United Service Organizations (U.S.)
Biography
The United Service Organizations (USO) is a private, nonprofit organization founded on February 4, 1941, to provide morale, welfare, and recreational services to U.S. military personnel and their families. It was established at the request of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, uniting six civilian organizations: the Salvation Army, YMCA, YWCA, National Catholic Community Service, National Travelers Aid Association, and National Jewish Welfare Board. The USO operated thousands of recreational clubs and centers both domestically and overseas, offering entertainment, social facilities, and support services, with its peak volunteer count reaching 739,000 during World War II. Although briefly disbanded in 1947, the USO was revived for the Korean War and has continued to support U.S. troops through subsequent conflicts and peacetime, adapting its services to meet the changing needs of military personnel and their families.