To USO Volunteers
To USO Volunteers, 25 January 1946
As our sojourn among you draws to an end,and as you make plans for terminating your activities, we would like to express a small part of our appreciation of one of the most important community and military activities, the Pratt USO.
In order for a man to devote concentrated attention to a meticulous and highly technical job, for long hours, over a long period of time, he must have relaxation. There are many ways he can get some measure of this need. He may play basketball, volleyball, softball, bridge. He may attend movies or shows. But valuable as all these outlets are, there is nothing that quite achieves the purpose desired so much as friendly association with members of the opposite sex. Such an association is both an enjoyable and a civilizing influence.
Without the decorative and light touch contributed by the USO hostesses here that element would have been largely lacking. We do not, however, blandly assume that these ladies achieved their affect by lightly waving a wand. We know the enormous number of man and woman hours they put into their effort to keep the men lighthearted. We know it was not always easy to submerge their personal programs to be there on time, and smiling, for the many events at which they appeared. But they did - bless 'em.
For that and for all the scuffed toes they suffered on the dance floor, we want to thank them, and say that as long as American women remain as charming and as willing to help do a job, America will hold her place in the world.
Sincerely yours,
Reuben Kyle, Jr.
Colonel, Air Corps
Commanding