The Story of the United Services Organizations

Many philanthropic organizations in America are dedicated to the welfare of active duty service members and veterans of the United States military. One of the oldest and most highly rated of these organizations is the United Services Organizations (USO).

The USO was established in 1941 as a collaboration between President Franklin D. Roosevelt and social reformer Marty Shotwell Ingraham, the first woman to receive the Medal for Merit award. Roosevelt discussed the importance of maintaining high military morale and providing service members with recreational opportunities. Ingraham developed the program in response, while President Roosevelt served as the organization's first honorary chairman.

As part of the USO launch in 1941, the organization brought together several disparate agencies to better focus on military support during World War I. The six agencies that constituted initial USO programming were the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), the Salvation Army, the National Travelers Aid Association, the National Catholic Community Service, and the National Jewish Welfare Board.

The USO maintained a unique relationship with the federal government from the beginning. Per President Roosevelt's request, the government would construct facilities for the USO. Still, USO would need to generate funds to host events and provide services designed to raise morale throughout the military.

More importantly, the USO was an immediate success. From 1941 through 1947, the USO put on more than 400,000 camp shows. Some 7,000 volunteers during those years included Frank Sinatra, Humphrey Bogart, and Fred Astaire. Bob Hope was an early USO supporter and went on to host 48 USO Christmas shows overseas. As a result, Congress named hope the first and only honorary military veteran.

The USO was active during the Vietnam War, opening more than 20 locations in Vietnam and Thailand. These clubs offered entertainment and other services to upwards of one million troops every month. During this period, the organization began to open smaller locations at airports, providing comfort and respite to troops stuck between flights.

Following the Vietnam War's conclusion and the draft's suspension, some questioned whether the USO was still needed. A joint inquest into this subject conducted by the United Way of America and the Department of Defense determined that the USO was, in fact, a critical component of the US military. In 1987, any doubts about the relevance or longevity of the USO were put to rest when Congress officially recognized the organization as the main body "representing civilian concern for United States forces worldwide."

Today, the USO is a Congress-chartered non-profit that operates independently of the federal government under the leadership of president and chief executive officer Dr. J.D. Crouch II. USO makes an annual government grant request of $20 million, though this figure represents just 10 percent of revenue and expenses.

The organization has established more than 160 facilities around the globe, plus 10 mobile service providers in America and abroad. A few of the most notable USO services range from free access to the internet and email to family crisis counseling, which benefits nearly five million service members annually.

That said, the USO is still in the business of raising morale through recreational activities. Marilyn Monroe, Robin Williams, and Chris Rock are just a few of the iconic American entertainers who have taken part in USO shows and tours.