The Wilmington morning star., 1946-12-18
|SERWCEMEN FILL
! US0 CENTER HERE
Increase Noted In Visitors;
Approximately $500
Each Weekend

The number Of military %personne.
visiting Wilmington holidays, Satur.
and Sundays is increasing
with approximately $500 men TAX
ing advantage of USO activities
on week-ends, Ralph w. Richards,
USO director reported. .. .. =. -.
Richards explained that the $500
total was the door county taken
at the Community center, which the
USO uses two days weekly for the
continuance of military services
and recreation.
At the present time, only 5000
men are stationed at Camp Lejeune
but Richards declared the camp
would soon reach its full compile
ment. Last spring, information
from the camp revealed a standing
strength of Is, 900 Marines was ex-
pected.
When the camp increases stand
ing personnel, the number Of visi-
tors to the city will increase to the
point where the present door count
will probably be doubled, Richards
added:
Included in visitors to the USO
are men from Camp Lejeune, Fort
Bragg, Pope field and transients,
he added. The director pointed out
that visitors from Camp Davis will
probably join those currently using
USO facilities when that Navy
facility starts operations.
The USO has been operating in
Wilmington on a two-day a week
schedule since last September
when the Second and Orange street
building was sold to the city for
use as a recreational or community
center.
Normal USO facilities are offered
during the two days, he said, with
the men taking advantage of per-
sonal services showers, shaves,
dormitory and clothes pressing
and other activities which include
regular Saturday night dances.
For an example, last week USO
conducted an informal Christmas
carol party; a dance class; a bingo
game with prizes and music. Sun.
day morning visiting military per-
sonnet we've guests at the regular
Java club breakfast with many
Of them being conducted to church
services accompanied by a church
escort group.
A 5 o'clock home hour was fol-
lowed by the serving of refresh
ments by three Carolina Beach
churches Later in the evening
Symphony by Candlelight was pre-
scented.
Transportation was Furnished
men who wished to enjoy an hours
horseback riding at a local stable
In addition a ping pong tournament
was held with prizes being given
to the winners.
USO's personal service include
towels, shaving gear and irons
used in the pressing of clothes.
Last week the organization added
a Christmas wrapping and mail
service.
Richards said that a diversified
program is presented each week
with the cooperation Of church
groups in the city and county. Also
assisting in the weekly programs
are hostess groups, many OF which
include members who have been
attending USO functions since the
institution of the service five years
ago.
The USO in Wilmington is serving
a two-fold purpose. Jesse Rey-
nolds, city recreational director
has pointed out that the current
budget of the department did not
permit a full military program.
The doors Of the cente- r not
closed on the days when USO takes
over the building, Richards said.
About 90 men sleep in the dormi-
tories with other men being chan
neled to private homes through a
list maintained in the USO office.
The activities Of the Wilmington
USO reach out from the city and
take in those men who are hos
pitalized in the Camp Lejeune
Naval hospital, it was learned.
Richards was today completing
plans for a Christmas program to
be conducted for men In the hos
pital with each man scheduled
to receive a stocking with a small
gift, candies, fruits and cigarettes.
The Dec. 10 program will also
include the presentation Of stunts
and carols for the pleasure of those
men who ri bed-r1dden. The pro.
gram, it was learned, will be a
cooperative service of the Ameri-
can Red Cross and the USO.
Richards, who is assisted in his
work by Miss Maria Davis, Of
Wilmington, is continuing the for.
mel USO work OF furnishing hos
tesses for Camp Lejeune dances.
He added that h~ostesses are fur
nlshed every week for camp dances
and every tw oweeks girls are taken
to Jacksonville to assist in activi-
ties in the USO center in that
town.
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