Corporation.
As proud supporters of
USO Worldwide from its
beginning, we wish to join in
celebrating 50 years of service
to our armed forces.
The Coca-Cola Company
"Coca-Cola"is a registered trademark of The Coca-Cola Company.
Luxury can now be found
in the most unexpected places.
Oldsmobile
Bravade
Let's get it together. buckle up.
©1990 GM Corp. All rights reserved.
GM
At the risk of sounding immodest, we must admit it's not
Edge-the most comprehensive owner satisfaction program in
very unusual to find luxury in an Oldsmobile.® But finding
the industry.
Oldsmobile luxury this far out of beeper range, well, that may
To find out more about one new vehicle that's engineered
seem a bit unexpected.
for the unexpected, call 1-800-242-OLDS, Monday through
Then again, there are a lot of unexpected things about the
Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST.
all-new Bravada.™ Starting with a feature we call SmartTrak™
Or better still, stop by your nearest Olds dealer and test
Smart Trak is a revolutionary combination of anti-lock brakes
drive the new Bravada. You'll see it gives new meaning to the
and all-wheel drive that automatically sends power to the wheels
height of luxury.
that need it. Regardless of road or weather conditions.
Another unexpected surprise is
ready for this?
there
are only four available options. That's because Bravada comes
standard with practically everything. Like its powerful 4.3-liter
Vortec V6 engine, over 70 cubic feet of cargo capacity, air
H
Bravada
®
conditioning, power windows, remote locks, AM/FM stereo
cassette, and of course, the added security of the Oldsmobile
The New Generation of Oldsmobile...
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
A
Proud
Record
Of
SERVICE
USO
7
I am pleased to serve as the Honorary Chairman
of the USO as this prestigious organization cele-
brates its 50th anniversary.
Beginning in 1989 with the premiere an-
niversary celebration in Detroit and continuing
through 1990 and 1991, friends of the USO will
gather across the world to commemorate and
celebrate this outstanding agency's 50 years of
service to those brave Americans who stand
guard for freedom around the globe.
The USO has always had a very special
place in my heart. At the request of President
Franklin D. Roosevelt, my father, Prescott Bush, served as USO's Nation-
al Campaign Chairman and helped raise more than $32 million for
USO in 1942. As a young Navy officer during World War II, I witnessed
firsthand its wonderful work. I'll never forget the positive impact USO
volunteers had on our military personnel during those dark and per-
ilous times. And in the last few months, the USO has prepared a mas-
sive effort to show our troops in the Persian Gulf that we care.
The USO continues to be "Always Home" for America's servicemen
and women and their families. The USO is a great blessing to those
who endure hardship and danger to defend peace and liberty around
the globe. I am confident that with the continued backing of America's
public and private sectors, World USO will maintain its proud record of
service into the next century. Barbara joins me in thanking all of you
for your continuing support.
GaBul
President George Bush
It's got to be a terrific show to run for 50 years.
You've probably been in the audience, so
USO
For the 5 million men, women and children in today's
you know how good it is. A USO celebrity
U.S. military community, the USO is home.
show coming out to you wherever you are,
And home is something you deserve being
bringing a special piece of home right to you.
connected to.
Then there are the USO centers in ports and airports
to assist you and your family. Their community and family
centers. The 158 locations around the world to help you.
All funded completely by individual donations and by
AT&T
companies who care.
AT&T is proud to be a major supporter of the USO.
The right choice.
©1990 AT&T
LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF
USO:
Looking
To The
FUTURE
USO
9
One of my favorite philosophers, Yogi Berra, once
declared that forecasting is very difficult, especi-
ally if what you're dealing with is the future.
That's a sage bit of advice, SO I'm always reluc-
tant to give my view of the future. About all one
can say with any credibility is that there are cer-
tain realities we know will endure. One of these
enduring realities is the uncertainty, danger and
instability in the world.
When Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, a
large part of the world recognized this danger
once again with an unparalleled cohesiveness and unanimity. Now
Hussein has been thoroughly checkmated. But without military forces,
such a checkmate would have been impossible. Military forces fill the
inescapable need generated by the enduring reality of uncertainty,
danger and instability.
Today we understand the enduring need for military forces. To-
morrow, as our memory fades, it is questionable whether we will con-
tinue to support adequate armed forces. Of all the aspects of the future,
this is what concerns me most.
I believe America has enduring interests and wherever these inter-
ests lie, there is the continuing need for military forces. These forces
must be ready, highly mobile, well-trained and well-supported. They
must consist of the very finest volunteers we can recruit. They must be
forward-deployed and in our own country. They must carry rifles, drive
tanks, fly airplanes, sail ships, and be capable of an incredible array of
skills. They must be well-motivated and in love with America. And we
must take care of them and look after their needs. They ask SO little from
us. They ask for our appreciation, they ask for the means to do their
jobs and they ask for support for themselves and their families.
For 50 years, the USO has been providing that extra dimension of
support always warm, always friendly, always entertaining, always
helpful, always conveying the thanks of a grateful America.
Even if we have well-trained and well-motivated armed forces, I
will still be unable to predict the future. But I, along with every other
American, can feel confident that no matter what, America will be
safe. We will be able to move into the 21st century with confidence.
all
General Colin L. Powell
I
BUICK.
THE ONLY AMERICAN CARLINE TO RANK
IN THE TOP 10 IN INITIAL QUALITY.
I.D.POWER
AND
INITIAL QUALITY
CARRVEY™ NAMEPL
ATE ORIGIN
RANK/CARLINE
JAPAN
1. LEXUS
GERMANY
2. MERCEDES-BENZ
JAPAN
3. TOYOTA
JAPAN
4. INFINITI
USA
5. BUICK
JAPAN
6. HONDA
JAPAN
7. NISSAN
JAPAN
8. ACURA
GERMANY
9. BMW
JAPAN
10.
MAZDA
BUT THEN, QUALITY HAS NEVER
BEEN FOREIGN TO BUICK.
Year after year, Buick's reputation for quality
during the first 90 days of ownership.
grows stronger and stronger.
Buick ranked ahead of imports like Acura,
The latest measure of Buick quality is the
Honda, BMW, Nissan and Mazda. And, for the
J.D. Power and Associates 1990 Initial
second year in a row, Buick is the most
Quality Survey.SM This is an independent
trouble-free American carline. For world-
survey of over 26,000 new-car buyers,
class quality that's made in America, see
®
based on owner-reported problems
your Buick dealer. Call 1-800-446-2837.
BUICK
The New Symbol For
®
Quality In America.
GM
Let's get it together. buckle up.
© 1990 GM Corp. All rights reserved.
MA
I
LETTER FROM THE USO
Meeting
CHALLENGE A New
During 1990, the USO has confronted its biggest
DAVID HATCHCOX
challenge in the last 20 years: providing cheer
and a helping hand to U.S. service members tak-
USO
ing part in Operation Desert Shield, the largest de-
11
ployment of our armed forces since Vietnam.
I am tremendously proud of the staff and vol-
unteers at our 160 USO affiliates around the world.
Many centers extended themselves 200 percent,
offering around-the-clock services, refreshments
and reassurances. I am also grateful for the in-
credible support given to the USO by countless in-
dividuals, organizations and corporations. This has
been overwhelming affirmation of the special role that USO has played
for 50 years.
As soon as troops were deployed, USO started to develop programs
to support Desert Shield. The first celebrity tour was conducted in Octo-
ber with actor Steve Martin and actress Victoria Tennant; they were
followed by boxer Thomas "Hitman" Hearns, comedian Jay Leno and
others. In November, we delivered huge quantities of donated goods.
One hundred thousand "Oasis Packages" containing familiar items
from the states were distributed, thanks to a major contribution from
the Philip Morris Companies and a consortium of suppliers which they
organized. Our joint project with Montgomery Ward, called "Better
Than A Letter," has placed over 400 televisions, VCRs, camcorders, plus
250,000 videocassette tapes, among all the deployed units. Service
members can send video messages home for the holidays and also re-
ceive messages from their families.
Before Thanksgiving, we opened USO centers in Dubai and Bahrain.
At this writing we are working on (1) a program to deliver holiday din-
ners to the front; (2) a means of improving troop access to telephone
lines; and (3) a fleet of mobile units to deliver services to the front lines.
The USO's Gulf Crisis Fund was started by generous seed contribu-
tions of $500,000 each from American International Group, ARCO, AT&T,
The Coca-Cola Company and Anheuser-Busch; it is being maintained
by donations from other companies and private citizens.
USO was founded in 1941 on the eve of a crisis. Although America
had not yet entered World War II, an entity was needed to channel the
outpouring of civilian support to our forces wherever they were called.
USO filled that niche, and continues to carry out the same mission 50
years later. You will find the USO wherever the troops are. Happy New
Year to all of you, and best wishes for a safe and healthy 1991.
Chepma
Chapman Cox
President
©THE BETTMAN ARCHIVES
MARILYN MONROE
ENTERTAINING THE
TROOPS DURING THE
KOREAN CONFLICT.
NOT SINCE PRESIDENT
EISENHOWER MADE
HIS PRE-INAUGURAL
VISIT HAD THERE BEEN
SUCH A TURNOUT FOR
A CELEBRITY.
A HISTORY
FOR 50 YEARS, IN ALL CORNERS OF THE
WORLD, THE USO HAS BROUGHT AMERICANS
A TOUCH OF HOME
WORLD WAR II by Teresa Tynes
The plight of the front-line soldier is a combination of fear and bore-
dom. The latter often poses the biggest obstacle to the home-bound
trooper as well. Listen to this typical lament.
"I've done this so many nights. You go into town. You walk around
looking for clothes and stuff. You walk around some more and go to
the show. You come out and there is nothing to do. You walk around
and get some beer. Then you get on the streetcar and come home
with a lot of other guys bored like you and you come home heartsick,
homesick and weary."
SHOW BIZ
The advent of World War II
and farmers were put on hold or,
HELPING
For the USO, the
meant America had to come up
for some, tragically ended.
HANDS
motto of WW II was
with a cure for the soldier's mal-
The years of World War II can
Throughout its 50
"the show must go
aise, both on the battle front and
be seen as a watershed in Ameri-
years, the USO has
on." All told,
the home front. And, through the
can life. The world of the pre-war
depended upon the
428,521 shows
USO, America had the answer.
Depression era bore little resem-
volunteer. In 1952,
were staged for
In the Michigan winter of 1942,
blance to the post-war world of
for example, the
American soldiers
Judy Garland, wearing a short-
American affluence. The events
USO benefited
and defense indus-
sleeved dress, sang to a thousand
of the war years constituted such
from the tireless
try workers.
young and shivering recruits in an
a change that historian Geoffrey
service of 113,394
Audiences totalled
unheated training center. In New
Perrett characterizes the era as
volunteers, who
more than 212
York, hundreds of soldiers formed
"the closest thing to a real social
manned many of the
million for the war
lines to pick up free Broadway tick-
revolution the United States has
294 USO operations
years, with some
ets reserved especially for them.
soldiers lucky
known in this century."
around the world.
Later, in Normandy, 154 perform-
Americans loved their towns
enough to see as
ers landed on the beachhead to
many as a dozen
and villages, their general stores
USO
shows.
stage the first post-invasion enter-
and their neighborhood restau-
tainment. In Italy, in North Africa,
rants, and most of them welcomed
14
seemingly everywhere, the USO
visitors. However, the government's
brought the needed relief, the tem-
decision to station a new training
©THE BETTMAN ARCHIVES
porary distraction, the profession-
camp with several thousand sol-
al counsel to the millions of Ameri-
diers at the outskirts of town
cans in uniform.
frequently met with resent-
At the end of World War II, these
ment. Many residents feared
millions of Americans brought
the presence of the perenni-
home memories of the USO, the
al camp followers and their
organization that brought memo-
friends in the vice trade.
ries of home to the troops in the
Defense plants, while
midst of war. The citizens of the
bringing sorely need-
United States, through the USO,
ed economic activity,
donated countless volunteer
could bring in thousands
hours, supplies and money to bol-
of new workers who might
ster the morale of those away
wear out their welcome. The
from home. Social workers, busi-
major cause for concern was the
nessmen, society women and en-
basic lack of housing. One didn't
tertainers maintained that their
need to be a sociologist to under-
army was largely a civilian one,
stand the effects of overcrowding
an outfit of regular men and
on a community.
women, whose lives as mechan-
Existing social agencies found
ics, bakers, accountants, actors
themselves overwhelmed with prob-
U.S.O. BABY CHECKING SERVICE
RIGHT: A LUCKY
LEATHERNECK AND
PATTY THOMAS, A
MERE
15
DANCER WITH BOB
NO CHARGE
HOPE'S TROUPE
You help someone you
FOR CHECKING
IN THE SOUTH
when you give
WE ASSUME
PACIFIC IN
1944.
to the
USO
NO
RESPONSIB
IN
THE USO MEANT
TENDER LOVING
CARE TO SOME VERY
YOUNG AMERICANS
IN THE 1940S.
USO
HUMOR IN
lems. When the War Department's
gian immigrants, Hoving moved
UNDER
UNIFORM
Morale Division asked the YMCA,
in the circles of charity and big
COVER
"They tell an
the YWCA, the Salvation Army and
business. At the meeting at Weil's
"We played to as
anecdote about a
other agencies to help meet the
house, Hoving took command, set-
few as a handful of
soldier on guard
needs of soldiers off base, the wel-
ting strategy and guiding the or-
soldiers to as many
duty for the first
fare agencies began to think in
ganization through its share of bu-
as 110,000,"
time at night. He
terms of a coordinated effort to
reaucratic hassles.
recalls Maebelle
heard a strange
serve both the overburdened de-
With the USO incorporated by
Smith, a Vaudeville
noise, fired at it,
fense communities and the recruits
February of 1941, its leaders survey-
veteran who
then called out,
away from home. The Adjutant
ed the needs of the soldiers and
produced USO
'Who went
General's office issued a report on
the communities and then open-
shows for 40
there?'"
Sept. 25, 1940, urging leaders in
ed a well-publicized fund drive
years. "Once we
(THE READER'S DIGEST,
these communities to provide an
headed by Thomas Dewey.
played a submarine
AUGUST 1943)
off-base club for soldiers "which is
Showman Billy Rose was en-
base. The stage
equipped with tables, chairs, writ-
listed to help unveil the group's
faced the water,
and as we were
ing materials, and stands where
plans. On the night of May 20,
1941, Rose transformed the vast
getting ready back-
they can purchase coffee, soft
stage, I asked our
drinks, cakes, sandwiches, etc.,
space of Madison Square Garden
USO
liaison with the
and, if it can be arranged, a place
into a soldier's paradise. Specta-
15
base where the
for dancing, all under the supervi-
tors at the fund raiser first saw on
audience was going
sion of a citizens committee, com-
the floor of the Garden a giant
to sit. He just
posed largely of women."
blueprint for the new USO clubs,
smiled and said,
The agencies soon concluded
and then they saw 200 soldiers
"You'll see. Well, as
that they could use the help of a
dance onto the blueprint, carry-
soon as the curtain
dynamic "layman," someone who
ing chairs, sofas and ping pong
opened, we saw
could help launch a vigorous fi-
tables to bring the club alive. The
what he meant. The
nancial campaign and enlist the
USO stated its new objective in
harbor was full of
support of prominent citizens.
prose: "to promote such activities,
submarines, their
Walter Hoving, the desig-
facilities, and leadership as well
decks loaded with
nated "layman" from the
as recreate in the community
sailors. They had
Salvation Army, came
near the camp the best of normal
surfaced in order
to Frank Weil's
life and influence that prevails in
to let their crews
house on Octo-
the communities from which the
see the show."
ber 23, 1940. He
men have come."
would leave
As the USO took center stage
as chair-
in providing these services, other
man of the
ambitious cadres of independent
new organi-
citizens and community groups
zation. The
organized to boost the soldiers'
son of Norwe-
morale. Notable among them was
USO
LEFT: GIs FLOCKED
ABOVE: DONUTS
AROUND AN
AND COFFEE BRING
IMPROVISED
SMILES FROM
PLATFORM TO SEE
SAILORS IN
THE FIRST USO CAMP
SAN FRANCISCO.
SHOW IN FRANCE
IN 1944.
©THE BETTMAN ARCHIVES
GOLDEN
LINCOLN-MERCURY DIVISION
Ford
Buckle Up-Together We Can Save Lives.
