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Great Moments in USO History

May 31, 2021

“The story of USO camp shows belongs to the American people, for it was their contribution that made it possible. It is an important part in the life of your sons, your brothers, your husbands, and your sweethearts.”

USO promotional literature, 1942

Shortly before the United States entered World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt asked six civilian agencies to work together to form a new group charged with reaching out to those in uniform. On February 4, 1941, the USO (United Service Organization) was chartered as a private, nonprofit agency.

As the number of servicemen and women increased dramatically between 1941 and 1944, the USO worked to open facilities and provide services. These centers provided a welcome place where service personnel could dance, chat, write letters, watch movies, or simply enjoy a cup of hot coffee.

In New York City, Broadway’s biggest celebrities staffed the Stage Door Canteen, serving coffee and mingling with GIs in addition to their performances. Hollywood offered a similar environment at the Hollywood Canteen, pictured here during one of Bing Crosby’s legendary performances.

The USO quickly recognized a need for more than just a place to gather. In May 1941 the organization sent seven traveling show buses to entertain enlisted men near the Rocky Mountains. Demand for this type of service grew and led to the formation of a separate group, USO Camp Shows, Inc., that launched a four-part troop entertainment program. The Victory Circuit took full-sized concerts to the larger military installations, the Blue Circuit sent smaller tours to perform at army and navy sites, the Hospital Circuit provided entertainment at hospitals, and the Foxhole or Overseas Circuit went as close to the front lines as possible.

When it disbanded in 1947, USO Camp Shows had presented more than 428,000 performances in the United States. In 1944 the organization averaged 700 performances a day. By the end of World War II, the USO had sent more than 7,000 performers, brave soldiers in greasepaint, overseas.

Legendary Performers of the USO

No discussion of the USO would be complete without Bob Hope, an entertainer who headlined approximately sixty tours over a fifty-year career performing for the troops. His first wartime performance occurred at sea, aboard the RMS Queen Mary in September 1939, and his first official USO appearance took place at March Field, California, on May 6, 1941. He continued to travel and entertain troops throughout World War II, often dressed in army fatigues and carrying his signature golf club. A 1997 act of Congress signed by President Bill Clinton named Hope an “Honorary Veteran.”

“I’ve been given many awards in my lifetime, but to be numbered among the men and women I admire most is the greatest honor I have ever received."

Bob Hope entertains troops overseas. (Photo: Bob Hope Trust)

The Sweethearts of the Armed Forces Radio Service

The Andrews Sisters have become the most recognizable faces when it comes to any discussion of music during the 1940s. The hugely successful harmony singing group provided the soundtrack for the swing and boogie era with hits such as “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.” The group was second only to Bob Hope in the sheer number of performances done for the troops. The sisters (actual sisters LaVerne, Maxene, and Patty) helped to found the Hollywood Canteen, recorded a series of Victory Disks for distribution to allied fighting forces only, and supported the war-bond program with their rendition of Irving Berlin’s song “Any Bonds Today?”

The Andrews Sisters singing for soldiers. (Photo: Robert Boyer Collection, Great American Songbook Foundation)

Learn more about the Queens of the Jukebox in the Songbook Foundation's Andrews Sisters Online Exhibit .

"I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas”

According to Yank magazine, the man who did more for the American GI during World War II was none other than legendary crooner and film star Bing Crosby. At the height of his fame, polls declared Crosby as the most “admired man alive.” The biggest hit of Crosby’s career was the Irving Berlin classic, “White Christmas,” recorded by Crosby for the 1942 film Holiday Inn . Hardly a war song, the lyrics describe a wistful wishing for a Christmas that will likely be missed, a sentiment that resonated with soldiers far from home. Crosby was a hugely popular performer on USO tours alongside such friends as Fred Astaire and Bob Hope.

Bing Crosby performs at a USO event. (Photo: Burns Media Productions)

I Would Give a Show

Even before the USO began its formal overseas program, Al Jolson, the most popular stage and screen performer of the early twentieth century, requested permission to perform for troops. Early in 1942, Jolson became the first star to perform at a GI base, and went on to perform as many as four shows a day. Hits such as “Sonny Boy” and “Mammy” entertained troops in foxholes, dugouts, or on base, and Jolson went on to create several patriotic albums and films. During the war, Jolson caught malaria and lost a lung. Complications from the disease ultimately led to his death in 1950.

