Evening star., 1946-10-22
Letters to The Star.
Explains Why USO Merits Con
tinued Public Support

A\|k\1o y ~ IN Ok0l
Explains Why USO Merits Con.
tinued Public Support
To the Editor Of The Star:
I can only surmise that James O..
Towery knew not whereof he spoke"
when he stated in his letter published
October 1s) that UsO should be dis
continued because 1t is no longer needed.
How wrong he is!
Besides working for my living q Gov
ernment employee I have given almost
1000 hours Of my time in volunteer work
at one Of the larger USO clubs here in
Washington, and still am on active
duty" there as worker at the informa-
ton desk, hostess in charge Of the USO
lounge, and chairman Of the Hospital
Committee. In other words, I know
from experience how the situation
stands in all phases of USO work.
Our hostesses Volunteers) work with
the STAFF in planning 4 constant pro-
cession of different types OF recreation
for the servicemen, and they always see
their efforts well rewarded by the large
number of servicemen in attendance,
who obviously are enjoying themselves.
Our information workers (volunteers
alb have taken special training courses
for the work they do and serve hectic
three-hour shifts, answering hundreds
of questions concerning an astonishing
variety of subjects. Would they continue
to do that volunteer work if they no
longer were needed? No. The knowledge
of their experience and training being
needed makes them stay on the job.
We do not have any strikes for higher
pay, for our pay comes fl I'm the relieved
look or gratefully murmured: Gee,
thanks!" when We have helped solve \
problem, or planned q sightseeing trip,
or mapped out 4 recreational program
for those precious minutes Of q service
mans weekend in town; and that kind
of pay always is plentiful in our work.
II you think 1t is easy to come to 4
strange city Especially Washington I,
fnd your way around, get yourself \
room, and have some fun-and all that
on the "shoe string" that = serviceman's
pay allows him for such-you are think
ing wrongly, that's al.
These boys who are in the service
now need USO guidance and help and
fun more in many ways than did the
boys in the service during the war.
The hospitals need recreational as
sistance, too-and are getting 1T through
cooperation between the hospital rec
reational director, the Red Cross and
the UsO-a pooling of resources and
talent. Visit any one of the military
hospitals in the Washington area and
you will see why feel my time spent in
helping to plan and carry out recrea-
tional programs in hospitals ID well
worth the time and effort.
oh, no The USOs need has not dis
sipated. Take away its functions and
facilities now and you take away the
one anchor, the one sure source OF
friendliness, sympathy and help that
thousands Of boys-many Of whom are
away from home for the first time
rely on in the USO. "A home away from
home" is our creed-and that Is what
the servicemen say the USO is.
Is 1t too much to ask that 1t be
continued, when its existence depends
on 80 little from 80 many? Can the
American citizens comfortably face the
thousands of lonesome bewildered, even
bitter men and boys they will turn out
ron the streets to hunt down fun and
recreation and places to eat and sleep,
,1s,6<
Surely If the volunteer workers can
continue to give their time and energy
and then also give their money during
4 campaign, the average citizen can
manage to give few of his dollars for
his neighbors' sons.
MISS JEAN HANCOCK.
Urges Admission of Deserving
To the Editor Of The Star:
I was struck by the article in your
issue of October Is headed: "47 Eston-
ians Excluded by u 8. Remain Aboard
Boats in Miami"
There is no doubt that Americas s i'm
migrate laws need immediate revision.
America is the loser when she denies
entrance to folk Of such hardy endur-
ance and courage. They have suffered
for their freedom. They know the
meaning of freedom, which some within
our own borders have forgotten.
Your article should have been in q
box on Page instead of back on B-7.
America needs to be much more hos
pitable than that to people fleeing from
tyranny. How about urging Congress to
revise the immigration laws to admit
more deserving Orientak and Euro
peans?
HORACE C. LUKENS.