What a bear should be.
Friends of New York Soldiers and
ducting talent hunts and audi-
things, the memories of war and
Sailors. Under the leadership of
tions in two dozen cities, the cigar-
its dreadful toll should supplant
the indefatigable Thomas J. Wat-
chomping point man for the Will-
those of a few showgirls in khaki,
son, CEO of IBM (at this time a
iam Morris Agency shipped out
or a doughnut and a cup of cof-
fledgling maker of adding ma-
11 units of troupers to tour Army
fee. However, the sight of a USO
chines), the club sent packages to
camps, including a small compa-
uniform served to remind that
the New York National Guard unit
ny which went to Iceland and
there were worthy things to fight
called up for active duty in the
Newfoundland for a 40-day tour.
for: the family back home, the
fall of 1940. The effort proved SO
The nation's press seemed par-
children's future and a free, richly
popular that the group started dis-
ticularly taken with the Camp
diverse America. The USO unself-
tributing packages and books
Shows units, because nothing pro-
ishly fulfilled its mission to pro-
and records to recruits in all of
vided greater drama than the
vide, wherever possible, "the best
the states. Watson's group liked
sight of a Broadway glamour girl
of normal life."
the idea of live stage shows for
in khaki. Old vaudevillians, who
the troops, SO in May of 1941, the
thought that their careers had
KOREA
New York group, by then rechris-
passed with the Depression, dust-
tened the Citizens Committee,
ed off their gags, tuned the accor-
by Danny Devine
staged several outdoor variety
dions, and caught new rabbits
The 1950s brought peace and
shows for the troops, its entertain-
to pull out of hats. The vaudeville
prosperity to the United States.
ers singing and dancing on the
units could play anywhere they
The Second World War had been
backs of seven flatbed trucks on
could find a stage. The war creat-
won, and most of the troops had
loan from GM.
ed some unusual backdrops for
returned and were now buying
The Citizens Committee, the
these barnstormers-bombed
homes and starting families.
USO, and the armed forces loved
buildings, the backs of jeeps or
When "Goodnight, Irene" by
this show-biz morale boost, so
the deck of an aircraft carrier.
Gordon Jenkins & the Weavers was
much SO that the Citizens Commit-
The GIs of World War II saw
the number one song on the Bill-
tee gave way to a new organi-
them all-Hope and Crosby, Mar-
board charts in 1950, a WW II stand-
zation to be affiliated with the
lene, Groucho, Chico and Harpo,
by was fast becoming a relic. The
USO, called USO Camp Shows, Inc.
Laurel and Hardy, Jack Benny and
USO had turned into a mere shell
A veteran showman and talent
many, many more.
of its glorious past, a fond memo-
agent extraordinaire by the name
Certainly more important
ry of club dances and hot coffee.
of Abe Lastfogel recruited the "sol-
events took center stage in World
Yet its executive committee
diers in greasepaint." After con-
War II. In the great scheme of
foresaw a time when the services
of the USO might be needed again,
and lost the generous financial
stars endured horrendous perform-
and decided to "retain its corpo-
support of the American public.
ing conditions. Shows in Korea of-
rate identity, available for service
The USO tried hard to adjust
ten were performed in freezing
if called upon in the event of na-
to its new role-assisting families
weather on impromptu stages
tional emergency."
in finding suitable housing and
while heated ambulances served
It came all too soon: June 25,
helping young soldiers. And it con-
as dressing rooms for the stars.
1950, when, as the newly installed
tinued to do what it did best-en-
Countless shows continued through
Communist Chinese government
tertain.
disruptions like artillery barrages.
invaded Tibet, the North Koreans
Film star Jennifer Jones was
There was a Camp Shows presen-
invaded South Korea.
the first performer to visit Korea
tation somewhere in Korea every
President Truman quickly sent
and the Far East after the reacti-
single day of 1952.
in American troops as part of the
vation of USO Camp Shows in May
By addressing the changing
United Nations Force that landed
of 1951. Others that year included
needs of their new constituency,
at the South Korean port of Pusan,
Errol Flynn, Jack Benny and Dan-
the USO was transformed from a
under the command of Douglas
ny Kaye. One of the Camp Shows'
once dormant "national emergen-
MacArthur. After the Chinese en-
major projects for that year was
cy service" into the link between
tered the conflict, the war be-
the presentation of a Christmas
servicemen and home, and ser-
came a stalemate. The ensuing
Show overseas, where such celeb-
vicemen and civilians.
USO
rities as Walter Pidgeon, Ray Mil-
17
"national emergency" was the
catalyst for the rebirth of the USO.
land and Keenan Wynn were head-
VIETNAM ERA
Despite backing and encour-
liners. (Bob Hope had given his
agement from high offices, the
first Christmas show in 1948.)
by Philip C. Clark
USO suffered two recurring prob-
And in an effort to reach and
Bob Hope's first USO show in
lems during the 1950s-dwindling
meet the special needs of those
Saigon was a bomb. Literally. The
finances, and the challenge of de-
soldiers on the front lines, the USO
show was scheduled for Christmas
veloping a flexible response to the
re-established its mobile and ma-
Day, 1964, at a downtown hotel
changing needs of the new soldiers.
neuver unit-bringing the show to
called the Brinks. But when Hope
After the WW II period, the
the field.
and his entourage of 80 Hollywood
USO received no federal funds,
Many of Hollywood's biggest
entertainers arrived, the hotel had
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USO
19
LEFT: SINGING STAR
ABOVE: A WORLD
LUCY MONROE
WAR II USO MOBILE
LEAVING ON A SIX-
RECORDING UNIT
WEEK CAMP SHOWS
ALLOWED SOLDIERS
TOUR OF KOREA
TO SEND MESSAGES
AND JAPAN.
BACK HOME.
been largely blown up by a 300-
tion for our troops overseas.
pound truck bomb, causing nu-
Bringing touches of home to
merous casualties. Months later, a
our soldiers wherever they go is
Vietcong document was found in
what the USO is all about. And not
which the terrorist cadres were
since World War II had the orga-
severely reprimanded for goofing
nization's civilian activities been
up. Among other things, it said:
more vital, not only in the enter-
"The attack on the Brinks missed
tainment field but in caring for
HUMOR IN
Bob Hope by ten minutes due to a
urgent individual needs as well.
UNIFORM
faulty timing device." To which the
Unlike so-called "popular" wars,
At boot camp in San
DEPRIVED
irrepressible Hope shot back: "It's
Vietnam was messy, far away,
Diego, all sailors
"All you get in Iwo
one hell of a strange war if they
and increasingly controversial.
must pass a basic
Jima is what comes
have to target comedians."
The action was on TV in living-
swimming test.
in on two planes a
Vietnam was, indeed, a dif-
and dying-color. When popular
Jackson, the
week. There isn't a
ferent kind of war. It was all front
support eroded at home, the mo-
largest boot in our
woman on the
and no rear, and the danger was
rale of our men and women in
company, was
island
you can't
everywhere. As Hope recalls in
Vietnam inevitably suffered, too.
terrified of the
even go swimming
his new book, Don't Shoot, It's On-
To reach personnel in the re-
water, but after
because the
ly Me (G.P. Putnam's & Sons), the
motest areas or on warships in the
many weeks he
currents are too
showgirls in his traveling troupe
China Sea, the USO brought them
finally learned to
treacherous
"often had to put on their COS-
holiday parties, rock groups, even
dog paddle well
they have to send
tumes in armored personnel carri-
Texas-style barbecues. And since
enough for the
(laundry) by plane
ers and be driven to the stage un-
most civilian communities in
instructor to pass
to Tokyo-have it
der armed escort."
'Nam were off-limits to uniformed
him. The boot's
done and returned
personnel due to the danger of
success, however,
But true to tradition, the show
again." Broadcast-
terrorist attacks, the USO offered
was accompanied
went on. And on. For nine straight
er Red Barber
by one piece of
years, from 1964 to December
the only safe and sane diversion.
pounded this
advice. "Jackson,"
1972, Hope & Co. never missed
The familiar red, white and blue
message to the
the instructor said,
press as he
staging Christmas performances
USO sign with its six stars marked
"if you are ever on
in the Vietnam theatre. "Those
became a staunch
a place where off-duty soldiers
a sinking ship, you
advocate of the
kids," said Hope, "were SO grateful
could grab a fast-food snack and
have one chance—
USO, reinforcing
that you would come to them." In
a milkshake, play chess or the
jump overboard, go
the message that
all, some 3,000 entertainers in 600
jukebox, use the tape recorder, do
straight to the
soldiers were not
groups put on a total of 5,559 USO
some reading or letter writing, or
bottom and run as
overseas by choice
shows in Vietnam and Pacific
just stretch out in a lounge chair.
fast as you can."
-they were
area military hospitals. It was a
Some clubs had photo labs, post
(THE READER'S DIGEST,
ordered there.
remarkable outpouring of affec-
offices, barber shops and hot show-
AUGUST 1981)
on the morale and personnel
COMFORT
DAV: THERE FOR THE DISABLED VET
problems of the Vietnam era. But
"Always Home"
a sampling of reactions from the
may sound like a bit
The guns are silent, the war is over, the victory won.
military indicates the effort was
AMERICAN
of a cliché, but not
DEPARTMENT
The nation can rest easy. Yet for the disabled vet-
well worth the sacrifice. General
according to Navy
eran, wounded in war, the struggle goes on.
William C. Westmoreland, who
man Robert W.
Who is there for these brave men and
commanded U.S. forces in Viet-
Christiansen, who
VETERANS
women? The Disabled American Veterans,
nam from 1963 to 1968, paid high
wrote during
which for 71 years has been the official voice of
tribute to the USO and its "very
Korea, "It was
America's service-connected American veterans. A non-profit or-
valiant people Thanks to this
hard for a person
ganization formed in 1920 and chartered by Congress in 1932,
fine organization," said the now
who didn't know
the DAV provides a wide range of services for more than one mil-
retired Army General, "the morale
the language to find
lion wartime disabled veterans. Among those services are:
of our soldiers, like that of the USO
a good clean place
The National Service program, which assists veterans
civilians, never wavered."
to eat or dance, so
and their families in filing claims for benefits, guiding them
On his last Christmas Show
we always looked
through the often confusing maze of government programs. This
in Vietnam in 1972, Hope and his
for the USO."
service is available to all veterans, not just members of the DAV.
Hollywood "gypsies" played to
USO
Since 1974, the DAV has taken this service on the road, into
an almost empty hall at the USO's
20
small towns and cities, to reach eligible vets who might not oth-
Tan Son Nhut club. By then, most
erwise be aware of the programs available to them.
of the GIs had gone home. But
The DAV legislative program, seeking to initiate and pro-
those who remained, said Hope,
tect reasonable veterans' programs in the government.
"were grateful that we had re-
The National Employment program, which protects dis-
membered them, when others
abled veterans from job discrimination, and assists in job place-
were trying to forget." The show
ment and training.
ended with everyone singing
A scholarship program that in the 1990-91 academic
not "White Christmas" but "Silent
year provided more than $600,000 in scholarships to 205 chil-
Night." There were few dry eyes.
dren of veterans.
Chapman B. Cox, president
All of these services-and more-are available free of
of World USO and himself a Ma-
charge to all veterans and members of their families, and are sup-
rine veteran of Vietnam, said, "The
ported entirely by membership dues. (The DAV receives no gov-
attitude of the people back home
ernment funding.)
was a difficult thing. So was the
For more information, contact the DAV national headquar-
situation in Vietnam where there
BELOW: BRINGING A
ters at 807 Maine Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20024.
was a strange mixture of bore-
TOUCH OF HOLIDAY
dom and anxiety. We tried al-
CHEER TO AMERICANS
ers. A few were on the beach.
ways to give our troops the feel-
SERVING IN VIETNAM.
Beginning with the opening
of the first club in Saigon in April
1963, the USO extended its activ-
ities from the DMZ to the Delta.
Accommodations ranged from a
cluster of quonset huts and a
large abandoned garage to a
rented French villa and a one-
time movie theater. Although
many of the centers were sand-
bagged and heavily guarded,
some took hits from enemy shells
and rockets.
Through all this and more,
the USO and its indomitable staff-
ers and volunteer workers stuck
HUMOR IN
it out. Although most civilians at
UNIFORM
home came to know of the USO
GI to mess cook:
only through televised replays
"The same stuff
of the Bob Hope Christmas shows,
two days in a row!
the unsung heroes were the staff
For crying out loud
people who put everything they
-give us some
had into the Vietnam effort-
time to build up an
around the clock, month after
immunity!"
month.
USO
There is, of course, no way to
(THE READER'S DIGEST,
AIGON
APRIL 1972)
assess the impact of USO services
ing there was a
eler, from lost luggage to language
RADIO
place they could
barriers.
DAYS
call home."
Thirty-six USO Fleet Centers,
To break the inter-
Did the USO
which offer similar assistance to
minable silence of
ever consider pull-
U.S. Navy and Marine personnel
the Saudi Arabian
ing out because
from the U.S. to Italy to Japan.
desert, and ease
of the intense crit-
Eighty-one USO Family and
the travails of
icism of the war?
Community Centers, helping ser-
being in a strange
"Absolutely not,"
vice personnel and their families
land, the USO
said Cox. "The rea-
adjust to life in a new environ-
arranged for the
son we were able to surmount the
ment.
Electronics Indus-
problems of that unpopular war
Orientation and Intercultur-
try Association
ABOVE:FILM HERO
was that the USO never involved
JOHN WAYNE WAS
al Programs overseas offer infor-
to donate over
ALWAYS ABLE TO
itself in political issues. Our only
mational and instructional oppor-
11,000 portable
BOOST MORALE.
function was to serve people and
tunities in language, history, tour-
radios and 17,000
deal with their human needs."
batteries.
ism and culture, which help Amer-
SWEET
icans-many visiting abroad for
USO
MEMORIES
THE USO TODAY
the first time-enjoy and appreci-
ate their new surroundings.
BELOW: THE IRREPRESS-
21
"I was in Vietnam in
By Dewey Blanton
Yet the USO was created in a
IBLE SAMMY DAVIS JR.
1963," said one fan
As in the past 50 years, celebrity
crisis, and it has proven it can still
WAS A FAVORITE WITH
letter to the USO.
SERVICEMEN AND
"On one extremely
entertainment is still a big part of
respond to one. Shortly after Presi-
WOMEN EVERYWHERE.
hot day in Saigon, I
the USO. But today's USO is much
dent Bush gave the order for the
came upon a USO.
more. Included among the 160
massive military mobilization in
They sold me the
USO centers worldwide are the fol-
response to the Iraqi invasion of
greatest tasting ice
lowing:
Kuwait, thousands of USO volun-
cream cone I could
Thirty-nine USO Airport Cen-
teers around the world began to
ever remember. I
ters at international terminals and
mobilize to meet the needs of the
swore I would
Military Air Command terminals
soldiers and sailors of Operation
never forget how
around the world. There, USO vol-
Desert Shield.
the USO gave me
unteers assist service personnel in
The Persian Gulf presented a
that taste of home."
all obstacles confronting the trav-
unique situation for the USO. Des-
Texaco salutes the USO
for being there
to lift the spirits of
our military personnel
since 1941.
&
ОЛО
^1
Hertz
USO
I
+
Fortunately, some signs for service
are universal.
Hertz is proud to join in celebrating
Like the USO, Hertz has become an
the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the
international symbol. One which, for
USO. We salute all of the volunteers
over 70 years, has stood for service excel-
for their service-past and present, in
lence to travellers everywhere.
wartime and peacetime, home and
Certain signs deliver a message that
abroad.
goes beyond language.
Hertz
Hertz rents Fords and other fine cars.
Around the corner. Around the world.
REG. U.S. PAT. OFF © HERTZ SYSTEM INC. 1990.
