Tell Your Story

Lynda: Time spent at Bethesda Naval Hospital

This probably isn’t the type of story you are looking to be submitted, but I decided to submit anyway. My son was severely injured in Iraq in October 2004. He was 42 years old and a Lt. Col. in the Marines. At that point in the war, he was the highest-ranking officer to be injured and also the oldest. My daughter-in-law, as well as my daughter and I were at the hospital 24/7. There were a lot of very upset, young wives sitting around in the waiting rooms, some had their toddlers and babies with them. This was before everyone had cell phones. The USO had placed stacks of free phone cards around places we had access to, but not where the young moms were sitting. So my daughter and I handed out the cards to the young women and explained how to use them. We were using our cell phones to keep family and loved ones informed of my son’s progress. We were so pleased with ourselves until we went home and got our cell phone bills… our bills were over $400 each. Why didn’t we take advantage of USO’s generosity? Who knows!

Lee:

I was in Rome, Italy, with a shipmate in 1989. I went into the Rome USO and noticed some small green notes on the reception desk. The next day was Palm Sunday, so we went to St Peter’s for Mass. We were escorted to the side altar in St Peter’s Square, and for the whole service were approximately 20 feet from Pope John Paul II. I will never forget that day!!

Linda: Everyone should give back

The biggest and best impact USO has had on my life was the opportunity to volunteer with my local Chapter (USO Camp LeJeune, NC) with several activities, welcoming our Marines home from deployments, serving our Marines and their families’ Holiday meals, volunteering at our various Chapter functions, as well as functions aboard Camp LeJeune. As a third-generation Marine family, giving back was my small way of saying thank you for all of their service to protect our Country and my freedoms. I am also very active in my local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post.

Peter: Friendly people on my travels.

While traveling in the military stopped in airports and visited USOs to relax and get a drink before their next flight.

Robert: USO tour

Although I had almost five years of active duty with the army, my first contact with the USO occurred during a trip to Korea, where I took the USO tour of the DMZ. I was very impressed, and that started my support of the USO

Lisa: Military family

Our family is a military family. My husband is a Marine, and both of our sons are currently serving in the US Air Force. USO has been there for them from the beginning. Thank you, USO.

Russell:

Supporting the troops and thanking them for their service. Hoping to continue for years, since we will be in this for a long time.

Stephen: Continue the Mission

My son is an active-duty Army Major. I became involved with the USO when he left for his first deployment to Iraq. He later deployed to Afghanistan and a second deployment to Iraq. He has directly benefited from the activities of the USO, and I very much appreciate the support of the USO for our troops of all the services. I contribute to the USO 5-6 times a year and will continue to support the mission of the USO.

Robert:

While serving in our Army in Korea in 1970-71, I was privileged to attend the Bob Hope Show with Bob, Johnny Bench, and others. It was a welcome diversion while away from my wife and year-old son.

Gene: BOB HOPE SHOW, DANANG, VIETNAM, CHRISTMAS 1971

Enjoyed the Bob Hope Show in Da Nang at Christmastime, 1971…a rest from the numerous rocket attacks. I remember sitting on top of the very muddy hill and watching Jim Neighbors, Ann Margaret, and a baseball player I can no longer remember. Thanks for bringing the Bob Hope Show to Da Nang.

Debra: My story begins with a USO dance

In March 1964, St. Louis, MO had a USO in the basement of what I believe was a veterans building. It was downtown near the city hall. My friend heard about a Saturday dance. We went. I met my future husband that night. He and his friends were stationed at Fort Leonard Wood (Fort Lost in the Woods). They came up to St. Louis. I went again and again to meet up with Bill. We wrote letters during the week. Met again at the USO. I invited him to the Easter church service and dinner with my family.

Bill was scheduled to report to Germany after a 30-day leave. He wrote a letter asking me to marry him. He called one evening, and it was decided to marry. We had a week to plan the wedding. After the wedding, we drove to his parents’ home in Southborough, MA. He went to Germany, and 6 weeks later, in June 1966, I joined him.

We had 4 daughters. Our first was stillborn. We were in Germany, experiencing grief without parents. We were stationed in Arizona, Bill went to Vietnam, then to Fort Sill, OK, onto Germany again. Back to the states in 1975 to Fort Riley, KS.

We were married 6 weeks shy of 55 years when Bill passed away from Agent Orange.

Mary Perricotti
Salina KS

Gregory: The start of a USAF career!

My family and I spent 27 years in the Air Force. We moved 13 times. We spent our first and several other assignments overseas. I was a C-130 pilot, but to get to these assignments, we often flew commercial as a family, and sometimes my wife and boys flew without me. We could always count on the USO to have a safe place away from the maddening crowds where we could hang out with other military travelers or just snack and snooze. We met good people and shared stories. As a pilot, I was honored to participate in a C-130/USO support mission in Vietnam, bringing entertainment to the troops. I hope my continuing small contributions help others find comfort, solace, and good times in their own military service!

Frank: The Story Is Not About Me!

