Support The Troops, Support the USO

UPDATE:

The American Infidel writes:

Wow! Thanks so much for this post! I told the women last night that along with my hours that I'm putting in one of my goals was going to be to work on getting sponsors. For example it costs them $400.00 a week to get their laundry done. Their laundry consists of towels from Soldiers taking a shower, and the sheets and blankets from the bunk beds. I'm really into this now... it's so great to be able to do something.

Thanks in advance for your donation. I'm leaving my email below in case anyone wants to contact me.  I'll be waiting people!

Kelly
kjwjaw@yahoo.com

Liberal, conservative, it doesn't matter.  If you really support the troops, then give to the USO!

From the American Infidel:

Last night I had my first shift working at the USO. I loved it except for one thing.

They need money. Money and supplies. Give them your free samples. Your time, your money.

And:

As a volunteer one of the jobs I had was to make ham and cheese and tuna sandwiches. The sandwiches were make with cheap wheat bread, with one piece of sliced ham. One. They were not thick slices. The Soldiers were thrilled to get them. Every Soldier that walked through the door last night while I was there from 8-midnight got a sandwich, some took two. Many of them asked me how much they cost and were very appreciative when I told them they were free.

OK Folks, time to pony up!

Here is the link:  Puget Sound USO

I don’t know her, I’ve never met her, but I’ve been the beneficiary of the USO’s services a few times over my 20 year career in the USAF.

Let me tell you a story.

I was stationed at Osan Air Base in South Korea.  I got word through the Red Cross that my mother was to have emergency surgery to clear her carotid artery.  She’d had a stroke earlier. Her chances of surviving the surgery was 50%, nil if she didn’t.  The family thought it best if I made it home.  I quickly got the paperwork completed, bags packed and I boarded a contract 747 at Osan whose ultimate destination was St. Louis Lambert Field.  From there, I had a commercial ticket to Detroit.  The problem is that it was essentially the last flight to Detroit from St. Louis that night and the military charter had to be on time for me to make it.  It wasn’t and I missed the flight.  I got in about 30 minutes too late to make it.

I called my family and they said that Mom made it through OK and was asleep, but she wasn’t out of the woods.  (It was emergency surgery and couldn’t wait for me to get there.  Korea is a long way from Detroit)  I explained my situation and that I would catch the first flight out in the AM (About 6:30 Central, 7:30 AM, Eastern).  I got there in time to make the arrangements for the flight but now I was stuck there at Lambert. 

In the Airport, was a USO lounge.  I went there hoping I could stay there in a chair for the night.  When I got there, they had a room with some donated lazy-boy type chairs that were available on a first come, first served basis and they had several available that I could sleep on for the night.  They also gave me a slim looking ham sandwich and can of soda.  To me, it was gourmet cuisine.  I was tired, hungry and also on crutches, having seriously broken an ankle a couple weeks prior.  Serious enough that I was in a non-walking cast.

I dozed fitfully on that chair until about 5 AM.  They had some cold cereal packages and I had one with some milk.  I called home to find out Mom had a major stroke.  Some of the stuff in the artery must have broken off and made it to the brain stem.  She was in a coma.  Long story short, I got to Detroit and then on to Pontiac General Hospital.  She died early the next morning, having never regained consciousness.

My point is not to seek sympathy.  My point is this, if you truly support the troops and want to do something positive, give to the USO!  I will forever be gratefull to the USO for that chair, sandwich and bowl of corn flakes! 

The USO is apolitical.  Their concern is not the war or the politics swirling around it.  Their concern is serving those who serve.  The GI’s that appear at their counter are often going home to or coming back from a tragedy.  Sometimes they are on their way to a far away place or coming back.  They are usually changing planes and need a safe place to set down their baggage and grab a sandwich.

I will be making a donation this Thursday to the USO.  The Link will be off to the left, but for now, it will be in this message until I can make the necessary changes in the blog.  Forget politics on this one and give some money or time to truly support the troops.  Put your money and or time where you mouth is! 

In case you missed it above - Give here:

If you are blogger, please consider placing a link on your blog and bringing the USO to the attention of your readers.

Thanks to Wizbang And Blue Star Chronicles for Open Trackbacks!

VW

Comments

[Kelly]

Wow! Thanks so much for this post! I told the women last night that along with my hours that I'm putting in one of my goals was going to be to work on getting sponsors. For example it costs them $400.00 a week to get their laundry done. Their laundry consists of towels from Soldiers taking a shower, and the sheets and blankets from the bunk beds. I'm really into this now... it's so great to be able to do something.

Thanks in advance for your donation. I'm leaving my email below in case anyone wants to contact me. I'll be waiting people!

Kelly
kjwjaw@yahoo.com

[T.J.]

The USO is the GREATEST thing in the world! I remember I was coming home one Christmas season and had a flight canceled. I had heard of the USO before, but thought that it was a WWII thing where they did shows for the soldiers. I had NO CLUE that they still existed, and what they did. A clerk at the airport saw me sitting around for a few hours and told me I should go to the USO shop - figuring I had nothing else to do I went to see what this was all about. I walked in and was welcomed with open arms. It was very nice to see some friendly faces (pre-9/11) and have a place to stay with others in my situation. The folks at the USO offered me pop, cookies, and sandwiches. I explained to them that I had no money for it, but they told me not to worry about it. They then offered me a lazy boy to watch TV and a computer for some much needed internet access. I again told them I had no money so I couldn't afford it - again they told me not to worry about it. I was DUMBFOUNDED! I couldn't figure out why these people were giving me all this free stuff! (I was only 18, give me a break!) After I had munched down my food, checked my email, and watched some Fox News they offered me a bed. Again, I told them I had no money.... again they told me not to worry about it. Finally I asked them what the deal was - I asked them what they wanted in return for all this free stuff. They told me I've already given them everything they need.... I'm serving my country. I've been a supporter of the USO every year since then. I gotta tell you that the USO has saved my butt on more then a few occasions. Sometimes it's just to check my email to keep in touch with family and friends while traveling. Other times it's a place to stay after a flight delays or cancels. I don't know what I'd do without the GREAT AMERICANS!!!!

[Mike Pittman]

Great Story TJ! Thanks for telling it!

Thank you also for your service!

VW