HELP
ert deployment was something
ages, courtesy of Philip Morris. In
PHONE
WANTED
new, and the remoteness of the
each package were some little
HOME
Often the USO is
crisis zone made for some novel
things that make life more bear-
Sometimes the
dependent upon
needs for the troops. Moreover,
able for Americans. These includ-
lines at USO centers
local "talent." At
the prevalence of families divided
ed cassettes, Kool-Aid, batteries
in Vietnam would
the height of the
by the crisis-one parent going to
and M&M candies.
start forming at
Vietnam War, there
Saudi Arabia, with the other par-
It is the job of the USO's Direc-
6:30 a.m. Not for
were only 54
ent left at home to tend to the chil-
tor of Middle East Operations, Da-
civilian staffers on
dren-meant the USO had to be
vid Wyckoff, to find out what it is
a breakfast of
hand to operate the
especially creative in responding
the soldiers need. Then the USO at
hamburgers and
18 USO centers
to the conflict.
home sets out to find ways to fulfill
milkshakes, but
and clubs, serving
But, as the preceding stories
those needs.
rather the use of
500,000 troops.
indicate, the USO has always
The USO also arranged for
the trans-Pacific
That skeleton staff
been flexible, adapting to the
Hammond Publishers to contrib-
telephone lines in
was supplemented
needs of different generations of
ute detailed maps of the Persian
by 6,000 Vietna-
many clubs. In
servicemen and women. Some of
Gulf region to schools, particularly
mese employees.
1970, the USO
this work is common knowledge,
in states like Texas and Florida,
switchboard in
like the series of public service
whence a large part of the Saudi
USO
Saigon handled
announcements done by Presi-
deployment originated.
23
dent Bush, appealing to the citi-
Finally, the USO has opened
200,000 such calls.
zenry for help. Or, today, the USO
USO centers in Bahrain and Dubai
Gulf Crisis Fund, supported by
to spell the troops on leave.
generous contributions from cor-
And so it goes for the USO, an
porate leaders like American In-
organization devoted to meeting
ternational Group, Anheuser-Bush,
the needs of Americans in uni-
The Coca-Cola Company, ARCO
form. It took a soldier to sum it up
and AT&T.
best. Forty years after his stint as a
While the efforts of Bob Hope
GI in World War II, an infantry-
and hundreds of other celebrities
man wrote to the USO about his
have garnered the headlines, it
memories of the war. "The USO,"
has been the unflagging work
he stated succinctly, "was the sol-
of thousands of other volunteers
dier's best friend.
through a half century of peace
and conflict that has made the
Teresa Tynes is a freelance writer
USO one of the most indispens-
who lives in Austin, Tex.
able parts of any soldier's arsenal.
Witness the inventive ways
Danny Devine is a freelance writ-
the USO has sought to meet the
er based in Crofton, Md.
needs of the troops stationed in
the Middle East. Kathy Daven-
Philip C. Clarke is a former Asso-
port, the USO's liaison with corpo-
ciated Press correspondent and
rate America on many of these
now a freelance writer living in
projects, calls herself the "shipping
Greene's Crossing, N.C.
department," for her biggest prob-
lem is getting a lot of donated
Dewey Blanton is VP, Creative De-
material to the troops. During the
velopment, at ProServ. He is also
build-up of forces there, it seems
the editor of Always Home.
the Pentagon had some higher
priority items that needed to get to
CURRENT TASTES
the desert first.
DESERT
But by early October, two
Always Home conducted a
Movies 1. Die Hard II
DESSERT
months after the build-up began,
decidedly unscientific poll of
2. The Hunt for Red
the USO had televisions, cam-
Haagen-Dazs
military personnel at bases all
October
contributed 5,500
corders and VCRs on the way to
over the world, seeking their
3. Total Recall
gallons of ice cream
the soldiers and sailors, as a part
input for the best in movies,
of the "Better than a Letter" pro-
Television 1. The Cosby Show
to the troops en
television and authors. The
gram, sponsored by Montgom-
2. The Simpsons
route to Saudi
results show that servicemen
Arabia, dispensed
ery Ward. This project allows all
3. Married with
and women have amazingly
troops to communicate with their
Children
from the backs of
varied tastes, yet they also
refrigerated
families via video messages.
reflect the preferences of the
Authors 1. Tom Clancy
trucks during the
By the end of November, at
public at large. Herewith the
2. Robert Ludlum
soldiers' layover in
least 100,000 GIs in Saudi Arabia
results:
3. Stephen King
Germany.
had received their "Oasis" pack-
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BY MARK SCHEERER
Touring with a USO Show can
be both sobering and exhilarating.
Celebrities who volunteer their time
and talents find that there's
never a dull moment.
Somewhere over the South Pacific, the PBY "fly-
ROCK BANDS AND
ing boat" lost power in both engines. Spotting a
COUNTRY WESTERN
small island, the pilot brought the plane in for a
STARS LIKE CHARLIE
rough, but safe landing. The shaken passengers,
DANIELS (RIGHT) ARE
unhurt, watched as a group of natives rowed
THE BIG DRAWING
out toward them. "The first thing they said-they
CARDS THESE DAYS.
didn't ask us how we were-was, Have you got
any American cigarettes?"
Frances Langford laughs as she recalls one
© JIM BROWN 1988
of the dicier moments of her World War II "tour of
duty." The actress wasn't in uniform then, but to
hear her recount emergency landings, bombing
raids and stints at the stick of a P-38 fighter
IN THE 1940s AND
plane, one could easily forget that she was a non-combatant, as were
'50s, THE "HURRAY
her colleagues in Bob Hope's troupe. They were entertainers, volunteer-
FOR HOLLYWOOD"
ing their talents to the USO.
CROWD WAS THE TOP
Langford is only one of many celebrity volunteers in the 50-year
ATTRACTION. FROM
history of the USO with war stories to tell. Entertainers as diverse as
LEFT TO RIGHT:
country singer Lee Greenwood, Hall of Fame-bound catcher Johnny
JAYNE MEADOWS,
Bench and rock 'n rollers Robin Zander and Rick Neilsen of Cheap Trick
RAY BOLGER, LEO
have returned from USO trips abroad with heart-stopping -as well as
DUROCHER, SHIRLEY
MACLAINE, JIMMY
heart-warming-memories
STEWART, JACK
Langford, who appeared in such popular patriotic Hollywood mu-
BENNY, DANNY KAYE,
sicals as "Yankee Doodle Dandy" (1942) and "This is the Army" (1943),
JANE RUSSELL, BOB
recalls the oddly compelling experience of finding herself under aerial
HOPE AND ЛММҮ
bombardment in Africa and England. "We stood around and watched
DURANTE.
THE TROOPS!!
© THE BETTMANN ARCHIVE
LEFT: BING CROSBY
AT BASE IN SANTA
ANA, CALIF. THEY
LOVED HIS MELLOW
TONES AND MELLOW
HUMOR.
BELOW: HOLLYWOOD
SCENE IN 1943-MOVIE
STARS POINTING OUT
SO
THEIR USO CAMP
28
SHOWS ITINERARY.
JIM KENAH
UP/BETTMAN ©
turned home to become a pilot
and, with her husband, opened
a flying school in California.
Lee Greenwood's bandmates,
on the other hand, could be for-
given for never wanting to fly
again, after an incident in Pana-
ma in June 1989. The Grammy-
HUMOR IN
winning singer was traveling by
UNIFORM
it-now that's pretty silly. I hate to
Blackhawk helicopter between
An excited army
ABOVE: LEE GREEN-
say this, but it was beautiful.
concerts for U.S. military personnel
recruit asked his
WOOD IN PANAMA
They'd always drop flares. But it
stationed in the Canal Zone.
company comman-
(1989).
was scary.
"They had to fly very low,"
der for an immedi-
BELOW: EMBLEM OF
"We were all sort of a rugged
Greenwood recalled, noting that
ate furlough-his
bunch," said Langford of the
tension was rising in the months
wife was going to
THE POPULAR ROCK-
ERS WHO BEGAN
Hope-led troupe, which included
before the U.S. invasion. Low-fly-
have a baby. Per-
TOURING FOR THE USO
comedian Jerry Colonna, tenor
ing aircraft, he points out, make
mission was grant-
IN THE MID-1980s.
Jack Pepper, guitarist Tony Ro-
ed and, when the
tougher targets for groundfire.
mano and dancer Patty Thomas.
Other members of Greenwood's
furlough papers
were drawn up and
"The rougher it got, the more fun
troupe were traveling in a Chi-
the soldier was
Alrbornell
we had.
nook helicopter which, Green-
leaving, the officer
"They used to let me sit at
wood says, "almost ran into a
asked casually
the wheel of those big old
mountain."
when the baby was
bombers in the South Pacific.
"They had to pull up sudden-
due. "About nine
I flew in a P-38. We did all
ly, and everyone lost their lunch
months after I get
kinds of things we shouldn't
in the Chinook."
home, sir," replied
have done."
"We thought we were cash-
the recruit.
Langford became SO
ing in," recalls Dan Bradley, a
DIVISION
(THE READER'S DIGEST,
enamored of flying she re-
member of Greenwood's manage-
SEPTEMBER 1953)
ment staff. "There were no win-
Invoking the military slang
ground-breaking tours for the
dows in the Chinook. We didn't
for Soviet aircraft, lead singer
USO. Vietnam-era rock bands
know which way was up, or down."
Zander said, "There were flight
were not eager to volunteer their
A few months later, country
operations going every hour and
talents, and when USO Director of
superstar Charley Pride headlined
`bears in the air' and we got to
Marketing and Communications
a USO Christmas tour that took
sit in on some of the pilot's brief-
Kevin McCarthy got Ehart in-
him to Panama mere hours before
ings. It was pretty cool."
volved in mounting the first major
the invasion that removed Gener-
The musicians from Cheap
rock tour in 1984, it was still a sen-
al Manuel Noriega from power. "I
Trick and KANSAS were joined in
sitive subject.
sensed something was happen-
the mid-1980s by Stephen Stills,
"We took quite a bit of flack,"
ing," Pride said, "but I didn't real-
members of the Doobie Brothers
Ehart said. "We had to say from
ize how close and how quick.
and other rockers in what were
the start, `Look, just because some
Four days after we got out of
there, it happened."
Pride, who first toured with
the USO in 1971 with Hope, had
been in the Army himself. "I had
trained as an infantryman, SO I
could relate to how these fellows
felt. My eyes were just that young
and wide, too."
Wide-eyed would be a good
way to describe members of the
BURGER
rock bands KANSAS and Cheap
KING
Trick, at one point during their
1985 USO tour.
After a concert for American
forces at the Sigonella Naval Air
Station in Italy, they were asked if
they would mind visiting with a
few of the men who couldn't at-
tend the show. "We were loaded
into two armored personnel carri-
ers, which was a little unusual,"
remembered KANSAS drummer
Phil Ehart. "We pulled up at this
fenced-in compound, which turn-
ed out to be a nuclear warhead
storage facility, where they keep
all the damn nuclear warheads
PENALTY
for Europe!
"The Marine guards shook
our hands through the fence and
they're saying, We're real sorry
we couldn't make the concert, but
we're locked in here for a month
at a time."
"It was a sobering experi-
PILING
ence," Ehart said.
Cheap Trick's Zander and
Neilsen had front row seats for a
Middle East crisis while aboard
the aircraft carrier Dwight D.
would put Extra you pickles, on extra tomato but .calls not like at Burger these King®
Eisenhower in the Mediterranean
From onion rings to most open places, line-up lets you make the call.
in 1985. An attempted military
So come on in and pile it on.
coup in Jordan was the catalyst
that put the American fleet on
alert. "We were 200 miles off the
BURGER
coast of Beirut," said the gangly
KING
guitarist Neilsen. "We got to sit up
in the tower and watch the
© 1990 BURGER KING CORPORATION
planes landing and taking off
from the carrier."
rock 'n roll guys are going over to
HOLLYWOOD CANTEEN: A True Epic
entertain some troops, we're not
saying anything political.' It
NYT PICTURES
Where could a serviceman chat with Betty Grable, be
doesn't mean we're warmongers
served coffee and sandwiches by Hedy Lamarr, or dance
or anything like that."
the jitterbug to the swinging tunes of Harry James? If you
The tours were dubbed "The
would limit such activity to his dreamy musings, you're
First Airborne Rock 'n Roll Divi-
wrong. He could do all these fantastic things in real life, at
sion." Ehart is a veteran of four
the Hollywood Canteen.
such excursions, including a
From the time it first opened its doors in October 1942,
30,000-mile, 22-day, 19-gig,
the Hollywood Canteen was one of the great success
around-the-world trip in 1986
stories in the efforts to meet the entertainment needs of the
which received very little ad-
World War II soldiers. An army of stars and starlets gave
vance publicity due to the fears of
their time and effort-for free-to make the Hollywood
terrorist attacks.
Canteen an unforgettable experience for the Gls.
"It has bummed me," said
The troops would queue up outside for hours, with an average of 2,500 men a night
Ehart, "not being able to make this
coming through the doors. Fire restrictions limited capacity to only 500 at a time, SO the
into something that other bands
JSO
master of ceremonies-perhaps Eddie Cantor, Bing Crosby, Fred MacMurray or Basil Rath-
would volunteer for. I was hoping
30
bone-periodically asked that all those presently enjoying the Canteen's informal show col-
it would start a major ball rolling,
lect their hats and leave, allowing their compatriots to get their one hour of Canteen fun.
but it just never happened.
The expressed purpose of the Canteen was to entertain the grunts of World War II- no
"The guys really like rock 'n
officers were allowed. Some of those GI Joes were based in the area, some were about to
roll the best. I mean they appreci-
be shipped out to the Pacific theatre, and others had just come back, sporting medals and
ate the cheerleaders and the
scars earned in fighting the Japanese.
movie stars and the sports figures,
The Canteen was open from 7 p.m. to the midnight curfew, Monday through Saturday,
but man, when there is a rock 'n
and from 2-8 p.m. on Sunday. All the services of the Canteen were free, yet no public so-
roll band that they have grown
licitations for funds were ever made; the $3,000 weekly operating budget was more than
up on, it means a lot to actually
met via rights fees sold to Warner Brothers to produce a film about the club. Of the 6,000
see them."
workers, only nine were paid. And perhaps more than the Hollywood stars, the attraction
Zander agrees. "Young guys,
for the Gls was the junior hostesses, who served the patrons with a smile.
18, 19, 20 years old, they just love
The hostesses and customers were on a first-name basis; they had to be, those were
rock action. Those guys are the
the rules. The young ladies served under strict regulations, including not disclosing their
best audiences in the world to
last names or their telephone numbers, and not (officially) dating the men.
play for."
It was said that, except for Greta Garbo and Charlie Chaplin, almost everyone in Holly-
Johnny Bench will back him
wood performed at the canteen at least once. Servicemen collected autographs from Grable,
up on that. "Just the other day, I
Lamarr, Ingrid Bergman and Bette Davis (one of those who initiated the Canteen concept).
was with someone who said, We
Built on Cahuenga Boulevard in what used to be a stable, the Hollywood Canteen was
saw you in Da Nang. We really
constructed by studio laborers, all working for free, on their own time. But the real
appreciated your coming over."
warmth and ambiance of the Canteen was created by the people inside: stars looking to
As a 23-year-old National
do their bit for the cause, Gls desirous of unwinding, and hostesses intent on helping
League Most Valuable Player,
them do SO. It was a true Hollywood epic, and it showed what tinsel town could do if it set
Bench joined Hope on stage for
its mind-and heart-to it. - By Dewey Blanton
comedy routines during the 1970
USO Christmas tour, which includ-
NYT PICTURES
ed visits to three U.S. bases in Viet-
nam. Although he heard some
gunfire and had some nervous
moments flying in and out of Viet-
nam, Bench said he was most
concerned about how he would
be received by troops fighting in
Southeast Asia while he was be-
ing well paid to play baseball.
"I'll tell you, though, they
PORTRAIT
ONE
HOUR
would come and say, Thanks for
coming, man!' I really felt good
about it."
Langford felt SO good about
her USO duty in World War II that
she followed it up with stints dur-
ing Korea and Vietnam. And de-
spite entertaining three genera-
tions of soldiers in three very
different conflicts, she found a
HUMOR IN
© NEIL GREENTREE
UNIFORM
LEFT: SINCE 1987,
Filling out an appli-
COUNTRY STAR
cation for depen-
dents' aid, a young
US
RANDY TRAVIS HAS
TRAVELLED ON A USO
soldier answered
THANKSGIVING TOUR
"no" to the question
AT&T
EVERY YEAR.
as to whether he
had any dependents.
"You're married,
aren't you?" an offi-
cer asked. "Yessir,"
the soldier replied,
© JIM KENAH
"but she ain't
dependable."
(THE READER'S DIGEST,
MARCH 1944)
USO
31
common thread that kept her
Every time I would start to sing, in
coming back.
every theatre of war, some man
ABOVE: JAY LENO
"The soldiers were all the
invariably would get up and
ENTERTAINING
same," she said. "The same audi-
shout, 'Sister, you've come to the
TROOPS SERVING IN
ence, the same laughter and ev-
right place!"