Al Jolson entertains troops. (Photo: unknown)

Every Woman Back Home Wears a Halo

For female entertainers, traveling as part of a USO tour provided the opportunity to tour the world and be patriotic at the same time. Women performers were especially popular during World War II, and the family friendly entertainment they provided brought cheer to the troops who delighted in seeing some of the most famous, and beautiful, women in the world. Stars such as the Andrews Sisters, Lena Horne, Martha Raye, Judy Garland, Marlene Dietrich, and Rita Hayworth logged millions of miles performing for troops all over the world.

 Lena Horne visits Tuskegee Airmen. (Photo: unknown)

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PBS Documentary Celebrates 75th Anniversary of USO

The new documentary USO—For the Troops , a history of the service organization born during World War II that continues to deliver touches of home to active-duty troops around the world, premieres Monday, November 7, on PBS .

The film weaves its history around footage of a contemporary USO tour starring country singer and US Army veteran Craig Morgan , NFL player (and son of a US Army sergeant) Charles Tillman, Miss America 2016 Betty Cantrell, and others. Archival sequences tell the story of the USO’s famed Hollywood Canteen, which The National WWII Museum salutes in its entertainment venue BB’s Stage Door Canteen , and, of course, the decades of service to the USO by Bob Hope, subject of an array of upcoming projects at the Museum.

Here’s an edited email Q&A interview with filmmaker Peter Schnall:

Q: How was this project born? Was it the 75th anniversary of the USO that sparked the film? A piece of footage? A personal connection to a war or the USO?

A: Back in the fall of 2015, I had been reading a story about Bob Hope and his USO tours during the Vietnam War. The article mentioned that the USO would be celebrating its 75th anniversary the following year. My company, Partisan Pictures, reached out to the USO and asked if they would be interested in participating in a documentary program that not only looked back at their long and fascinating history, but also spoke to the changes and ongoing work they were providing to the men and women of the Armed Forces—both here at home and overseas.

Partisan Pictures has a long and successful working relationship with the US armed forces. Our shows about Air Force One , Marine One, and other Department of Defense projects have given me incredible access to our nation’s military and a chance to meet, film, and capture the work of the men and women who serve. I don’t come from a military family, so my time with the military has been quite an extraordinary journey.  Actually, it’s been a real honor.

Partisan Pictures reached out immediately to PBS as the broadcaster for the one-hour USO program. We have produced many programs for PBS and more importantly PBS has a multiplatform initiative—Stories of Service—that unites powerful stories and conversations around one of our country’s most resilient communities: our military veterans.

Johnson & Johnson, a long time supporter of the USO, became the corporate sponsor for the PBS special.

When did the structure—editing the history around the contemporary tour—reveal itself? What are the strengths to that approach? What was it like following a modern USO tour?

From the very beginning, we knew that we wanted to journey with the USO on one of its present-day tours and have this become a key element and story thread throughout our show. Luckily for us, the USO was still in the planning stages for its annual Vice Chairman’s Tour.  Once permission was granted from the Department of Defense, we began to design our story line with the idea that the present-day tour would be interwoven with the stories from the 75-year history of the USO. Using contemporary events and stories as a way to connect to the past is a very exciting way to bring history to life for today’s audience—particularly younger viewers.

Traveling with a USO tour and the vice chairman of the Chiefs of Staff around the globe in the belly of an Air Force C-17 transport plane is truly the only way to travel! Our tour stopped in seven countries in just eight days—including an afternoon stop in Baghdad. For the entertainers, it was a chance to bring a little bit of  “home” to the troops stationed overseas and on the front lines of America’s current battlefields.

For me and my small film crew of three, it was a rare opportunity to witness and capture some very extraordinary moments between the servicemen and servicewomen, many of whom are on their second or third tour of duty, and the entertainers with the USO.

One of the gently provocative things about the film is how it spotlights recent USO supporters of varying political backgrounds without judgment. It’s especially poignant given the sequence about the political divides of the Vietnam era. What is the difference between Vietnam and more recent, equally controversial, conflicts—at least as it pertains to USO-tour participation?

Since World War II, the history of the USO has been connected to the history of America’s wars. Wars are not a welcome thought. Wars mean the loss of thousands of young soldiers’ lives. We as a nation have sometimes opposed wars and other times supported them. But throughout its history the USO has always been there to serve the men and women in the armed forces regardless of politics. The Vietnam War was one of America’s most unpopular wars, and the soldiers who fought in that war were often not welcome when they returned home. The Vietnam War brought up a very difficult balance for the USO, Bob Hope, and the entertainers who traveled with him to Vietnam to perform for the troops. Many entertainers, including Bob Hope, were labeled as “hawks.” But as Bob Hope’s daughter Linda explained to us, her father understood the controversy and understood very clearly how he was now being perceived by many back at home. As Linda would explain, Hope, more than anything, wanted this awful war to end. So regardless of his own politics, Hope supported the troops despite the anger towards them back home. Hope felt for the troops in a way many Americans at the time did not understand, for he knew many were stuck in a war nobody really wanted to be fighting in.

