Those of you who remember a beautiful blonde movie
star during the thirties by the name of Joan Blondell raise your
hand? I sure do and I remember her during WW 2 and what she did for
our guys....
For example, during a a six months USO tour she told a group of
girls while resting...
"You keep going because you can's let the boys down. You laugh when
you want to cry, and act happy when you are so sad inside when you
want to cry inside it hurts.|"
On a trip to Camp Polk, Louisiana, alone, Blondell granted 150
dances to 150 boys.
Aside from performing, she rode tanks and fired guns... once even
shooting a live round from a M7.
A soldier who assisted her described the aftermath: "black grease
covering her blonde hair, her .pale face and almost the entire front
of her formerly white, form fitting suit jacket."
"Boy, did she make a lasting impression... !"
Yes, many girls (and guys) on USO tours all over the world, Bob Hope
and his entertainers, ditto. In the States "Canteens" in large
cities and small ones, too. Free, of course, to all Soldiers and
Sailors who showed up... Did I forget 16 piece Orchestras... "Count"
Basie, Woody Herman, Kay Kaiser, and more.
The way everyone helped one another. The "Greater Generation" they
called us. I'll have a beer to that. I'll be right back......