Michael, the story isn’t about me; it’s about our fellow citizens who have signed up to defend our country, wherever they may be assigned. I was a naval officer, and my period of duty was when we were not at war or shooting at anybody. But that was just my luck of the draw. My two USNA roommates both got shot down in Vietnam, one surviving and the other dying of his wounds. I support the USO because I know they give our service men and women what the U.S. Government doesn’t give them – a connection with home, entertainment in areas where a break from the grind is essential, and care packages that continually let them know that their country appreciates their service. Bob Hope and his troop during World War 2 is a perfect example. My contributions are just a drop in the bucket, but I’ll continue to contribute what I can as long as we have troops in harm’s way.

Art: The USO Club in Danang, Vietnam in 1965.

I was the Engineering Officer on the USS Holmes County, LST 836. My main experience with the USO was a USO Club in Danang, Vietnam, 1965 -1966. We enjoyed going to the USO Club there when we were able to. I’ll never forget the sign at the door, “Please leave your side arms at the door”. We were there at Christmas 1965, and you had Bob Hope give a show then, near Danang. I couldn’t go because I had the “duty” on the ship, but many of our crew were able to go and they had a great time. On Christmas Day, we had a ship’s barbecue on the shore and were each allotted 2, yes 2 beers! While I never used them in person, I noticed many times the USO facilities in various airports I passed through.

Charlotte: Patriotic Supporter

I am a patriotic American. I choose to support the USO as I am familiar with their great work in aiding our service members. I am honored to provide a small bit of comfort for our military while they are protecting my freedom.

Diane E: The Quiet Warrior My Father

We didn’t know all the things my father did in his 40 years in the Air Force; we just got pieces of his life in the military. Dad was 19 years old, right out of High School, when he signed up to go into the Army. His mother wanted him to go to college, so he did go to Ole Miss. When Dad was 16, he joined CAP and learned how to fly at Freedom Field Air Base, Seymour, Indiana. He was one of the first to join in Indiana. Out of Ole Miss, he went into the Army Air Corps. Then off to Texas he went.

He wanted to fly the big planes, Dad said the bigger the better. He checked in the B-24, B-25, and the B-29s, also C-46s and C-47s. He loved to fly. Dad told us how in WWII they bombed the Islands to end the war with Japan and to free our men and women in POW camps, and how they dropped their B-29s in Japan over those POW camps and how later they flew those boys home. He was 20 years old flying those bombers.

Then, next it was Korea, the peacekeeping mission that turned into an all-out war with North Korea, China, and Russia. He couldn’t talk about Korea without getting tears in his eyes, and then he would stop.
And start talking about the USO, all the wonderful shows and food, he said it was home away from home, it took the men away from the ugliness of war, and why they were there. Dad always had a big smile on his face when he talked about the USO. I have more of Dad’s life in the Air Force that he could tell us on TogetherWeServe.com, Lt.Col Herbert H.C.Zumhingst. I’m proud of him and miss him so. Dad passed away in 2008.

I made a promise to my father that I would NEVER FORGET WHAT ALL THOSE MEN AND WOMEN GAVE UP FOR OUR COUNTRY’S FREEDOMS. God, Family, Country. Dad didn’t get all his medals in the Korean War, and he was bypassed for two promotions because of Congress, like a lot of other men did. He should have been a full bird Col. if not a one-star. He trained many pilots and instructor pilots.

That’s why we give and volunteer at The USO.

Jonathan: A former beneficiary of USO and why I support USO

From Oct 1971 to Feb 1973, I was a right-seat pilot C-130 Hercules tactical airlift in Vietnam. On December 24, 1971, at Than Son Nhut Air Base, just outside Saigon, I was wandering around base and a USO lady gave me a “care package” containing tootsie roll pops, cracker jacks, bazooka bubble gum, and more. In the Tu Do section of Saigon was a USO destination offering long forgotten USA goodies. At every airport in the USA I passed through, there was a USO lounge catering to active military. In flying around Vietnam, every so often, we carried USO ladies from Danang-Cam Rhan Bay-Than Son Nhut – these ladies were in the cockpit with the crew, a rare opportunity to mix with America’s women. Mid December 1972, on the flight line at Than Son Nhut, maybe 3 people total could be seen – until a C-123 Caraboo (with its nose painted red, and Merry Christmas – Happy New Year painted on its flaps = Santaboo) pulled into the flight line, parked, the side door opened, stairs lowered – and down those stairs walked American USO women in skirts = several hundred military came out of nowhere heading directly to that Santaboo brightening up the lives of every GI in sight. Also, flying over Danang in 1972, we could see hundreds of troops at a huge USO show in progress. Oh, did we wish we were on the ground at that show.

USO brightened my life and has brightened the lives of millions of active duty troops away from home for many, many years. I have donated to the USO in small amounts for over 20+ years. On May 2, 2023, I arranged with USO a much larger donation to fund USO with its mission of uplifting the spirits of American troops overseas and at airports scattered throughout the USA.

Paul: There’s no better way to support military members

I’ve met many troops after volunteering with the USO. They all benefit from wherever the funds come from. I’ve worked both airports in Houston, then funded the Military Entrance Processing Station center and helped start it up—was Team Leader for four years there. I also sponsor the “Beach Bashes” at my Galveston Island beach home. This summer will mark the 7th year. It is a joy to interact with them and see first-hand the difference USO makes in their lives.

I served as Chairman of the USO Advisory Committee for three years, so I have seen the Houston budget and know how the funds are spent. As a corporate CEO, I know a thing or two about budgets. All monies were spent well and made a tremendous impact.