70 years of dedicated service: USO offers relaxation 'until everyone comes home'

Photo By Heather Johnson | Marines and sailors who helped celebrate the United Service Organizations 70th Anniversary Feb. 4, use the Wi-Fi connection and other services the USO provides to service members and their families on Okinawa after the cake was served.  

OKINAWA, OKINAWA, JAPAN

02.04.2011

Story by Cpl. Abigail Brown 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

OKINAWA, Japan - The United Service Organizations celebrated its 70th anniversary Feb. 4.

In 1941, the USO opened its doors to the men and women in uniform serving their country during war time, said Sabrina Herring, programs manager, USO Okinawa. “Today, the same principles and mission in which the organization started on, remain 70 years later.”

The Salvation Army, Young Men’s Christian Association, Young Women’s Christian Association, National Catholic Community Services, National Travelers Aid Association and the National Jewish Welfare Board all worked together to provide relief to the troops until President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the USO as the joint organization over their efforts.

The USO will continue to provide the relief they set out to give, “until everyone comes home,” as their motto states.

Nearly 20 years later, the USO came to Okinawa where it began to provide a link between service members and the local community.

Today the USO continues to grow and change according to the needs of the troops, said Chad W. Griggs, director, Hansen USO.

“We adapt to technology and we’ll move to where ever the fight is,” he added. “Our newest facility is in Qatar, Afghanistan, since that’s close to the front of the current war. We also have a ‘USO in a box’ which we deliver close to the front lines to give our troops some relief.”

However, here on Okinawa the mission of the USO is a little different,” Griggs commented. “We are here to provide a home away from home where service members can get away from work and relax.”

The USO is known worldwide with more than 150 locations in 27 countries providing morale boosting programs and services to millions in uniform, according to Herring.

“The USO offers many programs for all the camps,” she said “We host golf tournaments, the mobile canteen, bazaars and several other events.”

USO Okinawa has a mobile canteen, five sub-USOs located on Camp Schwab, Camp Hansen, Marine Corps Air Station Futenma and two on Kadena Air Base.

In addition to the USO Okinawa programs, each USO offers its own programs and specials.

“Each USO has its own personality depending on the needs of the base,” Griggs said. “Our northern USOs target single Marines, while some of the others are more family oriented.”

Although each USO is different, most attendees would agree it offers a nice getaway.

“I come here almost every weekend to play [video games] and use the free internet,” said Joseph Tyler, a regular at the Hansen USO. “The people are all really nice and it’s easy to make new friends here.”

No matter the reason for attending, service members have plenty of ways to relax at their USO.

“I just like to chill and relax here,” said John Maloney, also an attendee to the Hansen USO. “It really is like my home away from home.”

Although the USO operates with a small, paid staff, volunteers are the lifeblood of their efforts, said Griggs.

“Anything you can donate is appreciated,” he commented. “We can put almost any type of skill to use, we also always need people willing to donate time as greeters or cashiers.”

In Okinawa the USO’s have to be more self-sufficient since there aren’t as many retirees and civilians that can give time, Griggs added.

For more information, or to volunteer, visit your camp’s USO or go to www.usookinawa.org.

• Date Taken: 02.04.2011
• Date Posted: 02.13.2011 19:50
• Story ID: 65379
• Location: OKINAWA, OKINAWA, JP