OPERATION DESERT
erything.
SHIELD, NOVEMBER
1990.
"I sang a song that was writ-
Mark Scheerer is entertainment
ten for me for the first picture I did,
correspondent for Cable News
called, 'I'm in the Mood for Love.'
Network and ABC Radio.
In the service of our country.
As a company with its own long record of
helping to maintain our national strength
and security, we congratulate the USO on
a half century of service to our country and
the men and women of our armed forces.
Newport News Shipbuilding
TENNECO
A Tenneco Company
Newport News, Virginia 23607
BY MARY PATRICIA LEE
Editor's Note: This is the winning
brittle, as though she might crack.
entry in a fiction contest which
bers of the armed forces.
HEART
Instead, she began to cry. For her-
was open to all active duty mem-
self, for the loss of her home. She
cried because she was crying for
the loss of a home SO poor, SO pa-
She had never gone home for
thetic, SO full of pain and shame
Christmas. It was too far away,
that she had left it and never re-
cost too much. There were too
WITHOUT A
turned. She cried because no one
many watches to cover, too
had ever cared whether she did
many reasons not to go.
or not. The loneliness was her own
It had been like that in all her
duty stations. Antigua in the West
HOME
doing-a deliberately cultivated
USO
state of solitude. And now she
32
Indies. Argentia, Newfoundland.
was frightened by it. By every-
Ford Island, Hawaii. And now
thing that she had done to bring
here in Keflavik, Iceland, the holi-
herself to this state of personal
days were coming around again.
chaos. Oh, God, where are you?
And the side of her that only she
She had asked the senior watch
Where am I?
knew about was happy to be
officer to reconsider, but he had
And then came the timid
right here on duty.
assured her that the watches
knock at her door. It was so soft
She had determined years
were covered and that she should
that she almost didn't hear it. She
ago that the worst of the holidays
plan to enjoy the rare holiday off
opened the door and looked
was over by Christmas morning.
at home. Home? In her barracks
down into the wide eyes of a little
If you could just make it through
room? Day, eve and mid? Off?
redheaded boy who solemnly
Christmas Eve by working when
Alone? Oh, God.
handed over a bag of cookies,
everyone else in the world was sit-
And now it was Christmas
along with a quickly-lisped "Mer-
ting at home with family, eating
Eve. Sleeping late had used up
ry Christmas." She smiled at him
traditional meals and exchanging
most of the morning. While Christ-
when she took the cookies and his
gifts, you had it made. Sleep most
mas Eve was one of the shortest
return smile was devastating in its
of the next day and the world
days of the year, that also meant
sweetness. His eyes were shining.
was back to normal when you
it was one of the longest nights. It
He couldn't be more than five
woke up. In October, she had re-
stretched endlessly before her.
years old.
quested several extra watches for
She looked up to the dark
In his squeaky, child's voice
herself, including the Christmas
and empty sky from the window
he carefully explained how he
Eve midwatch. But for some rea-
of her second story room. She felt
and other Tiger Cubs were busy
son this pending holiday season,
giving every "alone person" on
her first in Iceland, had been
the base a bag of cookies this
tougher to deal with than usual.
Christmas Eve. As though it mat-
Perhaps it had something to do
tered, he added in a whisper that
with the weather. Twice already
he was also the "lead shepherd"
her section had been stranded by
in the Christmas play this same
blizzards and the eerie rise and
night. His innocent assumption
fall of the whistling wind steeped
that she cared about what he
her in aloneness.
said, the red-cheeked exertion it
Or maybe it was that beauti-
had cost him to deliver a bag of
ful aurora borealis streaming
cookies to her, and his impulse to
across the dark winter sky. The
share his nervousness about his
ribbons of glittering fairy dust
stage debut, enthralled her com-
snaking across the night had
pletely.
filled her with such sudden, pro-
She thanked him and then
found delight that she had looked
watched the small, bundled-up
frantically around for someone to
figure from her doorway as he
share it with. This country was SO
shoved his heavy box of gifts from
darn "Christmasy"!
room to room. His "Merry Christ-
But then the approved
mas" sounded more and more
watchbill had arrived-her re-
like gasps as he moved down the
quest had not been granted. She
passageway.
was stunned. And then angry.
Just as she was ready to shut
USO and the men and women of
Operation Desert Shield send their heartfelt
thanks to these corporations for their
patriotism and generosity.
EUSOE
PHOTO BY NEIL GREENTREE
MARTIN
For fifty years, USO has been bringing a touch of home to
America's sons and daughters serving in the United States
Armed Forces around the world.
The personal visit of Steve Martin, the first of several USO
celebrity tours to the Persian Gulf region, was made possible
by $500,000 contributions from American International
Group, Anheuser-Busch Companies, The Coca-Cola
Company, ARCO and AT&T.
Anheuser-Busch.Inc.
ONE OF THE ANHEUSER-BUSCH COMPANIES
MG
American
International
ARCO
Group, Inc.
Enjoy
AT&T
Coca-Cola
Trade-mark®
USO
1941 FIFTY YEARS SERVICE TO SERVICE PEOPLE 1991
her door, she heard a gruff voice
WHILE CHRISTMAS
several paces back from him, and
shout, "I don't want any, kid!" and
delivered the shepherd's words
then the slam of a door. She ran
EVE WAS ONE OF THE
the way she felt they would have
down the hall to the boy who was
SHORTEST DAYS
been said 2,000 years before.
kneeling beside his heavy box,
Headlights were suddenly on
head bowed.
OF THE YEAR, THAT
them and his reaction made it ob-
"Hey, sweetie, what's going
vious that it was his mother's car.
on?"
ALSO MEANT IT WAS
Waving good-bye and shouting
It was a clumsy attempt to
ONE OF THE
his "Merry Christmas" one last
comfort but it was the best she
time, Aaron ran to the car, clam-
could do. Until he looked up at her
LONGEST NIGHTS. IT
bering into the front seat.
and broke her heart. His eyes
were still shining, but now with
STRETCHED ENDLESSLY
Later she walked through
that peaceful night to attend the
the tears that wet his cheeks. Pers-
BEFORE HER.
children's Mass. She watched her
piration stood out on his forehead
protege proceed down the aisle to
and his impossibly small nose was
his place outside the manger
USO
running. He sputtered something
scene. He wore simple brown
34
about how he only wanted to
robes and carried a large cane
give the "alone man" some cook-
that served as his shepherd's
ies. She knelt beside him, and en-
er the cookies. His quick accept-
crook. When the time was right,
closed him carefully in what she
ance gave her cause to smile.
he turned to face the full church,
remembered as a hug. His arms
Even one SO indomitable took
and looked directly at her. Clearly
went tight around her neck and
help where needed.
and strongly, eyes now shining
his sobs came full throttle between
Before she had a chance to
with this final triumph of a heroic
her throat and shoulder. After a
think about how that might apply
day, Aaron spoke the timeless
while she slowly stood up with
to her own life, they had deliv-
message:
him. Simultaneously patting his
ered the rest of the cookies. They
"Let us now go over to Bethle-
parka-padded back, murmuring
did it as a team. She carried the
hem. And see this thing that has
words of comfort, and pain-
box and he handed out cookies or
come to pass, which the Lord has
stakingly shoving the heavy box
quietly dropped them at the doors
made known to us."
of cookies with her foot, she man-
of sleeping watchstanders. They
With that, Aaron herded his
aged to make it back to her room.
whispered and giggled as they
sheep and led his fellow shep-
Leaving her door open in
went and he practiced his lead
herds to view the newly-born
case an anxious mother might
shepherd lines on her until she
Christ Child lying in the humble
appear to claim this tearful bur-
knew them as well as he did.
crib.
den, she unzipped the heavy coat
When they returned to her
Aaron's words and actions
and unwrapped the scarf from
room and she was swaddling him
spoke directly to her heart that
him. She wiped the sweaty little
back into his winter clothes, she
night. In the moment when the
face clean with a washcloth and
felt real regret at having to part
child had given his lines to her,
held the tissue while he blew his
company with this little paragon
the knowledge had come that she
nose. When she teased him about
of courage and persistence. She
must, like him, draw upon her
blowing holes right through the
held his hand on the way to the
own courage and persistence and
tissue, he laughed.
main entrance of her barracks
begin to knock on doors once
She let him ramble through
where they waited for his mother.
again. By following the little boy
his detailed explanation of what
The snow had stopped
down empty passages and wit-
had happened with the angry
falling. A sliver of a moon hung
nessing him suffer through rejec-
man. In listening to him, she be-
low in the east and the dusky
tion and pain, she had learned
came aware of how brave this lit-
shadow of a burgeoning aurora
how she must live. She knew
tle boy was. Every time he had
borealis promised to spangle the
there would be more pain and
knocked on a door this dark,
overhead skies.
more tears. There were always
gloomy day, he had taken a risk.
She turned to the tired little
plenty of both for risk takers and
Of being rejected. Hurt.
boy and asked him to say his
children.
She asked him for his name.
lead shepherd lines once more.
But now she knew the way
It was Aaron and he was quick to
The darkness hid the smile that his
home as made clear to her by the
tell her that his name was in the
whispered rehearsal inspired. She
little boy who knocked on her
Bible and meant "strong, like a
reminded him that they were no
door that Christmas Eve, and
mountain."
longer in quiet zones and that he
stumbled into her heart.
"And you are, Aaron, you
could now say his message loudly
are," she said with sincerity that
and joyfully. And because she
Mary Patricia Lee is a Lieutenant
was touched with awe.
knew the words SO well and be-
Commander, U.S. Navy, at the
She asked if it would be all
cause it was that kind of night,
Naval Air Station in Keflavik,
right with him if she helped deliv-
she dropped his hand, stepped
Iceland.
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legend.
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the land and across the seas. Today millions enjoy its remarkable taste.
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Kings: 8 mg "tar," 0.6 mg nicotine av. per cigarette by FTC method.
Beretta GTZ.
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with a $20,000 rebate.
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Heartbeat
After pushing the Chevy Beretta GTZ to its limit, what quickly came to
mind for Car and Driver was another car that costs well over twice the sticker
price. The limited production BMW M-3. Only a split second and a few RPMs
separated its performance from the infamous European. As it turned out, about the
only thing Beretta GTZ couldn't come close to was the BMW's $35,000 price.
When it comes to getting top performance but not paying top dollar, more
people are winning with The Heartbeat of America.
*Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price including dealer prep. Tax. license, destination charge and other optional equipment additional.
will
apply
BY ROBERT SULLIVAN
The Other
USO
38
NIFORM
Bailing out-the act of ducking away from a pitch too
UPI/BETTMANN NEWSPHOTOS
quickly, often out of the batter's box-is taboo for a base-
ball player. Bailing out too soon is also bad form for a fight-
er pilot. In either arena, Ted Williams (left) never bailed
out. Not in his celebrated baseball career and certainly
not in Korea in 1952.
"But now I was the target for I don't know how
many thousands of Japanese in that encampment,
and sure as hell I got hit with small arms fire," he would
write later. "When I pulled up out of my run, all the red lights were on
in the plane and the damn thing started to shake Any minute I ex-
pected I'd have to bail out, and I always dreaded the prospect. It was
the only real fear I had flying a plane, that if I had to bail out I
wouldn't make it. Among other things, the cockpit is small. For a big
guy, cramped in like I was, I thought I'd surely leave my kneecaps
right in there All of a sudden I was over the field. Not the same field
we'd taken off from, but one nearer the target. It was a madhouse. Ev-
erybody was coming in at once, about 60 planes in from the mission,
all low on fuel. But all I had eyes for was that tiny little field. I started to
make my break on a fairly tight turn, when fffuumum, a big explosion
in the plane. One of the wheeldoors had blown off. Now there was fire
and smoke underneath the plane For more than a mile I skidded, rip-
ping and tearing up the runway, sparks flying. I could see the fire
truck, and I pressed the brakes SO hard I almost broke my ankle, and
all the time I'm screaming, 'When is this dirty S.O.B. going to
stop?' The canopy wouldn't open at first, then I hit the emergency
ejector, and the fire was all around me, everything on fire except the
cockpit. Boy, I just dove out and kind of somersaulted, and I took my
helmet and slammed it on the ground, I was SO mad."
While countless men have made the ultimate sacrifice for their
country, many others have made far lesser sacrifices: bunts and flies,
home runs, first downs and free throws. We allude to those elite athletes
©JULES ALEXANDER
who, in doing their duty, have traded one uniform for another, switch-
GHT
ARD
atorade
A NUMBER OF AMERICA'S
TOP PROFESSIONAL
ATHLETES HAVE TRADED
ONE UNIFORM FOR
ANOTHER IN THE
SERVICE OF THEIR
COUNTRY.
ED
A short, sweet history
UPI/BETTMANN NEWSPHOTOS
of such an athlete is that
of David Robinson. The
dutiful son of a 20-year
Navy man, Robinson de-
UPI/BETTMANN NEWSPHOTOS
cided during his junior year
not to transfer from An-
napolis, a move that
would have steered
him clear of the five-
year hitch.
"Napoleon
McCallum is
going in," he
said in the
spring of '86, re-
ing from sneakers to heavy boots.
ferring to the star
ISO
40
ABOVE AND RIGHT:
David Robinson, who single-
running back for the
TED WILLIAMS,
handedly lugged the San Antonio
Middies' football team.
BOSTON RED SOX
Spurs to NBA respectability last
"And so am I. It was a
SUPERSTAR, HAD HIS
season, was content to delay his
close decision. We are talk-
BASEBALL CAREER
pro basketball career for two
INTERRUPTED TWICE
ing about a lot of money."
BY MARINE SERVICE.
years while he completed his
All's well that ends
Navy service. Roger Staubach,
well, for we are still talking
yet another Navy officer, sat out
about a lot of money. Robin-
four years before trepidatiously re-
son benefited from the
porting to the Dallas Cowboys as
Navy's "progressive" attitude
HUMOR IN
a 27-year-old rookie.
and was able to debut in
UNIFORM
And then there's Ted Williams,
the pros after only two
the quintessential example of a
years of full-time military
A sailor stationed
bigtime athlete who starred for a
service. It was decided
on a far-flung U.S.
time in more violent arenas. As
that Robinson, too tall at
outpost was noted
any Boston Red Sox fan can tell
7'1" for sea duty anyway,
for his loyalty to his
you-and will-Williams certainly
would best serve his coun-
fiancée. Then one day
would have tallied 10,000 hits,
try as a half-hitch ensign
he received a cal-
2,000 of which would have been
and then a lifetime role
lous letter telling him
homers, if his baseball career
that she was going
model. Robinson signed
to marry a 4-F, and
hadn't been interrupted not once
with the San Antonio Spurs
would he please re-
but twice by Marine service.
for $26 million over eight
turn her picture. He
We'll return to the Teddy War-
years, which compared fa-
was so upset by this
games saga in a moment, for it's
vorably with his $1,260.90
treachery that his
surely the most compelling
monthly Navy wage, even
buddies rallied to
among the playing-man/ fighting-
when you heap on the
avenge their pal. A
man stories. But first let's glance at
$112.65 subsistence stipend.
collection of photo-
these other cases, and see how
Robinson, last season's
graphs, snapshots
the jock's place in the military has
unanimous choice as NBA
and pin-up girls was
differed from age to age, and
rookie of the year, is deserving
made from every
how various people have reacted
of his $3-million plus a year, if
fellow on the base.
in various ways to being called
such a mammoth sum can be
They were packed
up by the parent team.
fairly earned by playing a game.
in a huge crate and
These days, with peace break-
And make no mistake: He earned
shipped to the fickle
ing out everywhere but Kuwait,
his Navy pay, too. He was a resi-
wench. Upon opening
and with the selective service an
dent officer in charge of construc-
the crate, she found
anachronism, it is only athletes
tion in "a one-road town" named
a note reading,
from the academies who are like-
St. Mary's, Ga. "I definitely got spe-
"Please pick out
ly to forego a big-money, big-
cial treatment in the Navy, but
your picture and re-
league season for the grand op-
turn the rest to me.
not the way you are thinking.
