United Service Organizations

The United Service Organizations
Type	Services
Founded	4 February 1941
Headquarters	Arlington, Va
Key people	Sloan D. Gibson; President and CEO
Area served	140 centers worldwide
Focus	morale, welfare, recreational support for US military personnel and families
Revenue	Donations
Volunteers	44,000
Motto	Until Every One Comes Home
Website	USO Home

The United Service Organizations Inc. (USO) offers recreational support for members of the U.S. military. The USO provides programs in 140 centers worldwide funded by private and public donations and support from the United States Department of Defense. It is not a government agency.

USO Tours

USO works to boost military morale. Since 1941, the USO became the soldier's "home away from home" and began a tradition of entertaining the troops with live performances called Camp Shows that continues today. These "tours" typically feature big name actors or actresses, comedians, pop musicians, and pin-up models.

Support and services

The USO serves both in time of war and during time of peace. During the 1990s, the USO provided services to 5 million active duty service members and their families, and more support after start of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.

United Service Organizations Media

Actor Mickey Rooney, a World War II Bronze Star recipient, honoring the USO in 2000
Irving Berlin singing aboard USS Arkansas, 1944
USO women from the World War II era (reenactment)
US Coast Guard, 1st show in Vietnam, 1970
Al Jolson, the first star to perform in Korea, September 17, 1950
Marilyn Monroe performing in Korea, 1954
Ann-Margret performing in Vietnam, 1966
Entertainers during a Christmas Eve USO show in 1983 on board the USS New Jersey off the coast of Beirut, Lebanon. (left to right) Miss USA Julie Hayek, Cathy Lee Crosby, Bob Hope, Ann Jillian and Brooke Shields.
Bob Hope and Ann Jillian perform at the USO Christmas Tour during Operation Desert Shield
Tichina Arnold, Zac Brown, Kid Rock, Kathleen Madigan, Kellie Pickler, John Bowman, and Lewis Black at 2008 USO Holiday Tour in Kandahar, Afghanistan