Today, wars and conflicts are just as controversial and unpopular. But the attitude towards the volunteer soldiers fighting in these new wars has taken on a very different feeling among the American populace. Our film interviewed a wide range of politicians and entertainers—from former General Colin Powell to former President George W. Bush to comedian Jon Stewart. All with different political beliefs, all with very different takes on the nature of America’s present-day wars. Yet, all of them have one very important thing in common—an unequivocal support for the servicemen and servicewomen fighting and dying out in the battlefield.

The USO’s roots in World War II are of obvious interest here. The conversation in the film about the USO’s role as a bearer of American culture in that era was fascinating. We love that Harpo Marx and Bette Davis were part of the Arsenal of Democracy. Was there anything that surprised you about the early days of the organization—its formation and evolution?

Producing a historical program often comes with surprising or unknown stories that pop up during research. I knew of the extensive programs the USO and Hollywood’s movie stars had created together during World War II, but I had not known how the USO had stood by and supported the black troops who had been stationed in America’s “Jim Crow” South. These young African American men, about to go off and fight for their country, were treated as second-class citizens in the towns they were stationed—they could not shop or walk in towns or participate in the same activities as the white soldiers. So the USO set up centers just for them. The USO pushed politics and racist laws aside and put the troops first and foremost.

Was there a piece of footage or interview you consider a great “get” or rare find? A favorite sequence?

There were many powerful and emotional scenes we discovered during our viewing of the footage from Bob Hope’s tours—particularly the shows he did in Vietnam. One of my favorite scenes from this extraordinary collection of footage, which we present in our film, revolves around a performance by a very young Connie Stevens. In her interview with us, she describes how during one Christmas tour she began to sing Silent Night for the troops. Suddenly, hundreds of young soldiers began to sing with her. The cameras captured one of the most powerful and emotional scenes I have ever seen filmed in a real war setting. It is hard not to be overcome by the moment—watching these young soldiers sing this Christmas song, knowing full well that the next day they would out fighting in another skirmish—many of them never to return home.

Would there be USO tours today without Bob Hope’s legacy? The film honors him beautifully. He could really walk a fine line—irreverent sometimes, but it created instant empathy with the troops. Do you have a favorite piece of footage of Hope? Was there more great material you had to leave out?

I grew up watching the Bob Hope specials on TV with my family. Needless to say, I hadn’t seen these shows for many decades. What a treat it was to sit and watch and relive these very special and historical programs. What struck me now, more than when I was a young kid, was how Hope managed to bring humor into the theater of war.  Even more interesting was Hope’s ability to use humor to speak out politically against the Vietnam War or to poke fun at the commanders and generals of the battalions he was entertaining.  We watched hours and hours of Hope on tour. Unfortunately, we could only squeeze a few minutes into our program.

Note: USO—For the Troops will stream online starting November 8 at PBS.org.

Read more about the documentary, and watch preview videos: http://www.pbs.org/program/uso-for-the-troops/

The Stories of Service website: http://www.pbs.org/veterans/stories-of-service/home/

• Posted : Monday, November 7th, 2016 @ 12:16 pm
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Rest in Peace John Rogers, US Army 2nd Armored Division Distance Learning Opportunities this Winter

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Penn & Teller Describe What It's Like to Perform a USO Tour for the First Time

There's not a lot that comedy duo and "magicians extraordinaire" Penn & Teller haven't done.

The pair's show at the Rio Hotel and Casino is the longest-running, headlining act in Las Vegas history. They've starred in movies and television, had shows on- and off-Broadway, written books and now run a MasterClass in teaching magic. They even starred alongside Run DMC for its 1987 music video, "It's Tricky."

But in their nearly 50 years of performing, Penn Jillette and Joseph Teller had never performed for American troops on a USO tour -- until recently, that is.

The pair were joined on the tour by singer-songwriter Brett Young, former New England Patriots player Vince Wilfork, illusionist Justin Flom and actor Dulé Hill ("The West Wing," "Psyche").

Joseph Teller, known to remain silent during shows, tells Military.com it was the first time the USO ever asked them to join such a tour.

