Donating to the USO

The USO is the only military service charity that I donate to. Soon after I joined the Texas State Guard, I began getting solicitations from military and veteran charities. I ignored them all, as they are typically shot through with fraud, corruption, and self-serving executives and marketing staffs. When I was assigned to work as an operations analyst in the Texas Military Department, I asked my National Guard buddies about charities. They all endorsed the USO. 

The United Service Organizations, Inc. (USO) dates from 1941. It was founded as a civilian effort in preparation for America's entry into the world war of that time. Its history is famous. 

In our time, among its many services to those who serve, the USO maintains safe spaces in civilian airports where military personnel in transit can billet while they wait for connections. Sometimes, that can take days. Orders change. Orders lag. You wait. You text; you email; and you wait. And the USO is there for you and your buddies  in a lot of places around the world. 

I just sent $50 to Wikipedia for the first time in seven years. And as a professional writer, I depend on Wikipedia. I am much more generous far more frequently in answer to the solicitations from the USO. I do not respond to all of their requests. Some needs seem less immediate than others. Ask your own serving Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines what they think.

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