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USO (United Service Organizations) Dollar
Public Law 101-404 101st Congress - This Act may be cited as the "United Services Organization's 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act". To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the United Services Organization. The design of the coins shall be emblematic of the services provided by the USO to military service personnel and families.
• The Secretary shall mint and issue not more than 1,000,000 One Dollar silver coins, and shall be composed of 90
percent silver and 10 percent copper.
• The silver coins authorized under this title may be issued in uncirculated and proof qualities, except that not more
than one facility of the United States Mint may be used to strike each such quality of the coins
Approved October 2, 1990.
(The Secretary may issue the coins minted under this Act during the 1-year period beginning at the end of the 6-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act)
Background
Released on June 8, 1991, this dollar commemorated the 50th anniversary of the United Services Organization (USO).
Characteristics
The obverse design of the coin features an image of the USO pennant and the words 50th Anniversary.
The reverse of the coin features a design of an eagle perched upon a globe with a USO banner in its beak and the USO's anniversary theme: "Fifty Years of Service to Service People" and 11 stars.
Recipient Organization: USO
Fifty percent of the surcharges collected from coin sales were to be distributed to the USO to be used to fund programs including airport centers, fleet centers, family and community centers, and celebrity entertainment. The remaining fifty percent of the proceeds from the coin sale surcharges were to be returned to the Federal Treasury for the purposes of reducing the national debt
The United Service Organizations Inc. (USO Show) is a nonprofit organization that provides programs, services and live entertainment to United States troops and their families. Since 1941, it has worked in partnership with the Department of Defense (DOD), relying heavily on private contributions and on funds, goods, and services from various corporate and individual donors. Although congressionally chartered, it is not a government agency. The USO operates 160 centers worldwide.
During World War II, the USO became the G.I.'s "home away from home" and began a tradition of entertaining the troops that continues today. Involvement in the USO was one of the many ways in which the nation had come together to support the war effort, with nearly 1.5 million Americans having volunteered their services in some way. After it was disbanded in 1947, it was revived in 1950 for the Korean War, after which it also provided peacetime services. During the Vietnam War, USOs were sometimes located in combat zones.
The organization became particularly famous for its live performances called Camp Shows, through which the entertainment industry helped boost the morale of its servicemen and women. Hollywood in general was eager to show its patriotism, and many famous celebrities joined the ranks of USO entertainers. They entertained in military bases at home and overseas, sometimes placing their own lives in danger, by traveling or performing under hazardous conditions.
Mission and goals
The USO was founded in 1941 in response to a request from President Franklin D. Roosevelt to provide morale and recreation services to U.S. uniformed military personnel. Roosevelt was elected as its honorary chairman. This request brought together six civilian organizations: the Salvation Army, Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), National Catholic Community Service, National Travelers Aid Association and the National Jewish Welfare Board. They were brought together under one umbrella to support U.S. troops. Roosevelt said he wanted "these private organizations to handle the on-leave recreation of the men in the armed forces." According to historian Emily Yellin, "The government was to build the buildings and the USO was to raise private funds to carry out its main mission: boosting the morale of the military."
USO promotional literature stated its goals:
"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."
Honoring Bob Hope
In 1996, the U.S. Congress honored Bob Hope by declaring him the "first and only honorary veteran of the U.S. armed forces." According to Hope biographer William Faith, his reputation has become ingrained in the "American consciousness" because he had flown millions of miles to entertain G.I.s during both wartime and peace. His contribution to the USO began in 1941 and ended with Operation Desert Shield in 1991, spending 48 Christmases overseas with American service personnel. He was always treated as "an asset to the U.S. Government with his willingness to entertain whenever they needed him." After WWII was declared over, the USO had sent out an "impassioned bulletin" asking entertainers not to abandon the GIs now that the war was over. Hope was among the first to say yes. The Military Order of the Purple Heart notes that "his contributions to the USO are well known: they are legend."
His final Christmas show was during Operation Desert Shield in 1990. The show was not easy, notes Faith. "There were so many restrictions. Hope's jokes were monitored by the State Department to avoid offending the Saudis... and the media was restricted from covering the shows... Because in Saudi Arabia national custom prescribes that women must be veiled in public, Ann Jillian, Marie Osmond, and the Pointer Sisters were left off Hope's Christmas Eve show."
In 2009, Stephen Colbert performing his last episode of weeklong taping in Iraq for his The Colbert Report show, carried a golf club on stage and dedicated it to Bob Hope's service for the USO.