"I always pictured, in my mind, Bob Hope on stage with some glamorous woman and a bunch of guys in uniforms ," says Teller. "And it wasn't that. Weirdly, we had no woman on the show. It just seems like if you're going to entertain a group which is predominantly men, you would think you would have at least one woman. But I guess they couldn't find somebody there to join us."

The gaggle of entertainers deployed to Europe this past December for the 2023 USO Holiday Tour, a whirlwind trip that took them to RAF Lakenheath before visiting bases in Romania, Poland and elsewhere.

"Penn was very keen on it, just because it's this kind of showbiz experience that neither of us ever had," Teller says. "Penn said, 'Oh, yeah, I'm going to give that a try.' And I am always game for trying stuff."

What the duo found was an audience particularly open and willing to volunteer for anything. After all, volunteering for things is how most of that audience ended up in uniform in the first place. It was in tune with their brand of magic and comedy, which mostly takes place at the Rio Hotel and Casino just one block away from the Las Vegas Strip.

"First of all, they were sober, which is very nice," Teller says. "They were great volunteers; every single one of them [was] in the spirit of it. Very intelligent and nice ... They were always so great on stage ... really receptive and fun and smart. I was impressed by it."

But not every U.S. service member got the full show Penn & Teller would no doubt have loved to perform at every stop. It turns out a full USO tour, even a European one, is hard work for the performers. Getting up at 0410 to depart at 0500 is not something to which two gentlemen with a Las Vegas theater named after them are accustomed.

Teller said he was already jetlagged when he arrived in theater, and the schedule thereafter was pretty tough.

"I am used to being at my best at 9 p.m.," he says. "The idea of someone telling me we'll be departing at 5050005 [sic], or whatever the exact term is, for a two-hour bus ride, followed by a plane for two hours and then another two hours on a bus before we do another show ... That was harder than most touring for me."

As part of the tour, the performers did not always know where they would stage their shows or even how much time they might have. Luckily, years of street performances had prepared Penn & Teller for these moments.

"There was a level of military secrecy about exactly where we were going," he says. "It was a little strange to be playing in a cafeteria with half of the audience on the far side of the salad bar. Still, it went over well, because we used material we had developed from street performing. That's our go-to material for an unknown situation, when we wouldn't have much control over the lighting or the circumstances, dances or anything."

Teller, by his own admission, says he is not a service member; he is as far from anyone who likes to get up at 5 o'clock in the morning as he could get. Though he was of perfect draft age during the Vietnam War, and many of his friends would serve in Vietnam, this USO trip was his first real interaction with American troops. Both Penn and Teller were suitably impressed.

"I know he liked the troops that he met," Teller says of Penn. "The fact that both of us are essentially pacifists makes it a little bit complicated, but it's people trying to do their job. So we got along with everybody. It was interesting to see the attitude of the troops when demonstrating and talking about their equipment. There was a certain innocence, I'm sure that they understood clearly the purpose of what they were doing, but there was a sort of sweetness about them that I was rather touched by."

As long as the schedule could be made less rigorous, it was an experience both would love to undertake again. Upon leaving their military venues, the performers were given the most ubiquitous of military tokens of appreciation: handshakes filled with challenge coins. But Penn & Teller left something with the troops in return.

"I'm proud to say that we gave out a lot of marked cards, so that would facilitate cheating at card games," Teller says. "We felt sort of obliged to corrupt the Air Force ."

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The History of Bob Hope USO Shows

Anyone who is even vaguely familiar with the USO knows a little about the history of Bob Hope’ USO shows . Since 1941, the United Service Organizations has provided support to the service members of the United States military. At all stages of a service member’s active duty and even beyond, USO volunteers are ready to provide support. 

• At enlistment
• On deployment
• With their families
• Away from home
• When injured in service
• Returning to civilian life

Bob Hope’s USO shows were a staple for many decades, entertaining generations of military personnel in the United States Armed Forces.

Driving Force Behind the USO Tours

Though he wore many hats as an entertainer, starting out as a dancer, film actor, and radio comedian, Bob Hope is perhaps best remembered as the driving force behind the USO tours that featured the United States’ greatest entertainers traveling to show their support for the troops and lift the spirits of those fighting on the front lines. This tradition began in 1941, when he performed a radio show at March Field in Riverside, California. Fresh from his motion picture successes The Cat and the Canary (1939) and The Road to Singapore (1940) , he was well received, and when the United States joined World War II in December of that year, he resolved to work with the USO to bring more shows to service members. Over the next 18 months, he traveled the length and breadth of the country performing at military bases, until he ventured overseas to the European and Pacific fronts to perform for troops stationed there.His Road to… co-star Bing Crosby also joined USO tours. As time went by and Hope’s shows became more of a staple, he assembled a team of regular collaborators: Tony Romano , the musician. Jerry Colonna , Hope’s sideman. Frances Langford, the singer.

