USO Highway Number 2 Club

The United Service Organizations (USO) was formed a few months before the United States entered World War II when six civilian organizations joined forces to coordinate their civilian war efforts. Those organizations were: the Salvation Army, the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), the Knights of Columbus, the National Travelers Aid Association, the National Jewish Welfare Board, and the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA). The USO was incorporated in January 1941. Its mission was to meet the armed forces’ educational, recreational, religious, social, and entertainment needs. The goal was to make the USO facility a “Home Away From Home” for soldiers, military members, and their families.

The AP Hill Military Reservation was established in 1941 as a training area for the US Army. The first field exercises were held on the training grounds in June 1941. In October, a USO facility was built in the Court House Square of Bowling Green, VA. In May 1943, a large detachment of African American troops arrived at Fort AP Hill for pre-combat training. Because of the segregationist policies of the times, these servicemen were not allowed to use the Court House Square USO facility. Members of the African American community volunteered their services to fill the void.

Soldiers were in the community when the Director arrived. Mrs. Elijah Upshaw and her husband were entertaining them at their home. He put long benches under the shade tree in the front yard. Parties were arranged. Mrs. Mary Banks and the faculty of Union High School were entertaining the boys in their homes and in the auditorium of the school. Negro church people were furnishing Sunday dinner for many. (Source: Historical Record of USO No. 2 Highway Club at Bowling Green VA Reported by Otto N. Carr – Director. Kautz Family YMCA Archives University of Minnesota Libraries)

On May 21, 1943, the Caroline County School Board agreed to donate one acre of land on the property of Union High School to the United States government to construct a recreational facility for African American soldiers. On June 16, 1943, the YMCA was authorized to begin operating the facility. The USO facility opened the next day in its temporary location at Union High School with Reverend Otto N. Carr as the Director.

An Operating Committee comprised of professional and business community members was organized. Members of the committee were:

• Dr. R.B. Philips (physician)
• Rev. Liston Leander Davis (minister)
• James Monte (farmer)
• Mrs. Mary Banks (teacher)
• Mrs. C.N Bennett (teacher)
• Rev. E.L.R. Guss (minister)
• George B. Ruffin (principal Union High)
• George Davis (grocer)
• Joseph H. Johnson (teacher)

Operations moved to the new USO Highway No. 2 Club facility on November 1, 1943. The facility was a one-story building consisting of a lounge, office, writing room, powder room, men’s room with showers, auditorium, two storage rooms, two coat check rooms, and a snack bar.

In addition to Reverend Carr, other staff members were:

• Miss Evelyn Guss (secretary)
• Mrs. Clinice Guss (office assistant)
• Miss Marguerite Davis (snack bar attendant)
• Lemuel Taylor, Eli Upshaw JR., and David Saunders (custodians)

A dedication ceremony for the facility was held on August 8, 1944.

Volunteers were essential to the successful operation of the facility. Some of the volunteers were: Some of the volunteers were:

• Mr. and Mrs. Elijah Upshaw, of DeJarnett, VA, (carpenter and housewife)
• Mr. and Mrs. James .E. Luckie of Bowling Green, VA. (teacher and housewife)
• Miss Mary Edward of Bowling Green, VA. (Undertaker)
• Miss Bessie Mclntosh, of Bowling Green, VA (Teacher)
• Mrs. Gladys Todd, of Fredericksburg, VA (Housewife)
• Miss Virginia Jackson, of Bowling Green, VA (Teacher)
• Miss M. Davis of Bowling Green, VA (Student)
• Miss. Pauline Jordan of Bowling Green, VA (Student)
• Mrs. Pauline DeLoche of Bowling Green, VA (housewife)
• Miss Louise Berry of Bowling Green, VA.(Student)

Volunteers planned and hosted a variety of activities for the soldiers. Various forms of entertainment included recitals, lectures, dances, and movies. There were also numerous recreational activities, such as softball, basketball, and ping pong.

In addition to entertainment and recreational activities, the facility also provided personal services. Staff members assisted soldiers and visiting families unfamiliar with the area. They also helped soldiers with family and financial matters. Sometimes they just offered a listening ear to a soldier dealing with the stress of war and being far away from home.

A very cold Sunday Night in December 1943. A solider received a message of the death of his wife. He was en route to the military Area. We were open. We served him coffee at 11PM. The solider talked over long distance to his mother. He left the building feeling some[what] better. (Source: Historical Record of USO No. 2 Highway Club at Bowling Green VA Reported by Otto N. Carr – Director. Kautz Family YMCA Archives University of Minnesota Libraries)

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