This is a little embar-
portunity of slogging around in
They would go out of their way to
rassing, but I don't
fatigues and eating mess hall
make things more difficult for me
remember which
chow. And even the academy
just SO that people would know I
one is yours."
grads serve their enlistment only
wasn't special, that everyone was
because they must, in repayment
equal. It really wasn't fair, but 'fair'
(THE READER'S DIGEST,
FEBRUARY 1944)
for their education.
wasn't a word they used much."
The slim but strong Robinson
Navy as the foundation for my fu-
carried the Spurs to the greatest
ture in life. Not to be corny, but I
single-season turnaround in
felt if I tried to get out of that com-
league history. For the year he
mitment, I'd try to get out of things
averaged 24.3 points, 12
the rest of my life."
rebounds and 3.9 blocks
Not only didn't Staubach get
per game. He was ev-
out of it, he got into it, deep. After
erything NBA fans and the
six months of training in Georgia,
Navy wanted him to be: poised,
the ensign was shipped to Viet-
energetic, intense, hard-working.
nam. "My service there was busy,
Even before the tipoff, he im-
but behind the lines," he says un-
pressed. When asked what she
assumingly. "I ran a support
liked best about watching Robin-
group over there. We'd have a
son, the wife of a Spurs executive
mortar attack on our base, may-
© CARL SKALAK/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
said, "The way he stood at atten-
be, but nothing too much. I lost
tion for the national anthem."
some classmates in the rice pad-
Yet another charismatic ath-
dies, but I cannot tell you honestly
lete who has brought reflected
that mine was a dangerous job."
USO
glory to Navy is football's Roger
Although football was forced
41
Staubach. Back when he left An-
well to the back of Staubach's
napolis in 1964, his country was
mind during the mid-'60s, the
at war. Considerations were very
once and future QB kept hope
different than they are today.
alive. "At 22, five years seems a
DAVID ROBINSON
"Back then, there was no thought
lifetime. But I had played well in
WAS EVERYTHING NBA
that I wouldn't serve five years,"
the College All Star game, and af-
says Staubach, taking a few min-
ter that it became a mental chal-
FANS AND THE NAVY
utes from a busy day as chief of a
lenge. I had a lot of perseverance.
Dallas real estate firm. "Junior
I'd do beach running at Chu Lai,
WANTED HIM TO BE:
year at the academy, I'd had a
and throw the ball on the Da-
POISED, ENERGETIC,
very good season and had won
Nang soccer field with Fred Mar-
the Heisman. I probably could've
lin. I kept saying to myself, `Jim-
INTENSE,
tried to transfer right then, and
miny-when I get out I'll be 27.
then go to the pros after my senior
You can still play at 27!"
HARD-WORKING.
year. But, really, I didn't consider
By the way, Roger's nick-
it. I had always looked at the
name isn't "Jimminy." He really
© JERRY WACHTER/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
IN 1989-90, DAVID
ROBINSON CARRIED
THE SAN ANTONIO
SPURS TO THE GREAT-
EST SINGLE-SEASON
TURNAROUND IN
NBA HISTORY.
HUMOR IN
does talk that way.
UNIFORM
When Staubach returned to
A group of us were
the U.S., it was to a far different
sitting in the ready
life than the one he had left. He
room of our hangar
had been phenomenally famous
at Patuxent River,
at Annapolis-cover-of-Time mag-
Md., when a chief
azine famous. The economically
walked in with
stressed Navy had had to curtail
© HEINZ KLUETMEIER/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
more hash marks
the practice of sending Roger-the-
adorning his sleeve
Dodger glossies to coeds nation-
than we had ever
wide; thousands of mailings at $3
seen. One sailor re-
per picture were just too much for
marked, "Gee,
the defense budget to bear.
chief, you've sure
But now, in 1968, Staubach
been in the Navy a
returned to signal calling as QB
long time. What
for the Pensacola (Fla.) Air Station
were you in
Goshawks, a ragtag team that
SO
civilian life?"
played a pickup schedule against
42
The chief, without
small colleges in the Southeast. "I
academy, not DaNang, not Pen-
hesitation, answer-
don't want to make too much of
ed, "a baby."
sacola and certainly not Dallas.
STAUBACH RAN ON
it, but that was pretty serious-
"Truly, I'm even glad to have
THE BEACH IN VIET-
(THE READER'S DIGEST,
minded, it really was," Staubach
served in Vietnam," he says.
NAM IN PREPARATION
JULY 1968)
recalls defensively. "We'd all play-
"Things have turned out SO well,
FOR HIS RETURN TO
ed college football, and some of
how can you ask that anything
THE GRIDIRON.
the teams we played against
be different?
weren't too bad. I really learned
"Well Perhaps I'd like to
to scramble then. Since I was the
change the outcome of a couple
Heisman Trophy winner, they'd
of those Super Bowls against Pitts-
all take shots at me."
burgh."
"A good transitional experi-
Ted Williams wishes that
ence," says Staubach. "When I
some things had been different,
took three weeks of leave for the
specifically that Korean War
Cowboys' training camp the next
thing. Never has he been SO can-
year, I was ready."
did about this as in his 1969 auto-
More than ready. Following
biography, My Turn at Bat. "In
Don Meredith and Craig Morton
my heart, I was bitter about it,"
in that great parade of Cowboy
Williams writes about being
quarterbacks, Staubach steered
called up in the '50s. "I think if it's
Dallas to four Super Bowls, two of
an emergency, everybody goes.
which they won. He re-
But Korea wasn't a declared war,
ROGER STAUBACH,
tired at age 38 in
it wasn't an all-out war. They
TOP-RATED PASSER
1980 as the top-rat-
should have let the professionals
IN NFL HISTORY,
ed passer in NFL
handle it."
WITH THE HEISMAN
history. As you
Earlier, of course, World War II
TROPHY IN 1963.
might expect, the
had been an emergency of the
modest and af-
highest order, and darned near
fable Staubach
everybody, Williams included, did
would change
go. Slugger Hank Greenberg
none of it-not the
served for two years. Fastballer
Bob Feller for three. The great
Joe DiMaggio for three.
Williams eventually performed
a three-year hitch in the
Marines, but he was in no
hurry to get it started.
Williams eventually
signed up for naval aviation,
and later received combat train-
UPI/BETTMANN NEWSPHOTOS
ing in Jacksonville where he set
the student gunnery record, and
then his Pacific Theater orders
were issued. He was stationed
in San Francisco waiting to
.
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ship out when the bombs were
of that year, in the season's wan-
dropped on Japan. He got as far
ing days the Red Sox coaxed him
as Honolulu, and there was dis-
back into the line-up and he
charged.
went on a 37-game tear, hitting
Williams never batted less
.407 with 13 homers-one every
than 317 and never hit fewer
seven times at bat. The Splinter
than 25 homers between 1946
was back, as splendid as ever.
and 1951; he won the league's
And despite annual declarations
Triple Crown (homers, RBI and
that he was through, Williams
batting average) in 1947. He hit
kept coming back for six more
43 homers and knocked in 159
seasons, hitting as high as .388
runs two years later, winning an-
and as many as 38 homers in a
other MVP award.
season, becoming the oldest
But by 1952, he was 33, and
player ever to win a batting
his .318 average in '51 was the
crown. His career ultimately
second-lowest of his major
stretched all the way from 1939
league career. When the Korean
to 1960, and if you bother to ex-
summons came, it seemed like
trapolate-as those diehards
US
the end of the road for Teddy
from Boston are wont to do-then
"I HAD ALWAYS LOOKED
45
Ballgame. Indeed, that's how the
it becomes clear that Williams
AT THE NAVY AS THE
Fenway Faithful reacted on Ted
might well have become the all-
Williams Day in April of '52.
time homer king, had he not giv-
FOUNDATION FOR MY
They gave Williams a Cadillac
en the better part of five seasons
and an autograph book with
to his country. And that quintes-
FUTURE IN LIFE. NOT TO
400,000 signatures, then they
sential milestone would sit atop a
held hands in the stands and
BE CORNY, BUT I FELT IF
marvelous career batting aver-
sang Auld Lang Syne. Williams,
age of .344.
I TRIED TO GET OUT
who had had a contentious rela-
Williams modestly told the
tionship with these fans, saluted
press in 1952, "If Uncle Sam wants
OF THAT COMMITMENT,
them, saying, "This is the great-
me, I'm ready. I'm no different
I'D TRY TO GET OUT
est day of my life." In his last be-
from the next fellow." Wrong. He
tween-War at-bat, with the score
was.
OF THINGS THE REST OF
tied 3-3, he hit a homer, thus
Someone else, someone high-
beating Detroit 5-3.
er up, knew he was different too
MY LIFE."
The death-defying flight relat-
-and this last anecdote provides
— ROGER STAUBACH
ed earlier was one of 39 missions
a felicitous postscript to this ram-
flown by Williams; he was hit on
ble about sports stars and the
two other occasions. "Everybody
Stars and Stripes.
tries to make a hero out of me
When Williams was called
over the Korean thing," writes
up for Korea, he was the highest
Williams, the once-reluctant fly-
paid ballplayer in the land, mak-
boy. "I was no hero. There were
ing $100,000 a year. A U.S. Bud-
maybe 75 pilots in our two
get Bureau executive got the Pen-
squadrons and 99 percent of them
tagon on the phone and asked,
did a better job than I did. But I
"Do you dumb clucks realize how
liked flying. It was the second best
much his captain's pay is going
thing that ever happened to me. If
to cost us?"
I hadn't had baseball to come
A colonel answered matter-
back to, I might have gone on be-
of-factly, "$608.25 per month."
ing a Marine pilot."
The budgeteer shot back:
But he did have baseball to
"Yes, $7,300 a year, plus about
come back to, and SO when he
$50,000 in lost income tax! You
was grounded with an inner-ear
could get a dozen Marine cap-
infection, an ailment that led to
tains for the same price as one!"
pneumonia and that still affects
If San Antonio fans were
his hearing, the Marines gra-
worried, that's proof enough that
ciously mustered him out. Base-
David Robinson is not likely to be
ball commissioner Ford Frick
mustered in again-at least not
called him immediately and in-
while we've got an expanding
vited him to Cincinnati to throw
deficit.
out the first ball of the 1953 All
Star Game. Although Williams
Robert Sullivan is a staff writer for
was inclined to fish away the rest
Sports Illustrated.
© JULES ALEXANDER
GREAT
$
BY JULIE BROWN
UNIFORMLY
FEMININE
The scene was played out day
after day on the national news.
Troops and arms were loaded
aboard ships and aircraft bound
for the Saudi Arabian deser But
these images were not new O
the American public. The United
States has deployed troops to nu-
merous hot spots and war zones
throughout the 20th century.
What marks Operation Desert
Shield, like Operation Just Cause
in Panama in 1989, is the n-
creasingly visible and important
role American women are play
ing in the U.S. military machin
Today, there are roughty
230,000 women on active dui
the armed forces. Wome
count for 11 percent of all mili-
tary personnel. And while wom-
en are still barred from serving in
combat positions, the lin be-
tween a combatant and O non-
combatant grows hazier all the
time. Today, women serve as
truck drivers, engineers, commu-
nication experts, technical spe-
cialists, pilots, intelligence offi-
cers and flight controllers. They
ships, they fly troops, dignitaries
Army and Navy Nursing Corps;
©LANI
and supplies across the world.
10,000 of them overseas in Europe
They fly reconnaissance missions
and other U.S. territories. Some
and they hold the keys to Inter
were wounded and 38 are buried
Continental Ballistic Missiles.
in U.S. cemeteries abroad.
There is little doubt that women
While many "civilian" wom-
will be among the casualties in
en would perform other duties for
any shooting war.
the military, such as communica-
"Today, women are more
tion and administrative services,
exposed in the back than if
the War Department remained
they were on the front lines, be-
steadfastly against enlisting wom-
cause if you are the enemy, you
en to perform administrative jobs
are trying to hit communication
or other duties. It wasn't until
stations, repair facilities and
1942, when Congress established
supply lines. Guess who's run-
the WAAC (Women's Army Auxil-
ning these operations? Wom-
iary Corps), that women would be
en," said Rep. Patricia Schroeder
called on to perform other duties,
SO
(D-Colo.), senior Democrat on the
although, once again, they re-
48
House Armed Services Commit-
mained a separate entity and did
MOTHER-
tee. "No one is even arguing that
not receive normal Army ben-
women are not exposed."
efits. When it became apparent
HOOD
While many women see the
that women were not going to en-
Pregnancy was
combat restrictions as hypocrisy
list in large numbers into the
another problem for
and are working to bring down the
WAAC, Congress passed a bill
American service-
final barriers, there is no question
that established the WAC (Wom-
women. Until the
that American women have made
en's Army Corps), giving women
early '70s, women
significant strides in their quest for
full military status. The Navy be-
were routinely
equality in the armed forces. Their
gan its own women's corps called
discharged if they
struggle, however, has been long,
the WAVES (Women Accepted for
became pregnant. It
difficult and often painful.
Volunteer Emergency Service)
would take several
Contrary to popular belief,
and the Coast Guard established
challenges to
women's participation in the mili-
the SPARS (Semper Paratus-Al-
change that policy.
tary is not a recent phenomenon.
ways Ready).
Women have served in every U.S.
Once the services were open-
war effort since the Revolutionary
ed up, women headed to Officer
War. Although their roles were
Candidate Training and basic
generally limited to traditional "fe-
training camps. They were under
male jobs" such as nurses, cooks
tremendous pressure to succeed.
and seamstresses, they played an
Women had to possess higher lev-
important role in both the Revolu-
els of education than men to be
tionary and the Civil Wars. Some
accepted and had to prove them-
of the more adventurous women
masqueraded as men so they
could participate in direct combat
and it was not uncommon for
SOME OF THE MORE
women to be used as spies.
In 1901, Congress established
ADVENTUROUS
the Nurses Corps as an auxiliary
WOMEN MASQUERADED
of the Army. The Navy followed
suit seven years later. Although
AS MEN SO THEY
these women served an impor-
tant role in the military, they did
COULD PARTICIPATE
not receive equal pay or rank or
IN DIRECT COMBAT
other benefits given to active-duty
men and veterans. They would
AND IT WAS NOT
wait 47 years before they were
recognized as a permanent part
UNCOMMON FOR
of the Army and Navy.
WOMEN TO BE USED
Although women could serve
only as nurses in World War I,
AS SPIES.
their contributions would not go
unnoticed. By Armistice Day,
35,000 women had served in the
HUMOR IN
selves over and over again to
began training women pilots. The
HUMOR IN
UNIFORM
skeptical male officers, the gener-
Navy restricted women to hospital
UNIFORM
As a single mother
al public and the press. Despite
ships until 1978.
"There are SO many
in the Army, I've had
the pressure, women came
Women were first allowed in-
women in the army
to transfer
through World War II with flying
to the military due to manpower
now that when a
my son, Gary, to
colors. Women were dispatched
shortages, not because there was
soldier sees a
several different
to the North African, Mediterrane-
any overwhelming desire to inte-
uniform coming
schools. At one ele-
an, European and South Pacific
grate women into the military.
down the street he
mentary school,
theatres. Their duties were gener-
The general public and the Con-
has to wait till it
where he was the
ally restricted to stereotypical fe-
gress had a hard time accepting
gets within 20 feet
only military depen-
male jobs such as stenographers,
women soldiers. Many were look-
before he knows
dent, the other
typists, telephone operators, driv-
ed on as freaks. It wasn't until the
whether to salute
six-year-olds had
ers, cooks, nurses and linguists.
end of World War II that they
or whistle."-
learned a familiar
But they performed their duties
were accepted, and then most
Bob Hope
Army insult and of-
exceptionally well. Many were
women were expected to return
(THE READER'S DIGEST,
ten used it on one
decorated with medals.
to civilian life following the close
SEPTEMBER 1943)
another, to devas-
World War II nurses perform-
of hostilities.
tating effect. But
ed heroically. They endured re-
The Vietnam era presented
USO
when they tried
lentless bombings, personal
another setback for the majority
49
taunting Gary with
hardships, and much death and
of military women. Few women
it, the effort fell
destruction. Seventy-seven nurs-
other than nurses were allowed
flat. 'Your' mama
wears combat
es spent 37 months in POW
into the country itself. Enlisted
boots," they teased.
camps and hundreds more lost
women and officers were gener-
"Why, sure," Gary
their lives.
ally kept out of the theatre while
replied thoughtfully.