For 40 Years Bob Hope USO Shows Brightened the Holidays

After the conclusion of World War II, Hope continued his film career and successfully made the transition to television. While famously he never won an Academy Award , he was awarded honorary Oscars multiple times. During the Berlin Airlift in 1948 and again when the Korean War began in 1950, Hope joined the USO to support the men and women of the US Armed Forces. He was also a frequent visitor to American forces stationed in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War , regularly seen with his trademark golf club. Hope’s holiday specials, a tradition started in 1950 on NBC, also became part of his commitment to the USO. Between 1964 and 1972, Hope recorded 9 holiday shows in Vietnam. The 1970 show was one of American television’s most-watched events of all time.

Hope was an unstinting supporter of the members of the US armed forces, even at times when their actions were unpopular with the public. During the Vietnam War, it was difficult for Hope to secure talent to travel with, but this did not deter him. He worked with Raquel Welch, Ann-Margret, Connie Stevens, The Golddiggers , even Neil Armstrong .

Why Did Bob Hope Do USO Shows?

Bob Hope’s first holiday USO show was in 1948, during the Berlin Airlift . According to Hope himself, this effort was undertaken because he was expressly asked by the Pentagon. However, his future undertakings with the USO were inspired by this trip and the warm welcome and gratitude from the servicemen and women in Berlin. Hope’s last holiday special ‘Hopes for the Holidays’ was in 1994, almost 50 years after his first.

Was Bob Hope A Veteran?

While the US Navy offered Hope a commission at the rank of lieutenant commander during the Second World War , Hope never served in the military himself. However, for his efforts over many generations to bring joy and recreation to military personnel both at home and overseas, the 

United States Congress conferred the unique honor of being an honorary veteran on Bob Hope in 1997. Hope passed away less than six years later, on July 27 2003, at the age of 100.

For more stories about veterans and military history, check out our TogetherWeServed Blog .

Tags: Academy Award , Ann-Margret , Berlin Airlift , Berlin Airlift in 1948 , Bing Crosby , Bob Hope’ USO shows , Connie Stevens , he was awarded honorary Oscars multiple times , He worked with Raquel Welch , honorary veteran , Jerry Colonna , Korean War , Second World War , The Cat and the Canary , The Cat and the Canary (1939) , The Golddiggers , The Road to Singapore , The Road to Singapore (1940) , the US Navy offered Hope a commission at the rank of lieutenant commander , TogetherWeServed Blog , Tony Romano , US Armed Forces , USO , Vietnam , Vietnam War , World War II

I’m looking for pictures of the 1984 miss uso pagent in Hollywood, ca. I won miss congeniality that year & hit to meet Bob Hope. I was 19. I wish I had pictures to show my kids.

I saw the Bob Hope USO show in Chu Lai Vietnam in December of 1967. I was in a USMC Combined Action Unit (K-1) unit on Hoa Me Island at the entrance to Chu Lai with approximately 12 other Marines. Another guy named “ski” let me take his spot as he had seen it the year before. I never thought to find out his name. I soon went to MTT-1 and after a few months we ended up in Tam Ky about 3 miles inland from the water. From boot camp till I got out I spent 2years 9 months on active duty. I made Sergeant in 2 yrs 6 months but decided not to stay in the service. Before I got out I was in charge of a radio section with approximately 70 guys in it. (mostly waiting to go to Vietnam.

