Henderson Daily Dispatch

Five Years Of USO

In a rather exhaustive report marking the fifth anniversary of its coming into being, the United Service Organizations—or USO—recounts something of the vast scope and reach of its activities during the war and since. The summary affords enlightenment as to how USO's share of the annual United War Fund drives was and is being expended for the benefit of service men and women in the United States and abroad.

Besides the numerous units operated in continental United States, the Army and Navy dealt with the USO for Hawaii, Panama, Newfoundland, Bermuda, the Caribbean, Alaska and, in general, South America, with the Philippines added in 1945 after they were liberated from the Japanese. The Red Cross was recognized as the "sole non-military agency to operate with an expeditionary force by request of the Army, and thus kept USO clubs from Africa, Europe, China, Japan and other war areas. This arrangement prevented overlapping of effort.

To the fourteen million men and women who served and are serving in the armed forces, USO means a billion "touches of home," says the report. These range from furnishing of writing paper to the convalescence care provided by USO hostesses specially trained to help wounded veterans adjust to civilian life. At its peak of activity the organization was serving a million people a day in one capacity or another amounting in the aggregate to more than fifteen hundred million and since the organization was chartered February 4, 1941.

In March 1942, the Army of the United States reached a high point on ac- The twenty-year old activity for after Leave on home am before the s render of Japan (s s tovon the limit during de aeelovmner period. (shibne 0 to Sd ono mouth.

Today, true control color V-J day USO is still serving 5,000 sailors on tee' to a more 1946 cent 4x0 Series begins deejome by USO at the orso' time ci the toough the Jhntns 'o tn of some 280 or more men in the' transit and need i M Cd.the Nutn munity Service Welfare Board,y W vation Army and Ad Association throughout the hnr ) s.: the etesoot var with millions ot voeer h duty at vario us lite r ir: i service a thes :. 'I'