On June 12, 1948, President
the Defense Department sent
"Doesn't every-
Truman signed the Women's Arm-
women civilians to provide
body's?"
ed Services Act of 1948, thus en-
clerical assistance. This policy
suring a permanent place for
created resentment among ser-
(THE READER'S DIGEST,
MARCH 1988)
women in the military.
vice women.
The Act was not without flaw.
The nurses, however, were
By today's standards, it was very
deployed-and they performed
sexist legislation. There was a two
brilliantly. More lives were saved
percent ceiling put on the number
in Vietnam than in any other
of women who could serve, stiffer
war. Yet Vietnam was as trau-
entry requirements, limited pro-
matic for women as for the men
motion opportunities and, for the
who served. The entire country
most part, prohibitions against
was a war zone and the anti-Viet-
women serving in combat posi-
nam protests at home hit raw
tions. Women were not allowed to
nerves. Many nurses returning
attend the service academies until
from Vietnam were shocked at
1976, the same year the Air Force
the reception they received com-
© PHOTRI. INC
TODAY, FEMALE AIR
FORCE PILOTS FLY
TROOPS, SUPPLIES AND
DIGNITARIES ALL OVER
THE WORLD.
ing home. Like the men, women
ranks. Historically, promotion to
were the victims of verbal and
the very senior ranks is directly
physical attacks by anti-war
linked to leading units into com-
demonstrators. Those who had
bat. Often women can train men
spent years saving lives and serv-
for jobs that they themselves are
ing their country were deeply
barred from performing.
hurt and confused. Few nurses es-
"It's time for U.S. servicewom-
caped Vietnam without physical
en to fish or cut bait," says retired
© JULES ALEXANDER
or emotional wounds.
Air Force Maj. General Jeanne
While Operation Just Cause
Holm. "The performance of wom-
put women back in the news, Op-
en in this Middle East deployment
eration Desert Shield has put
will have a profound effect on
JULES ALEXANDER
women under the microscope.
whether the combat restrictions
Not since the first mobilization of
are removed." However, she be-
women has the country looked so
lieves that the remaining barriers
closely at women in the military.
will come down within the next
The attention bothers many who
10 years. "The current restrictions
USO
say they would prefer to be left
imposed by the 1948 law are SO
50
CON
alone to do their jobs. Others wel-
archaic that they serve no useful
PRO
come the scrutiny, hoping that
purpose," said Holm.
"I would prefer
Congress will get the message
While she will be the first to
"When qualified
dogs or ducks or
that they are capable of perform-
tell you that she supports dropping
women are properly
monkeys to having
ing in combat positions, thereby
the combat restrictions, Holm be-
trained, they can
women in uniform
eliminating the final barriers.
lieves that no man or woman
serve effectively in
on my ship."-U.S.
Yet this does not seem likely
should be promoted to a position
any
job
on
any
Navy Admiral dur-
anytime soon. Following the Pana-
for which he or she is unqualified.
combat ship." -
ing World War II.
ma invasion, Rep. Schroeder intro-
But with the right training, she
Jeanne Holm, Maj.
duced a bill that would establish a
says, few jobs are beyond the ca-
Gen. (Ret.), U.S.
test program that would open up
pabilities of women. Her greatest
Air Force.
combat positions to women.
reservations are with positions
Schroeder readily acknowledges
"that focus on brute physical
that she doesn't have the votes to
strength, like the infantry."
pass the bill. She echoes the opin-
Air Force Captain Libby We-
ion of many service women that it
ber agrees. Although there are
is not the public that rejects the
things that irritate her, she be-
idea of women in combat; it is the
lieves the U.S. "is moving slowly,
predominantly male Congress that
but positively, toward a gender-
has a problem with it.
less military."
While many women are con-
A nation of women will be
tent with current policy, they too
watching.
believe that the combat restric-
tions limit a woman's chance of
Julie Brown is a freelance writer
promotion to the very highest
based in Washington, D.C.
INC. ©
A PROUD GRADUATE
OF THE U.S. NAVAL
ACADEMY.
US
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BY ROBERT A. WEBB
THE HEIGHTS
USO
OF GLORY
52
A flamboyant white Union
general championed the
cause of black soldiers in
the Civil War
Early on a September morn-
© THE BETTMANN ARCHIVE
ing in 1864, a Union general
rode in grim triumph across a
battlefield south of Richmond.
He had to guide his mount
carefully. On the now quiet
field lay hundreds of his men,
dead and wounded. Aside
from a handful of white offi-
cers, all were black.
Maj. Gen. Benjamin Frank-
lin Butler, hoping to capture
the Confederate capital, had selected them to chal-
lenge some of Robert E. Lee's finest troops, dug in
below a mile-long hill where two federal assaults
were repulsed earlier that year. Butler's men had
not failed him-or themselves.
At the battle of New Market Heights, Butler was
to write in his memoirs, "the capacity of the negro
race for soldiers had been settled then and there for-
ever I swore to myself an oath that them and
their race should be cared for and protected by
me SO long as I lived."
The flamboyant general lost little time. No fewer
than 14 of his black troops would win the new Medal
LEFT: NEGRO UNION
of Honor commissioned by Congress-the nation's
INFANTRY CORPORAL,
HOLDING COLT 1849
highest military decoration-for gallantry that day.
POCKET REVOLVER.
Today the battle and heroes are all but forgotten.
CIVIL WAR PHOTOG-
But efforts are under way to make New Market
RAPHERS KEPT SUCH
Heights into a fitting memorial-not just to a battle,
EQUIPMENT TO ADD A
but to the 178,000 United States Colored Troops (USCT)
MARTIAL TOUCH TO
and other blacks who fought in the Civil War. Their
THEIR PORTRAITS.
© PHOTO COURTESY OF TRI-ST
© TRI STAR FILRMS
53
SN
story has been largely overlooked
fired on by white soldiers-and
DECORATION
for 125 years-a story of men who
relegated at first to building fortifi-
After New Market
first had to fight for the right to fight
cations and driving cattle. If cap-
Heights, 200 black
before they could fight for freedom
tured, they were not considered
soldiers each
itself; of the unlikely white general
legitimate prisoners of war; many
received a special
who championed their cause in
were returned or sold into slavery
medal commis-
war and their future in a peaceful
and some were executed. But
sioned by Major
South.
hundreds of white officers volun-
General Butler from
The Colored Troops moment
teered to train and lead black
Tiffany & Co.
at New Market Heights had been
troops, and soon thousands were
a long time coming. At the start of
ready to prove their mettle on the
the war in 1861, Northern whites
battlefield.
were almost universally opposed
Black troops took part in at
to arming blacks. Like many
least 39 major engagements and
Southerners, they were both fear-
at least 410 minor ones. By most
ful and scornful: blacks were to
accounts, they represented about
blame for the war; they were
12 percent of the Union army's
JSO
servile and inferior; they could not
manpower, 7 percent of its deser-
54
fight, and whites would not fight
tions and about a third of its
beside them. Even President Abra-
deaths (68,178).
ham Lincoln worried that arming
Due to the film "Glory," the ill-
blacks "would turn 50,000 loyal
fated charge of the 54th Massa-
bayonets from the border states
chusetts on Ft. Wagner, S.C., is the
against us that are now for us."
best-known battle featuring black
Perhaps black abolitionist
troops. But in terms of manpower,
Frederick Douglass came closest
performances and results, New
to the real reason: "Once let a
Market Heights would crown the
black person get upon his person
list. It was to develop from a coun-
the brass letters U.S.; let him get
terstroke conceived by Grant. In
an eagle on the button, and a
order to ease the threat to Wash-
musket on his shoulder and bul-
ington from a Confederate force
lets in his pocket and there is no
in the Shenandoah Valley, Grant
HIGH PRAISE
power on earth that can deny he
In an address to
has earned the right to citizenship
the Army of the
in the United States."
James on Oct. 11,
Gradually, under pressure
1864, Butler salut-
from abolitionists and the thou-
ed the men of New
Market Heights. "A
sands of escaped slaves and
Northern free blacks who were
few more such gal-
lant charges, and to
volunteering their services, the
command colored
mood began to change. By early
troops will be the
1862, some generals were using
post of honor in the
blacks in labor battalions and as
American Army."
scouts. In August, Ben Butler, as
military governor of New Or-
leans, organized 1,400 freedmen
into the Louisiana Native Guards
-the first official black regiment
in the U.S. Army. By now Lincoln
himself, faced with heavy casu-
alties and expiring one-year en-
listments, had concluded that
black troops were badly need-
ed. The formal Emancipation
Proclamation made it official: as
of Jan. 1, 1863, black units
would be organized to fight for
freedom. Recruitment began on
a massive scale.
But the glory still belonged to
whites. Black soldiers were paid
less, denied commission as offi-
cers, harassed, beaten and even
proposed a strong attack against
thousands were pouring into fed-
the Richmond-Petersburg line-
eral camps.
where the two armies were stale-
In 1862, after several badly
mated. On Sept. 27, Grant or-
handled field campaigns, Butler
dered Ben Butler and his Army of
became military governor of
the James to attack Richmond's
New Orleans and quickly won
outer defenses and, if successful,
lasting Southern hatred. His
to capture the Confederate capi-
friends and admirers began talk-
tal itself. It was the opportunity
ing of a political career-perhaps
Butler had been waiting for.
a Cabinet post first and then the
In a war noted for controver-
presidency in 1868.
sial, colorful and ambitious gen-
In late 1863, too influential to
erals, Ben Butler may have led
be removed by Lincoln, Butler re-
the pack. In 1860, as a Mas-
turned to Fort Monroe as com-
sachusetts politician and lawyer,
mander of the Army of the
he supported Jefferson Davis for
James. Thus one of the Union's
the Democratic presidential nom-
most political and least compe-
ination; within a year, he was a
tent field generals found himself
Union general determined to
with the chance of a lifetime: to
55
crush Davis and his Confedera-
prove his growing conviction that
cy. Butler quickly established
black troops could play a deci-
himself as a tough and effective
sive role in the war, a conviction
administrator. As military gover-
that might help him capture the
nor of Fort Monroe near Norfolk,
Confederate capital and win the
he soon demonstrated his genius
White House.
for controversy when he refused
Butler's plan called for the
ALLIES
to return three runaways to their
white XVIII Corps under Gen. Ed-
In August 1863, Gen.
master on the grounds that they
ward C. Ord to cross the James
Ulysses S. Grant
were "contraband"-seized ene-
River and attack the rebels at Fort
wrote Lincoln, "by
my property. Singlehandedly
Harrison, and Maj. Gen. David
arming the negro,
and without authorization, he
Birney's X Corps to cross and at-
we have added a
had freed southern slaves; soon
tack New Market Heights three
powerful ally."
© THE BETTMANN ARCHIVE
PETIT
miles to the east. Then both corps
abatis. By now the fog had lifted,
LARCENY?
would capture crucial Fort Gilmer
and artillery shells and musket
As military gover-
a mile north and thrust another
fire stopped the federals cold.
nor of New Orleans,
six miles into Richmond.
Cpl. Miles James of the
Butler acquired the
Butler pointedly suggested
36th, his right arm mutilated
sobriquet "Spoons"
that the attack be led by the
and the bones shattered, load-
when Southern
3,100 men in Brig. Gen. Charles
ed and fired his musket with
silverware began
Paine's black 3rd division.
one hand and urged his men
disappearing.
The XVIII Corps carried Fort
forward.
Harrison easily but bogged down
Gradually the Confederate
as reinforcements arrived. At
fire slackened. The Confederates
New Market Heights, the going
were pulling out to protect Fort
was much harder. The Confeder-
Gilmer. The black regiments
ates had dug a line of trenches
seized the works, scrambled to
flanked by artillery and faced by
the summit and occupied a for-
a double line of felled trees, or
ward signal station on a section
abatis, 100 yards apart. Manning
called Cobb's Hill. New Market
USO
the lines were 1,800 hardened
Heights had fallen.
56
Texans and Arkansans of Lee's
Within an hour, Butler ar-
ABOVE: GENERAL
"Grenadier Guards."
rived on the scene. "Poor fellows,"
GRANT ORDERED BEN
The 13,000 federals advanc-
he wrote his wife the next day.
BUTLER AND HIS ARMY
OF THE JAMES TO
ing through the fog quickly lost
"They seem to have so little to
ATTACK RICHMOND.
their numerical advantage as the
fight for in this contest, with the
corps' two white divisions and a
weight of prejudice upon them.
black brigade were held back in
To us, there is patriotism, fame,
reserve. Paine's black division
love of country, pride, ambition,
moved forward, but only one of
all to spur us on But there is
its brigades was ordered to at-
one boon they love to fight for,
tack-1,100 inexperienced troops
freedom for themselves and their
under inexperienced Col. Samuel
race forever."
Duncan. At 5:30 a.m., the 3rd Bri-
The bravery of the black
BELOW: EVEN PRESI-
gade's two regiments-the 4th and
troops in the subsequent attack
DENT LINCOLN HAD
6th USCT-moved out through the
on Fort Gilmer was just as exem-
RESERVATIONS ABOUT
fog, crossed a creek and sent axe-
plary. Butler missed the action; he
ARMING BLACKS.
men out to hack through the en-
was off looking for Grant to tell
tangling first abatis.
him of his success at New Market
The alerted Confederates
Heights. There would be no
opened up with devastating ef-
Medals of Honor for the heroes of
fect. Duncan's men and their
Fort Gilmer.
white officers pressed ahead, but
In the morning, a Confeder-
© THE BETTMANN ARCHIVE
the Confederates poured out of
ate counterattack at Fort Harrison
their trenches, killing scores in
failed, and with it ended the
combat and murdering others
combined battle known today as
who surrendered. The brigade
Chaffin's Farm. The two days
was destroyed, but their gallant
had cost 1,732 black casualties
effort would win Medals of Honor
and 1,559 white. Besides the 14
for five of its soldiers.
blacks, 23 whites would win
Now Paine sent for-
Medals of Honor.
ward his 2nd Brigade
New Market Heights, if not a
under Col. Alonzo Draper.
major victory, was the Colored
Its 5th, 36th and 38th
Troops' finest hour. In his defini-
USCT regiments moved
tive Richmond Redeemed,
out of a ravine and
Richard Sommers wrote that
across the field where
"nothing can detract from the
many of Duncan's
heroism of Duncan's vanguard
men still lay, slog-
that reached the trench or from
ged through
the valor of Draper's men who re-
a marsh and
sumed the advance after suffer-
charged
ing SO severely."
into the
Robert A. Webb is an editor of the
Outlook section of The Washing-
ton Post.
Thanks
For Being There.
Ford Motor Company
Buckle up - Together we can save lives.
Ford
The
Ludlum
Identity
Suspense novelist
Robert Ludlum's
two years with the
Marines at Pearl
Harbor gave him
a profound respect
for the military.
BY WENDY SMITH
Millions of people around the world know
Robert Ludlum as the bestselling author of 17
suspense novels, including The Osterman
Weekend, The Holcroft Covenant, The Parsifal
Mosaic and the trilogy of The Bourne Identity,
USO
The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum.
59
They may not know that Ludlum is also a
Marine Corps veteran. In 1944, while still a
teenager, he forged his mother's signature on
his enlistment papers and spent two years
stationed at Pearl Harbor. In an interview with
Always Home, he discusses the influence of his
service on his subsequent work as a writer.
Do you think that your ex-
wanted me to sign a couple of
periences in the Marines have
books for him. I said, "On one con-
had any impact on your books?
dition," and he said, "What's that,
I think some of them did.
young man?" I said, "You salute
As every Marine does, I learned
me!" So now it's a big joke; when-
quite a bit about hand-to-hand
ever we meet somewhere, he
combat, and a lot of that shows
salutes me!
up in my work in the action
Q: Your work is very popular
scenes. Also, the discipline that is
with service people.
inculcated in soldiers made a dis-
A: I am delighted to hear
tinct impression on me. I've al-
that. I think it's probably the en-
ways had a great respect for the
tertainment value, and whatever
military-I don't always agree
ideas that I try to propel and pro-
with it, frankly, being the last of
pound. I can't give a specific rea-
the liberals, which I do not consid-
son why the military should like
er a dirty word. But I have enor-
my books, but I think it may be
mous respect for the military and
because they sense the respect
what they do, and I think that
that I have for the jobs they do, I
shows. Beyond that, I can't say
think that may very well be a
that an awful lot has come
part of it, though I hadn't thought
through. I've written a number of
of it before.
strong military figures, but not as
protagonists, probably because I
Q: Do you get letters from
don't feel that I know that much
readers in the service?
about them, having been an EM
A: Oh, yes, I get letters galore
(enlisted man), I think I'm the only
from service people, and I try to
man who lives in Florida who was
answer them all. I would say of
an enlisted man: everyone else
the letters I get, a good one-third
there is a retired general! As a
of them are from the military.
matter of fact, there's a retired
general in our condo. He was a
Q: Do you ever hear from
very famous general and once he
people who are angry with you be
NOTHING
BEATS
BUD
R
BEERS go ONLY
OF
the
other
famous
Dreamer
.00.00
RENGWNED GREAT AFRICA AUSTRALIA drinkability AUSTRALIA TASIANA wood you will Fladweiser Aging EUROPE find STATE costs beer offer so Deet ARCN of and brew
ON
Puoja
Budwein CODE dweir EMERICA KING Alaheuser Hops, our OF Rice original Busch, BEERS and process Best
and
Inc
Famor chub and hud ha STAL STATEL
PLEASE OUR ALUMINUM CANS
cause you're critical of the military?