After my 1st tour in Vietnam I was stationed at Camp Zama, Japan as the Adjutant in the Army Transportation Command. The boss was a Full Colonel named Jack Tabb. One morning he stepped out of his office and, as he passed my desk he said, let’s go, we have a meeting. At the meeting a civilian gentleman named Bel Bishop was introduce to us as the “Front man for Bob Hope”. Col. Tab instructed them that myself and my assistant would handle all of his transportation needs during Hopes five day Japan tour. I was raised witty by our old Philco radio then later by a 12inch screen TV. I was elated. That was the beginning of the most intense yet enjoyable assignments of my career. 2nd LT Barry and I met the charter plane at Haneda AP at about 2000 hrs. Of course Bob was first off the plane followed by Anne Margaret, Connie Smith, Miss world from India, Roger Smith and Rosie Greer, Mel Smith, Charlie White (Western Costumes) Les Brown and “His Band of Renown” (numbering 77 musicians), trunks and suit cases to form a mountain, instruments like crazy. “Col. Tab has screwed us I told Barry. Fortunately the gaggle was to stay in a hotel just a too the street from the Officers Hotel (the Sanno where we were staying). The part that drove Bob Hopes popularity to us was later, after getting them to the Hotel (let deal with that mass now), LT Barry and I were enjoying a much deserved cold beer in the Sanno’s Officers Club. The club was getting ready to close and there were many young waitresses scurrying around clearing tables etc. The door opened and in walked Bob followed by Mel Bishop. I waved to Bob and into a Club, which was coat and tie only Bob was wearing a polo shirt, vest and slacks and, carrying a putter. The Maitre ‘d showed up after they had sat down, looked at Bob and said ” Capitan you must tell you guest must have coat and tie,” He then smiled, looked Bob and continued “ahhh, Boba Hoppu des” The entire ensemble was courteous and we did survive. At the airport Bob thanked me, shook hands and then slipped a small box into my pocket, a gold plated cigarette lighter. To this day it has not been used.

I was in the hospital at Camp Zama, Japan after being medivaced from Vietnam in November,1968. I attended a show Hope put on for those in the hospital. I remember Hope opening the show and looking at all the high ranking, brass sitting in the front rows of the theater and he told them – didn’t ask, but told them using some rough language – to move and give the seats to the wounded in the back of the room, many who were on crutches or in wheelchairs. The sight of all the non-wounded, stuff-shirt officers getting up and moving to the back of the room, and the cheers from the hundreds off wounded enlisted men when that happened, still rings in my ears. In November, 2022, I chatted with Ann Margaret while attending the 40th Anniversary Gala of the commemoration of the “Wall” in Washington, DC. about here visit then. A belated “thanks” to Mr. Hope and once again, to Miss Margaret. She is still as beautiful and gracious as ever.

Chu Lai. 1969. The only single piece of sanity in a long and disgusting tour. God bless you and Keep you, Bob and Delores.

I am trying to get a hold of all of the footage just from the USS Midway show in Singapore, December 1972. I served on the Midway and was privileged to have seen Bob Hope at that time. I would like to show the footage to my children and grand children. Would something like this be available for purchase? Thank you.

Hi Jim Welcome home and Happy New Year. You may need to go the Librry of Congress and search for what you want. i was trying to get the video os shwo with Joey Heatherton and Jo Collins.

USO said ro xchec tge LOC as a lot of their records were burned up in a fire. Good Luck

Gregg Lyell

I’m looking for footage from Uso show at Los Angela’s LA Rams football field in 1966 or 1967

Hi Kimberly check with the Library of Congress as the USO said many of their videos were destroyed in a fire and tthey said to chek the library. Gregg Lyell

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The 10 Greatest USO Performers

By The Veterans Site

For more than 75 years, the United Service Organizations Inc. (USO) has supported U.S. military members by providing them programs and entertainment during their service. Whether it’s in USO centers around the country or on military bases around the world, the USO works hard to bring a slice of home to those serving abroad and in distant lands.

Over the last seven decades, some of the country’s best performers have taken the USO stage to entertain troops with music, dancing, and comedy routines. Here’s a look at 10 of the greatest performers to grace the USO stage.

10. The Andrews Sisters

The Andrews Sisters were a popular singing group of the swing and boogie-woogie music eras. Consisting of sisters LaVerne, Maxene, and Patty, the group was quite active from the late 1930s into the early ’50s, and boasted sales of more than 75 million records over the group’s career. The sisters performed extensively for troops of the Allied forces during World War II, frequently singing their hit song, “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” as part of their USO performances. The Andrews Sisters were instrumental in boosting morale toward the war effort, encouraging the sale of war bonds through their music, and often wearing military uniforms as they performed. The group took a break from their act in the mid-1950s, but later continued to perform. Despite the death of LaVerne in 1967, the Andrews Sisters remained active until disbanding in 1975.

9. Danny Kaye

8. John Wayne

7. Bob Hope

The name “Bob Hope” just seems to be synonymous with the USO, as Hope devoted so much time to the organization and the troops. The comedian and actor participated in 57 USO tours, visiting military members during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the first Gulf War. President Bill Clinton named Hope an “Honorary Veteran” in 1997, to which Hope said, “I’ve been given many awards in my lifetime — but to be numbered among the men and women I admire most — is the greatest honor I have ever received.”

6. Mickey Rooney

5. marilyn monroe.

