The USO, nationally and overseas, held dances and put on stage shows for the soldiers. Locally, the YMCA and the university held dances for the soldiers, most of whom came to Eau Claire from Camp McCoy. For about a year, in 1943, the Air Force cadets, who were attending classes at the local university, also attended these dances. 

In 1942, while stationed at Jefferson Barracks, MO, I saw what must have been one of Bob Hope's first USO shows. Francis Langford and Louise Albriton were the only other two in the show that I can remember. 

When I was flying out of Italy, Joe E. Brown entertained us with his imitation of a baseball pitcher getting hammered. He had to be a contortionist to reach the exaggerated wind-up position and to twist his mouth the way he did. It was a simple performance, but the airmen loved it. 

The Red Cross was active in many ways, particularly in England. My only contact with them came when their "club mobile" provided us with coffee and doughnuts, after each mission. The airmen were always eager to talk to an American girl, even though the girls seemed to favor the officers. 

The average GI thought that Ernie Pyle was the best war correspondent, certainly their favorite. They thought of him as one of them--he was their "buddy". After his tour in the European Theater, he transferred to the Pacific. He was killed by a sniper's bullet in 1945, just as the war was winding down.