Monthly Archives: December 2009

Block Leave – DFW USO Helps the Time Pass Quickly!

Posted on December 23, 2009 by | 1 Comment

Sgt. 1st Class Carl Manns, provost marshal office noncommissioned officer for the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, enjoys the Dallas Mavericks, NBA Basketball game, Dec. 8, when his rest and relaxation return flight to Iraq was delayed. The USO provided the tickets to Manns and seven other Soldiers, and the Mavericks rolled out the red carpet for the Soldiers. (Courtesy Photo via Blackanthem))

“As service members travel to and from their destinations for rest and relaxation from deployment, groups like the United Services Organization help to make their travel experience a little easier.

For Sgt. 1st Class Carl Manns, of South Bend, Ind., and a provost marshal office noncommissioned officer for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division out of Fort Riley, Kan., being stuck at the Fort Worth-Dallas International Airport wasn’t such a bad thing.

After realizing that he was going to be at the airport longer than expected to to some baggage delays, Sgt. 1st Class Manns said that he went to the airport’s USO where he and seven other Soldiers were given free tickets to attend an NBA basketball game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns, Dec. 8…”

Read the entire story at Blackanthem Military News!

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Posted in Centers, Troops, US

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Renovation at Ali Al Salem

Posted on December 22, 2009 by | 1 Comment

Staff and volunteers at the USO Center Ali Al Salem in Kuwait decided the place could use a little renovating.  Center Manager Valerie A. Burnham explained a bit of the overhaul:

“The first 2 photos are ‘before’…The last photos are ‘after’…

We painted the walls a warm butter yellow with gray/green inlay to give our USO a more ‘homey’ feel.  We also divided the big living room into two sections, U-shaping the couches to provide a modern appearance.  We also fixed the couches and cleaned them.  We hung two TV’s on each side of the room, one over the fire place.

We painted the movie room dark green, dark purple, and maroon, added new berber carpet (donated, and volunteers removed old and installed new) that we can remove once a month and actually clean! We hung black curtains to block out light, and to give it a movie room feel.  I spent hours with the cleaning crew to clean the tile (looks brand new).

We also repainted the UTR room w/ original art work by Petty Officer Albert Lopez, one of our top volunteers.

THE COST = Less than $500.00 . .  we did all the work ourselves along with volunteers.”

Wow!  All we can say is WOW.  The renovations look amazing and we’re so proud of our staff, volunteers, and everyone else who made this happen.  Great work!

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Posted in Centers, Southwest Asia, Volunteers

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Image of the Day

Posted on December 22, 2009 by | 1 Comment
Michael Phelps, publisher of The Washington Examiner, presents  a check to Sloan Gibson, president and CEO of the USO.

Michael Phelps (L) and Sloan Gibson

When asked why he had selected the USO as a beneficiary, Phelps said, “What America’s troops are doing is extraordinary and we owe them a lot in return; the USO is first on our list of recipients, because that’s where the money will do the most good for our troops and their families.”

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Posted in Donations, Photo Memories, Recognition, Support

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Block Leave Keeps the St. Louis USO…Busy!

Posted on December 22, 2009 by | 1 Comment

A volunteer at the James S. McDonnell USO took these photos, showing just a few of the thousands of Troops traveling through Lambert Airport on their way home for Block Leave.  Arriving via bus, Troops made their way to the Center as early as 2:00AM.  By the end of the season, over 8,000 Troops will fly out of St. Louis!

Thanks to all of the USO staff, volunteers, and everyone who comes out to greet the Troops!

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Posted in Centers, Programs, Troops, US, Volunteers

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Video from Chairman’s Holiday Tour

Posted on December 21, 2009 by | 1 Comment

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Posted in Celebrity Entertainment, Europe, Programs, Southwest Asia, Support, Troops

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Thank You, Brittany Murphy

Posted on December 21, 2009 by | 1 Comment

The USO family was saddened to hear about the death of actress Brittany Murphy on Sunday morning.  She went on tour for us in 2003 to the Persian Gulf.  And did she ever make a great impression on the Troops.

Bernie Rone, the USO’s Director of Celebrity Entertainment Recruiting, was on that tour and recalls Murphy as “A fun-loving young lady who got it.  She went out on the tour for all the right reasons and the troops loved her.”  Not only did Murphy make an impression by stopping to say hi and shake the hand of every service member she encountered, Rone said her talent shined through.  ”She actually performed and sang a few numbers with Wayne Newton’s band.  And we were blown away by how good she was.”

Senior Vice President of Communications John Hanson was also on the tour and remembers that even adverse conditions didn’t seem to affect Murphy. “The heat on that tour was unrelenting.  It was over 120 degrees everywhere we went,” explains Hanson.  ”Brittany Murphy was there for the troops 15 hours a day every day, and her commitment to the troops was clear from the beginning.  We will miss her compassion, her charm and her generous spirit.”

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Posted in Celebrity Entertainment, Recognition, Southwest Asia

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