4. Nancy Sinatra

The eldest daughter of legendary crooner Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra went on to have a successful singing career of her own in the 1960s and early ’70s. She scored a hit with the 1966 song, “These Boots Are Made For Walkin.'” During the Vietnam War, Sinatra visited and sang for troops at the U.S. military bases near Saigon.

3. Steve Martin

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100 Famous People Who Have Entertained The Troops On USO Tours

As a way to thank United States troops for their service, the United Service Organizations (USO) plans a variety of events to entertain soldiers overseas. The non-profit began in 1941, in partnership with the Department of War, and then later with the Department of Defense.

Over the years, many celebrities have given their time and talents, traveling to foreign countries to provide soldiers with much-needed entertainment. These practices have been around since World War II in the 1940s, extending to the Vietnam War and eventually to the Iraq war at the beginning of the century. Whether it's a concert, a meet-and-greet, or a film screening, these events have lifted the morale of US troops in a special way.

This list of USO entertainers is full of recognizable names, including Hollywood legends Marilyn Monroe and Bob Hope as well as modern celebrities such as Charlize Theron and Bryan Cranston. One of the most involved current USO entertainers is country singer Kellie Pickler, who has 12 USO tours under her belt as of 2019.

Keep reading to find out about all of the celebrities who have been involved with the USO in the past. You'll find singers, comedians, actors, and even celebrity chefs on this list.

Dwayne Johnson

Tours: 2017 Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle Event

• Dig Deeper... Small Details About Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson Movies That Demand A Rewatch
• And Deeper... The Rock Tattoos
• And Deeper... Fun Facts You Didn't Know About Dwayne Johnson

Charlize Theron

Tours: Virtual Tour 2020

• Dig Deeper... The 45+ Best Charlize Theron Movies
• And Deeper... 320 Famous Leo Celebrities
• # 135 of 227 on The Most Trustworthy Celebrities In The World

Marilyn Monroe

Tours: Korean War

• Dig Deeper... What Marilyn Monroe’s Colleagues Said About Working With Her
• And Deeper... 12 Shocking Details About Marilyn Monroe's Death You Probably Never Knew
• And Deeper... How Marilyn Monroe And Ella Fitzgerald's Friendship Gave Them Both Their Careers

Scarlett Johansson

Tours: USO Tour 2008, USO Chairman's Holiday Tour 2016

• Dig Deeper... 195+ Famous Sagittarius Celebrities
• And Deeper... 100+ Left-Handed Celebrities
• # 1 of 1,285 on The Most Beautiful Women Of All Time

Chris Evans

Tours: USO Chairman's Holiday Tour 2016

• Dig Deeper... The 365+ Most Famous Geminis
• # 50 of 264 on The Best (Male) Actors Working Today
• # 58 of 227 on The Most Trustworthy Celebrities In The World

Jon Stewart

Tours: USO Spring Tour 2018, USO Vice Tour

• Dig Deeper... Jon Stewart's Most Entertaining Feuds Ever
• And Deeper... The Best Recurring Jokes on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
• And Deeper... Who Should Replace Jon Stewart as Host of The Daily Show?

Tours: Korean War, Vietnam War, Lebanon, Gulf War

• Dig Deeper... Actors You May Not Have Realized Are Republican
• And Deeper... The 365+ Most Famous Geminis
• # 169 of 200 on The Coolest Actors Ever

Steve Martin

Tours: Gulf War

• Dig Deeper... Facts We Just Learned About Steve Martin That Made Us Say 'Really?'
• And Deeper... The Best Steve Martin Characters of All Time

Elizabeth Banks

Tours: USO Holiday Tour 2015

• Dig Deeper... Famous People Who Converted to Judaism
• And Deeper... Guests of the Jay Leno Show
• # 104 of 1,285 on The Most Beautiful Women Of All Time

Tours: 2010 "VH1 Divas Support the Troops"

• Dig Deeper... The Best Songs Feat. Katy Perry
• And Deeper... Famous Scorpio Celebrities And Historical Figures
• # 8 of 83 on The Greatest Female Vocalists of the Past 10 Years

Robin Williams

Tours: Afghanistan, Iraq, Germany, Italy, Spain 2002-2013

• Dig Deeper... 'Robin's Wish' Is A Devastating Documentary About Robin Williams's Final Years
• And Deeper... 345 Famous Cancer Celebrities
• # 6 of 227 on The Most Trustworthy Celebrities In The World

