BACK STORY

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The USO in Mobile

Photo courtesy Alabama Department of Archives and History

In 1941, the United Service Organization (USO) was formed to provide entertainment and support for service members during World War II. That spring, the Mobile chapter of the USO was established, with Mobile businessman Alfred Delchamps as chair. By the end of the year, a USO servicemen's hall opened on the corner of Government and Warren streets at the Ross House and an industrial women's hall opened at the Portier House on Conti Street. Both gave members a place for community and support during the war, as shown in the below photo from 1942. The Mobile chapter of the USO closed in the late 1950s, and many of the activities were kept alive by the YWCA well into the next decade.

Franklin D. Roosevelt enlisted the help of the following six organizati ons to form the USO: - the Salvati on Army; - the Young Men’s Christi an Associati on (YMCA); - the Young Women’s Christi an Associati on (YWCA); - the Nati onal Catholic Community Service; - Nati onal Travelers Aid Associati on; and, - the Nati onal Jewish Welfare Board These organizati ons united to care for military members and their families. The USO was formally disbanded in 1947, though operati ons conti nued during this ti me. It was formally reacti vated two years later in the wake of the Korean war.

64%

The growth of Mobile's populati on between 1940 and 1944. The infl ux was a result of those coming to work in the ports and at Brookley Field.

17,000

The number of civilians who worked at Brookley Army Air Field, cementi ng it as Mobile's largest employer during the war.

15,000

The number of Mobilians who served during World War II. Of this number, about 300 were killed in acti on.

$45,000

The amount of money raised in an early 1940s Red Cross eff ort for war relief in Mobile, led by USO chairman Alfred Delchamps. That's more than $900,000 today!

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