[May 18, 2014] Before I deployed to combat, I never really gave much thought about the USO. Sure, I saw old newsreels of Bob Hope, Betty Hutton, and many other famous entertainers doing shows for the troops from World War 2 to Vietnam, but I never really understood or appreciated their real value.
The United Service Organizations Inc. (USO) is a nonprofit organization that provides entertainment for the troops and their families but also much more. They also provide a number of valuable programs and services. Success for the USO is there for anyone to see and yet success is never accidental.
Mission Statement: The USO lifts the spirits of America’s troops and their families.
Core values1:
- Mission First
- Do the Right Thing
- Respect
- Excellence
- Collaboration
- Accountability
- Gratitude
- Innovation
My buddies and I will never forget the USO and what they did to help us in times of great stress. USO volunteers that were in the combat zones put themselves in danger just to see a smile on our faces. My favorite time was meeting country singer Trace Adkins – a great entertainer.
Like other successful organizations, it is hard to argue with the success of the USO. They are still opening new locations throughout the America. The latest USO opening was at the John Wayne Airport3 just a few days ago.
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[1] http://www.uso.org/uso-mission-statement.aspx
[Note] https://www.facebook.com/theUSO
[Note] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USO