Debbie Reynolds

• Dig Deeper... Inside Debbie Reynolds And Carrie Fisher’s Rocky But Loving Mother-Daughter Relationship
• # 311 of 557 on The 250+ Best Singers Of All Time, Ranked
• # 178 of 345 on The Best Female Vocalists Ever

Bryan Cranston

Tours: Germany and UK July 2017

• Dig Deeper... Why Bryan Cranston Is Cooler Than You Think
• And Deeper... Breaking Bad Cast List
• # 44 of 264 on The Best (Male) Actors Working Today

Mandy Moore

Tours: USO Tour May 2017

• Dig Deeper... 250+ Famous Aries Celebrities
• # 153 of 1,285 on The Most Beautiful Women Of All Time
• # 86 of 441 on The Most Beautiful Women In Hollywood

Carrie Underwood

Tours: 2006 USO Christmas Tour

• Dig Deeper... The Best Carrie Underwood Duets Ever
• And Deeper... Musicians You May Not Know Are Republican
• # 14 of 83 on The Greatest Female Vocalists of the Past 10 Years

Milo Ventimiglia

• Dig Deeper... 345 Famous Cancer Celebrities
• # 253 of 264 on The Best (Male) Actors Working Today
• # 71 of 157 on The Hottest Men Over 40

Tours: Afghanistan and Iraq 2002-2017

• Dig Deeper... Musicians You May Not Know Are Republican
• # 29 of 184 on Celebrities Nobody Cares About Anymore

Kellie Pickler

Tours: "Every Moment Counts" 2013, 2014 USO Tour, Holiday Tour 2018

• # 69 of 83 on The Greatest Female Vocalists of the Past 10 Years

Tours: 2018 Washington D.C. Fall Tour

• Dig Deeper... 18 of Tom Hardy's Hottest Tattoos
• # 7 of 11 on 11 Actors Who Seem 'Scary,' But Are The Nicest People In Real Life
• # 13 of 264 on The Best (Male) Actors Working Today

Adam DeVine

Tours:  USO Holiday Tour 2017, World's Biggest USO Tour 2018

• # 88 of 96 on People We Want to See on a Comedy Central Roast
• # 40 of 119 on 115+ Famous Scorpio Male Celebrities
• # 96 of 221 on 220+ Moon In Sagittarius Celebrities

Idina Menzel

Tours: USO MVP Holiday Special

• # 198 of 227 on The Most Trustworthy Celebrities In The World
• # 183 of 251 on The 250+ Best Singers Of The Last 30 Years, Ranked

Tours: Persian Gulf Tour 2010

• Dig Deeper... 320 Famous Leo Celebrities
• # 27 of 66 on The Best Bands & Artists That Start With Z
• # 10 of 44 on The Best Musical Artists From Georgia

John Krasinski

Tours: 2018 Los Angeles Fleet Week

• Dig Deeper... The Best John Krasinski Characters
• And Deeper... Famous People Who Are Libra
• # 37 of 157 on The Hottest Men Over 40

Willie Nelson

Tours: 2005 Afghanistan and Iraq Tour

• Dig Deeper... The Greatest Willie Nelson Duets Ever
• And Deeper... Insane Willie Nelson Stories That Are 100% True
• # 46 of 227 on The Most Trustworthy Celebrities In The World

Stephen Colbert

Tours: 2009 Iraq Tour

• Dig Deeper... Guests You Hope to See on Late Show with Stephen Colbert
• And Deeper... 335+ Famous Taurus Historical Figures
• # 167 of 227 on The Most Trustworthy Celebrities In The World

• # 124 of 262 on The Funniest Stand-Up Comedians Of All Time
• # 7 of 16 on 16 Celebrities Who Were Banned From Late-Night Shows
• # 303 of 483 on Things That Are Not As Cool As People Think They Are

Tours: 2014 Spain and Italy

• # 29 of 38 on Celebrity Chefs You Most Wish Would Cook for You
• # 3 of 18 on The Top Chef Season 8 Contestants
• # 13 of 64 on Who Is The Most Famous Hall In The World?

Nick Lachey

• Dig Deeper... Whatever Happened to Nick Lachey?
• # 8 of 14 on Heartthrobs From The '90s Ranked By How Much We're Still Crushing

Tours: Vietnam War

• Dig Deeper... The Best Movies Directed by John Wayne
• And Deeper... Actors You May Not Have Realized Are Republican
• # 68 of 227 on The Most Trustworthy Celebrities In The World

Phyllis Diller

• # 322 of 348 on The Best Actresses In Film History
• # 80 of 262 on The Funniest Stand-Up Comedians Of All Time
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