I TRY TO GIVE THE EVIL
can be! Fortunately, I take my
A: Sure. More than that, I get
work seriously, but not myself.
clarifications if I've used the
AS MANY GOOD
wrong aircraft or the wrong
weapon. They'll say, "We like the
ARGUMENTS AS I CAN,
Q: What kind of research do
you do for your books?
book, but you'd better get this
WHICH IS NOTHING MORE
A: I travel a great deal; I've
straight, buddy." And I get a lot of
been to about 85 percent of the
these letters that say, "Boy, you
THAN WHAT GEORGE
places I've written about. And I
were in the old war, weren't you,
BERNARD SHAW TOLD
do voluminous reading, espe-
fella!" But I seldom get anything
cially if I'm writing about some-
stinging-every now and then, of
US ALL TO DO.
thing that I've put back in time a
course; there's a small section of
few years. I'll go back and get
all the letters that are highly criti-
the magazines and newspapers
cal and don't like what I have to
of the period from various coun-
say about certain things, but if I
tries to try and get a sense of the
didn't get those I wouldn't be do-
psychological ambience of the
ing my job.
dle East. How do you feel about
time. Then I will read whatever
the current crisis over there?
books I can find, to give me oth-
USO
Q: Many of your books take
A: I think it was coming. I
er points of view. I try not to set
61
place against a World War II set-
think it's horrible, of course. Sad-
up straw dogs, I try to give the
ting. Why is that?
dam Hussein is not a madman;
evil as many good arguments as
A: I leave all of the high-tech
he's ruthless, and he's a very
I can, which is nothing more
stuff to the Tom Clancys of this
bright man as well. But if you
than what George Bernard Shaw
world. I prefer human conflict
look at the whole Pan-Arabian
told us all to do. I talk to a lot of
rather than machine conflict; I'm
situation, we've had a very un-
people, too. I seek them out
not a high-tech person and I'd be
balanced Mideast policy for
sometimes, especially in other
out of my element if I began deal-
many years. I think you're going
countries, because I want to get
ing with the high technology.
to find that, although I doubt
their sense of what is happening.
Frankly, I prefer a more personal
any Arab wants Hussein to take
Also, a lot of people come up
approach to conflict.
over the whole damn thing.
and tell me things. As a matter
There are millions of disenfran-
of fact, about 15 years ago,
Q: All three of your room-
chised Arabs who are going to
someone who was very big in
mates at Wesleyan University
say, "Hey, wait a minute; now
the Secret Service in the White
ended up in the intelligence ser-
it's our turn." It's tragic, but nev-
House got my unlisted number
vice. How do they and their col-
ertheless I think it was on its
and called me. I said, "Come on,
leagues react to your work?
way, and I think I tried to point
will you? I'm just a storyteller!"
A: With great good humor
that out in The Icarus Agenda.
and grace. One of them said to
There are millions of people in
Q: What are you planning
me once, "For God's sake, don't
refugee camps living in squalor
for your next book?
ever call me at the office!" And
that we haven't done anything
A: It's a sequel to the only
another one told me, "You know,
for, and yet we've done every-
comedy I've ever written, The
X over in Department X said to
thing for Israel-as we should,
Road to Gandolfo. You know the
me that people keep coming to
because they are a democratic
old saying that all comics want to
him, because they know that he
society, but we should also have
play Hamlet; I guess all Hamlets
knows you, and saying, 'You're
done something for the Arab sit-
want to be a clown! I think this is
feeding him stuff, aren't you?"
uation, and we simply walked
my clown period.
Of course, none of that is true at
away from it.
all! Sometimes when I say some-
Q: Is there anything you
thing that has a grain of truth in
Q: So there are a lot of social
haven't done in your writing that
it, they get a big kick out of it,
and political forces at work under
you'd like to try in the future?
because they know they're in a
the surface of this military encoun-
A: Yes. Sometime I'd like to
job that, like any other job, if
ter. Will the intelligence forces
write a historical novel. I'm a his-
you think hard enough about
come into play here as well?
tory buff; one of my favorite books
the particular work they do,
A: Let's hope SO, because the
is Barbara Tuchman's A Distant
you're bound to come up with
intelligence work there has been
Mirror, about the 14th century. I
things that they're going to try
SO bad recently.
have a great fascination for the
or have tried. We're all friends,
Renaissance and medieval times,
because they know that basical-
Q: Your novels tap into this
and sometime I think probably I
ly what I'm writing is drawing
deep fascination we all seem to
will write a suspense novel set
room comedy.
have with conspiracies, violent
against that backdrop.
encounters in far-off lands, politi-
Q: One of your novels, The
cal maneuvers.
Wendy Smith is a freelance writer
Icarus Agenda, is set in the Mid-
A: Oh yes, I'm paranoid as
based in Brooklyn, N.Y.
DAMP
'DON''
CAMP
T
BY BOB HOPE WITH MELVILLE SHAVELSON
SHOOT
May 6, 1941 Our first show for the
U.S. Army. We had no idea we
More than
USO
were going to discover an audi-
IT'S
63
ence SO ready for laughter, it
anything
would make what we did for a
living seem like stealing money.
I'll never forget the moment
else, Bob
when that bus pulled through the
gates at March Field and we
were mobbed by a bunch of
ONLY
Hope's shows
homesick kids in badly fitting fa-
spell "home"
tigues, screaming greetings.
Tom Harmon, then one of the
biggest football names in the
to Americans
country, was in uniform at the
base and helped us control the
ME"
in faraway
enthusiasm. He told us it was our
duty to avoid the draft as long as
we could, because what we were
places
doing for the United States Army
was the biggest thing that had
happened to the military since
nothing like Pepsodent to protect
to the rest of the country. I was
Gettysburg; we had gotten live
your toots."
their messenger boy. A ski-nosed
girls past the sentries at the gate.
The laughter was so loud I
Western Union.
It took me a long time to real-
looked down to see if my pants
The soldiers in Alaska were
ize that all the rules of comedy
had fallen. I mean, there must
the loneliest guys in the world. Al-
were going to be changed. We
have been something funnier go-
SO the coldest. They didn't even
represented everything those new
ing on than that joke. There wasn't.
have enemy troops close by to
recruits didn't have: home cooking,
"I want to tell you that I'm
pump up the adrenaline and
mother, and soft roommates. Their
thrilled to be here. But I'm really
keep them warm. Only in the far-
real enemies, even after war broke
here on business. I came up to look
thest islands of the Aleutions had
out, were never just the Germans
at some of the sweaters I knitted."
the Japanese made landings. On
or the Japanese. The enemies were
A howl. What was going on?
an island called Umnak we did a
boredom, mud, officers and absti-
I plowed ahead.
show for a bunch of fliers who
nence. Any joke that touched
"One of the aviators here took
had just come back from a bomb-
those nerves was a sure thing.
me for a plane ride this afternoon.
ing mission in dense fog. We nev-
"Good evening, ladies and
I wasn't frightened, but at two
er found out whom they had
gentlemen. This is Bob March
thousand feet one of my goose
been bombing. I'm not sure they
Field' Hope telling all aviators,
pimples bailed out."
knew either. They all crowded to-
while we can't advise you on how
I got goose pimples myself
gether in a Quonset hut (that's an
to protect your 'chutes, there's
from the roar that followed that
upside-down fox hole) and
one. Then I started to understand.
laughed at jokes like "This is our
What I said coincided with what
first trip up North and the Army
The above excerpt from Don't Shoot, It's Only Me
by Bob Hope with Melville Shavelson © 1990
these guys were feeling, and
has really taken care of us. They
(G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York) is reprinted with
laughter was the only way they
gave us a plane that was flown
© UPI/BETTMANN NEWSPHOTOS
the permission of the authors and the publisher.
could communicate how they felt
by a four-star general Pershing
I knew it was an old plane when I
saw the pilot sitting behind me
wearing goggles and a scarf."
But what those fliers were real-
ly interested in was Frances Lang-
ford. She was the first white wom-
an ever to visit Umnak, and for all I
know, the last. While she was
singing, "Isn't it Romantic?" with
Arctic wolves howling outside-
and inside, too-I looked down at
the audience, and one of the fliers
had his arm around a buddy. The
buddy was crying. Neither of them
dared to look up, and I had to look
away. It was a sight I was to get
used to, the farther we got from
USO
home. It was seeing a pretty girl
64
and hearing her voice that brought
the war home, and home to the
war to men who might never
make it back themselves.
In the summer of 1943, I
signed up to play the European
Theater of Operations for a new or-
ganization called the United Ser-
vice Organizations (USO), which
had the same idea.
We played all the bases and
hospitals around Tunis. One after-
noon we played in the middle of
the desert for seven thousand
men of the tank corps.
"Boy, is it hot here. This is
the first time I ever laid fried
eggs But I must say we're
staying at a wonderful hotel. I
have a room with an adjoin-
UPI/THE BETTMANN
ing Arab. It's the only way I could
get a sheet The rates are thirteen
francs a day and a bounty on
anything you catch in your room.
ABOVE: JAYNE MANS-
I broke even The only problem is
FIELD ENTERTAINED
that every time the sand shifts, I'm
AMERICAN TROOPS IN
on a different floor."
ALASKA WITH HOPE
IN 1960.
We did one show in the desert
at Ferryville, outside of Bizerte, for
LEFT: HOPE AND
7,500 soldiers, sailors, and WACS,
PAT THOMAS AT A
NAVY RECREATION
who were spread over the desert
CENTER ON WAIKIKI
sand on jerry cans, boxes, and
BEACH, 1945.
anthills, whistling and cheering as
we climbed up onto a little stage.
The announcer said over the PA,
"Ladies and gentlemen Bob
Hope!" and you could have heard
the screaming all the way to the
Pyramids. The guys had caught
sight of Frances behind me and
THE BETTMANN ARCHIVET
were yelling for me to get out of
the way.
Just as I ignored them and
told my opening gag-"What a
time we had in London before we
came here. The fog was SO thick
It was all over fast, apparent-
full of fliers began rolling in.
one night, the antiaircraft shot
ly just a reconnaissance raid, and
When they saw us they began to
down three submarines"-I saw a
we all went back to bed, which
cry and laugh and holler. They
tank burst through the crowd and
was a mistake. The North African
grabbed Frances and hugged
come toward the stage. I didn't
mosquitoes had located some ten-
and kissed her, and she patrioti-
think the joke was that bad, but I'd
der tourist meat and sent out an
cally kissed back.
never met a critic with a Sherman
all-points bulletin. They spent the
"You brought us luck!" they
tank before, SO I got ready to jump
rest of the night playing kamikaze.
kept screaming.
off the platform, when suddenly it
That afternoon, we were
"How was it?" we asked.
stopped right in front of me. The
driving back to our hotel at
"A milk run!" One kid
turret popped open and a guy
Sharpington when we heard a
grinned. "Eighteen went out and
crawled out wearing a tanker's
tremendous roar and spotted a
eighteen came back!"
crash helmet. He dragged a fold-
bomber formation right above us.
This made all of us feel pretty
ing chair up after him and sat
When I got out from under the
great, too, as if we were part of it,
down on it and crossed his legs.
car and realized they were U.S. B-
which of course we weren't.
"Make me laugh," he said.
17's overhead, it occurred to me
Later, a colonel told me of
Of course, it was a setup, and I
they might be coming back to
one mission where twenty-one
got a good chuckle out of it as soon
General Armstrong's base and
bombers from one base went out
USO
as I crawled back on the stage.
were being flown by those kids
and only one came limping back.
65
"It's wonderful being here in
we'd played for that morning. So
The feeling in England was
Africa. Ah, Africa. That's Texas
we raced back to the base and a
entirely different from what I ex-
with Arabs Of course, you can
young lieutenant offered to take
perienced later in Vietnam.
get out of Texas.
us to the place where the flight
The U.S. fliers we met felt they
You know, you can't date
crews were debriefed.
were truly protecting their families
one of these Moroccan girls unless
We climbed into a jeep and
and their homes. They didn't orga-
you take her mother along as a
got there just as the bombers were
nize any protest marches in Eng-
chaperone. You know what a Mo-
coming in, one after the other,
land. They fought and they bled
roccan mother is. That's an M.P.
kicking up clouds of dust and
and they laughed at the jokes
with bloomers."
shaking the whole countryside.
and, sometimes, they died.
We spent the night at our ho-
They didn't seem to be shot up too
Perhaps the world has grown
tel in Bizerte, which had been pret-
badly. Of course, that was only a
up enough now SO I won't have to
ty well plastered in previous air
civilian's opinion. No one had
play any more American Army
raids. It was nice, though. All the
been shooting at me.
camps in the future. Or Army
rooms were fully ventilated. There
Pretty soon trucks and jeeps
hospitals.
was a sign in the lobby: KEEP THE
DOORS LOCKED AT ALL TIMES. IT
HELPS HOLD THE WALLS UP.
LAUGHTER FOR MEN WHO NEED IT
And then came the sirens,
and the smudge pots started
Probably the most difficult, the most tearing thing of all is to be funny in a hospital.
sending a fog over the city to hide
Time drags. It hangs very long Everything that can be done is done, but medicine
it from the German planes. The
cannot get at the lonesomeness and the weakness of men who have been strong.
ack-ack started crisscrossing the
Bob Hope and his company come into this quiet, inward, lonesome place, gently
sky. A whole forest of antiaircraft
pull the minds outward and catch the interest, and finally bring laughter up out of the
black water.
searchlights blazed on. It was the
first time I had ever seen SO many
There is a job.
klieg lights without feeling the
It hurts many of the men to laugh. It hurts their knitting bones, it strains their sutured
slightest urge to take a bow.
incisions, yet their laughter is a great medicine.
We were all out in the street
In one of those nameless hospitals Hope and company had worked until gradually
by that time and an M.P. shouted
they got leaden eyes to sparkling, had planted and nurtured and coaxed laughter to life.
for me to crawl into a sewer. Did
A gunner, who had a stomach wound, was gasping softly with laughter. A railroad ca-
you ever see the inside of a North
sualty slapped the cast on his left hand with his right hand by way of applause. And once
African sewer? It'll never be on the
the laughter was alive, the men laughed even before the punch line and it had to be re-
universal Tour. I hit the opening at
peated SO they could laugh again.
the same time as Jack Pepper,
Finally, it came time for Frances Langford to sing. The men asked for "As Time Goes
and we didn't get much farther.
By." She stood up beside the little GI piano and started to sing.
Jack's waistline took up most of
She got through eight bars and was into the bridge when a boy with a head wound
the acreage. Tony Romano had
began to cry. She stopped, and then went on. But her voice wouldn't work any more. She
thrown himself over his guitar. If
finished the song whispering. Then she walked out, SO no one could see her, and broke
there was a direct hit, Tony want-
down. The ward was quiet. No one applauded.
ed to go out in the key of G. "Moth-
Then Hope walked into the aisle between the beds and he said seriously: "Fellows,
er" Langford was running up and
the folks at home are having a terrible time about eggs. They can't get any powdered
down calling, "Are you fellows all
eggs at all. They've got to use the old fashioned kind you break open."
right? Speak to me! Speak to me!"
There's a man for you There is reallya man. - John Steinbeck
H O N E S T E A
©1990 Tetley Inc.
This is Tetley's golden standard. It's got to be as refreshing as the picture promises. It's got to have that
tiny little tea leaf taste. We're hearing now that more and more folks are switching to Tetley® from their
usual brand. We'd be lying if we said we were sorry about that.
