USO's Blog

USO Ready to Serve 35,000 More with New Center In South Korea
- Posted on 04.09.09
USO Daegu, the organization’s 138th center, will open to a military population of more than 35,000 on March 31. Located on Camp Walker, the newest center also will serve troops and their families stationed at Camp Carroll, Camp George, Camp Henry and other installations including Busan, Kunsan, Chinhae and Kwangju. USO Daegu is the fifth South Korean center, opening less than two months after the new Osan Air Base USO Center.

“This new center on Daegu will allow us to better serve troops and their families in the southern region of the Korean peninsula,” said Sloan Gibson, USO president. “We are delighted to bring USO services and programs back to this area, lifting the spirits of service members and their families. We thank our sponsors and the Daegu community for helping us open our doors once more to those who unselfishly serve our country."

Visitors of the 5,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art hub will enjoy a relaxing lounge area and fully stocked snack bar. Computer work stations with free e-mail and Internet connectivity will help troops stay in touch with family and friends, while the 14-person theater room and Nintendo® Wii™ gaming area will give guests things to do during their time off. In addition to programs like USO Operation Phone Home® and the United Through Reading® Military Program, USO Daegu will sponsor USO Korea’s “Good Neighbor Program,” where students and instructors from local communities visit with American students on Camp Walker, and the “Virtues Development Program,” which gives service members the opportunity to mentor Korean grade schools students.

“The USO is home away from home to our service members and we’re excited to show our appreciation for the many sacrifices they make,” said Tom Kolstad, USO’s Vice President for the Pacific. “This wouldn’t have been possible without the sweat equity of the community, the vision provided by Col. Michael Saulnier, Garrison Commander for Camp Walker and the total support from everyone in the Daegu area.”

For more than 68 years, the USO has been the military’s home away from home, providing morale, welfare and recreation programs and services to troops and their families worldwide. As a private, non-profit organization, the USO relies on the generosity of the American people to support its vital work. Other USO programs include Operation USO Care Package, USO2GO, USO In A Box, Operation Mail Call, Pro vs GI Joe, MEGS, the Mobile USOs, Operation Enduring Care and USO CarePages.

Tags: uso, south korea