25¢
Manufacturer's Coupon
Expires 2/28/91
25¢
Save on any Tetley® Tea Product
(Except 16 Tea Bag size)
Grocer: Send this coupon to
TETLEY
other use constitutes fraud.
Tetley Inc., P.O. Box 870146,
Void if reproduced, or
El Paso, TX 88587-0146 for
Tea
where taxed, prohib-
reimbursement at face value
ited or restricted. Cus-
plus 8¢ if submitted in com-
Bags
tomer pays sales taxes.
pliance with the Tetley Inc.
Cash value 1/20 of 1 ¢.
LIMIT ONE COUPON PER
11156 534734
Redemption Policy, avail-
able upon request. Any
PURCHASE.
BETCHA GONNA LIKE IT BETTER, TOO™
BY DEWEY BLANTON
"Meet
Me In
Saint
Louis"
MILITARY AIRLIFT COMMAND
OK. It's Tuesday and
tors are more than 500 volunteer
it's 2 a.m. You've just
workers from the surrounding com-
arrived in St. Louis af-
munity. Butler schedules 150 shifts
USO
© PHOTRI, INC.
ter a 7-hour MAC flight from Ger-
per month, with anywhere from
67
many. Your next flight is not until
three to eight people on hand to
7 p.m.-Thursday! What do you do?
attend the needs of the service-
Not to worry. If you are lucky
men and women.
enough to go through St. Louis, as
"Regardless of how much you
many servicemen and women do
plan and try to be prepared, there
(it is the major departure point for
are always surprises," Butler said.
flights both to the Orient and to Eu-
"Invariably, the flight from Germa-
rope), you have a welcome mat
ny will come in at 2 a.m., instead of
out for you at the St. Louis Airport
2 p.m., when you have three peo-
Center USO, right in Lambert-Inter-
ple here, instead of eight. In fact, I
national Airport.
think there are more surprises than
Open 24 hours a day, the
non-surprises. But we handle it."
James S. McDonnell USO is the
Miraculously, they also handle
largest in the world, in terms of
all their "business" solely through
number of patrons. Anywhere
community contributions. The Mc-
from 500-700 soldiers, sailors, air-
Donnell center receives no fund-
men and marines come through
ing from the United Way, the USO
its doors every day of the week.
World Headquarters, or the gov-
And its group of dedicated staff
ernment.
and volunteers have earned the
"We do what every other non-
reputation for attending to the
profit group does," Butler laughed.
needs of every one of them with
"We beg."
plenty of tender loving care.
So if you're traveling on the
The St. Louis USO has been
MAC system, and your itinerary
home to a lot of troops since it open-
calls for a stop in St. Louis, rest as-
ed in 1981. Whether your lay-over
sured that it could be one of the
EARPLUGS, AN APPLE
is three hours or three days, you
AND A CUP OF COFFEE
best aspects of
ARE THE AMENITIES
are welcome to set up camp at
the trip.
ON A MAC FLIGHT.
the USO.
"We've had some people have
to stay as long as eight days," said
Sue Butler, Director of Volunteer
Services for the McDonnell facility.
"Whatever the time frame, we
can handle it."
The facility boasts 5,000 square
feet of space, in which are cram-
© JULES ALEXANDER
med 17 recliners and couches for
sleeping, two lounges with color
TVs, a playroom for kids, sewing
and ironing supplies, a food bar,
and quiet areas just to chill out af-
ter a grueling flight.
Servicing all the center's visi-
100%
BEER
Dry was parched, hot and dusty.
Dry is wet, bold and refreshing. Dry is Michelob D
It's brewed longer to start bold, finish clean with
a trace of aftertaste, and refresh completely. TM
[nom
BY KEN C. POHLMANN
The
Latest
In
Audio:
STATUS SYMBOL STEREOS
Status symbol stereos. That's
est profile items today are home au-
Although both Snell and Tech-
right-if you can say it quickly three
dio/video systems. You know how
nics offer THX-licensed speakers,
times in a row, you can take your
good some movie theater systems
any high-end models will do. Just
USO
pick of jobs: Joint Chiefs of Staff, Su-
sound with surround sound and all
make sure you've got a good sub-
69
preme Court Justice or Vice Presi-
that low end? Well, you're probably
woofer cabinet with at least a pair
dent. No, I'm just kidding.
listening to a THX system-a play-
of 12-inchers. In addition, make sure
Actually, status symbol stereo
back standard licensed to theater
you've got enough power in your
is a very important concept. That's
owners by Lucasfilm. Now, Lucas-
amplifiers to drive things to a real-
where experts such as myself
film has licensed a Home THX stand-
ly loud level. The subwoofer chan-
come in, with my personal recom-
ard to consumer audio manufacturers.
nel in particular needs lots of pow-
mendations of the most fabulous
Start with a combination video
er. Movies like "Die Hard" and "Top
gear around.
Gun" have unbelievable
First and foremost is the
amounts of subsonic content
compact disc. These shiny beau-
throughout their running time
ties have revolutionized audio
and to reproduce it properly
and brought unbelievable fi-
(that is, to get the room shak-
delity to the scene. The only
ing) you need power-easily
people who still think LPs are
100 watts on the sub-woofer
cool are the supervisors in a
alone. Finally, you'll also
state-owned vacuum tube
need a big screen TV, 31
plant in the Ukraine. CD is
inches or SO. Check out mod-
AUTHOUND
where it's at. First, you need
els from Mitsubishi, Sony or
a good portable player. The
Philips. When you've finish-
absolutely best one around
ed building your Home THX
is the Sony D-555. It has state
system, you'll have a dyna-
of the art circuitry, including
mite set-up able to cope
eight-times oversampling
with anything George Lu-
and dual 18-bit D/A convert-
cas or the rest of Hollywood
ers, as well as features such as
can throw at you, in
22-track programming, 5-way
addition to a first
repeat, random play, intro scan, com-
class music repro-
prehensive LCD display, optional
duction system.
remote control, etc. It even has a di-
THE JAZZIEST PORTABLE CD PLAYER AROUND IS
A note: audio
gital optical output SO you can inter-
THE SONY D-555. (APPROXIMATE SIZE SHOWN
COMPARED TO A HALF-DOLLAR.)
manufacturers bring
face it to a high end home pream-
out new products faster than Zsa
plifier (such as the monster Sony
disc/compact disc player, such as
Zsa can slap a policeman. By the
TA-E1000ESD). Most importantly, the
the Philips CDV488; this baby plays
time you read this, these products
D-555 brings you right into the 23rd
back video discs, and provides a
may have been superseded by
century with DSP (digital signal pro-
picture with 300 percent sharper
something even more awesome.
cessing). It uses number crunching
color fidelity than any videotape
Now remember; status symbol
to provide 5-band graphic equaliza-
format, including Super VHS. Next,
stereos, status symbol stereos, status
tion, dynamic range compression,
you need a Technics SH-TX100 THX
symbol stereos. No, you don't have
surround sound processing, and bass
controller. It decodes Dolby Sur-
to say it three times. It's just that I'm
boost-all through digital process-
round to drive five channels of au-
getting paid by the word, and I'm
ing for absolute fidelity. This is an
dio, including a subwoofer channel
saving up for a Home THX system.
awesome little piece of technology.
and delayed reverberation chan-
Of course, you'll need a kick-
nels to simulate the acoustics of a
Ken Pohlmann is an editor with
butt system for the home. The high-
large theater.
Stereo Review.
BY NORMAN S. MAYERSOHN
Motor
Pool:
FREE-SPIRITED SPORTS CARS
This year's requisition of sports cars
wind-in-the-hair experience more
Storm is a perfect example of the
arrives with models to meet every
stimulating than keeping up with
small sport coupe, with a catchy,
driver's desires.
the latest technological achieve-
contemporary look, full indepen-
Don't let anybody tell you that
ments. The all-new Mercury Capri
dent suspension, power rack and
USO
there are always two sides to ev-
is a lively four cylinder, front-
pinion steering, and the avail-
70
ery issue. Regarding which is the
wheel drive roadster with endear-
ability of sport-type bucket seats
king of American sports cars, no
ing looks and sensible attributes
and 15-inch alloy wheels. Prices
disagreement is possible-the
such as an occasional-use rear
start at $10,995.
Chevrolet Corvette reigns unchal-
seat and an optional hardtop for
The Plymouth Laser falls into
lenged in 1991, and the Corvette
the winter months. Prices start at
the same general category, offer-
ZR-1 is the king of the Corvettes.
$12,990; the 132-horsepower turbo-
ing a sleek profile and a high lev-
With a magnum-force 5.7 V8
charged XR2 model will set you
el of cornering competence at
engine, 375 horsepower on reserve,
back a rather reasonable $15,920.
prices upwards of $11,200. Similar
and a six-speed manual transmis-
Twenty years ago, driving a
to the Laser in many aspects is
sion, there can be little doubt that
sports car meant sacrificing com-
Ford's Probe, also endowed with a
the mission of the ZR-1 is ultimate
fort for free-spirit motoring, but to-
fetching shape and offering the
performance. It delivers handily:
day a pair of luxury-class two seat-
advantage of optional V6 power.
Zero to sixty in 4.8 seconds, to 100
ers, the Buick Reatta and Cadillac
There are enticing hints of
mph in 11.3 seconds and a top
Allante', offer serene transport with-
models to appear after 1991. From
speed in excess of 170 mph.
out typecasting the driver as an
the R&D workshops at Chrysler
If there's anything to disheart-
escapee from a retirement home.
Corporation the audacious Dodge
en an enthusiast about this king
At just over $29,300, the Reat-
Viper will emerge, propelled by a
of Corvettes, it can only be the
ta comes fully equipped with a
400 horsepower V10 engine. At
price tag-$31,683 for the ZR-1 op-
3.8-liter V6 engine, automatic
the other end of the scale, Gener-
tion package, making the total
transmission, electronic climate
al Motors is showing off a stubby
cost $64,138. Not to worry, though.
control and leather bucket seats.
roadster with a fuel-sipping two
The standard 'Vette, with a per-
One of the few options available
stroke engine to assure us that en-
fectly adequate 245 horsepower
is a convertible top.
ergy consciousness and driving
powerplant, carries a window
Purists might argue that Ca-
fun are fully compatible.
sticker price closer to $32,000.
dillac's Allante', starting at $51,000,
Chrysler Corporation's racy
is more luxury car than sports car.
Norman Mayersohn is a senior edi-
Dodge Stealth R/T Turbo, a new
But from the first day it was intro-
tor of Popular Science magazine.
model introduced for '91, fulfills the
duced, this handsome two seater
wish list of just about any gear-
has been a leader in engineering
head alive with a 300 horsepow-
innovations.
THE 1991 CHEVROLET
er, 3.0-liter V6 engine. The engine's
The Chevrolet/Geo
CORVETTE IS KING
OF THE AMERICAN
twin turbochargers and intercool-
SPORTS CARS.
ers are just about the only items
fitted as a pair-everything
else comes as a set of four.
Four camshafts, four valves
per cylinder, four wheel
drive, four wheel steering,
and four wheel disc brakes
sum up the vital statistics. The
full-house Dodge Stealth R/T
Turbo sells for about $30,000.
The folks at Ford Motor Com-
pany have a pleasant treat for
sports car drivers who find the
THE 1991 SIERRA FROM GMC TRUCK
HORSE
GMC
Let get it together. buckle up
Sierra is a trademark of General Motors Corporation
POWER
SIERRA
Standard 4.3L Vortec V6.
More horsepower than any other full-
size pickup.
More two-side galvanized sheet metal than any Ford full-size pickup.
Shift-on-the-fly 4X4 Insta-Trac.
And rear-wheel anti-lock brake system.
For a cat-
GMC
TRUCK
alog and name of your nearest GMC Truck dealer, call 1-800-TRY-GMC1.
©
1990 General Motors Corporation.
All rights reserved.
It's not just a truck anymore. It's quality on the road.
GM
How We're Putting Qua
J.D.POWER
Quality from day one.
Dependability down
You asked us for
year in a row. Once again
the road.
cars you could count
GM is the only domestic
on. Our answer's in
manufacturer to have a
Our quality holds
owners of 4- to
the latest J. D.
model ranked in the
up over time. In the
5-year-old GM cars
Power Initial
top ten-a ranking that
J.D. Power Vehicle
Quality SurveyˢM:
includes the Mercedes-
reported fewer prob
Buick was ranked the
Dependability
lems than owners of
Benz E & S Series, the
IndexˢM of
Lexus LS 400 and the
any other U.S.
most trouble-free U.S.
1985 models,
manufacturer.²
car line for the second
Mazda Miata.¹
2. I.D. Power and Associates 1990 Vehicle Dependability Index.SM
1. J.D. Power and Associates 1989, 1990 Initial Quality Survey. SM Based
Based on things gone wrong to 4- to 5-year-old 1985 model
on owner-reported problems during the first 90 days of ownership.
vehicles in the past 12 months.
RELIABILITY
Transmissions and engines you can count on to get you anywhere.
Quality engines and
owner-reported prob-
a multivalve engine with
shows our automatic
links the 3800 Tuned Por
transmissions are at the
lems in the first 3
multi-port fuel injection,
transmissions are already
Injection engine and the
heart of GM's reliability.
months of ownership.
direct ignition, and
more problem-free than
new Hydra-matic 4T60E
In the most comprehen-
No domestic V6 engine
tuned intakes. And
those of any other
electronically con-
sive customer-based sur-
on the market today is
we're building it to
domestic manufacturer.
trolled, automatic
vey in the auto industry,
better than our 3800 V6.⁴
exceed our own high
The electronically
transmission to
GM's 2.3-liter Quad 4
This year we're intro-
durability standards.
integrated powertrain
the same com-
was shown to be among
ducing the 3.4-liter Twin
A GM owner-
we introduced this year
puter, for
the best 4-cylinder
Dual Cam V6-the
satisfaction survey for
is one of the most
smoother
engines. This is based on
world's largest 4-cam V6-
the third quarter of 1990
advanced in the world. It
operation.
4. Based on 1990 GM Comprehensive
Customer Survey.
GM quality takes
you farther than ever.
Today, GM cars are
1980 subcompact
almost 130% more fuel
Chevette.⁵
efficient than they were
Pontiac Firebird
during the mid-70's. That
excitement comes with
means you can drive the
27 mpg EPA estimated
car that meets your trans-
highway mileage when
NEXT GAS
portation needs, what-
equipped with the 3.1-
STATION
ever the size, and still
liter V6 engine. Even a
200 MI.
enjoy great fuel economy.
GM full-size luxury car
For instance, our
like the Cadillac De Ville
Olds Cutlass Supreme
delivers EPA estimated
with its advanced Quad
highway mileage of 26
4 engine is a mid-size
mpg, better than compa-
six-passenger car, yet
rable V8 equipped
provides highway mile-
models from Mercedes-
age superior to the
Benz or Infiniti.
5. 1991 Cutlass Supreme 29 mpg EPA estimated highway mileage.
ity On The Road Today.
D
U
R
A
B
I
L
I
T
Y
Tough trucks prove their worth over time.
At GM, we understand
Chevy and GMC trucks
than trucks sold in the
that any truck you buy is
have built-in quality
U.S. by any other manu-
going to have to take on
and durability.
facturer in the world -
just as much down the
The fact is, Chevy and
foreign or domestic.³
road as when you first
GMC trucks retain more
buy it. That's why all our
of their original value
3. GM corporate study of 3- to 5-year-old used
vehicles resold between 1979 and 1989.
1808 DOB
C
M
M
I
T
M
E
N
T
It all starts with you.
We heard what you were
on you and on your needs.
vehicles we're engineering
saying about the quality
You want cars and trucks
and building today.
you want. Every
that are more durable. More
Because we care what you
word. That's why
dependable. More reliable.
think about GM quality.
we have the Qual-
More efficient. We're dedi-
And we're determined to
ity Network,
cated to building them for
keep improving our cars
where all of us
you. Cars and trucks with
and trucks for you. Until
throughout GM
quality right from the start
every model is the best in
are focused
and years down the road.
the world.
That's the kind of
GM
MARK OF EXCELLENCE
Chevrolet Pontiac Oldsmobile Buick Cadillac GMC Truck
FILTER CIGARETTES
Marlboro
CLASS
CIGARETTES
SURGEON CENERAL'S WARNING. Cigarette