Hollywood legend Edward G. Robinson was the first American actor to tour the front with the United Service Organizations (USO), a non-profit charitable organization that provides live entertainment to members of the United States Armed Forces. It was founded during World War Two. Robinson is pictured in Normandy in August 1944 with US troops promoting treasury bonds to support the war effort.

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Bob Hope (1903–2003) -

Bob Hope was for many years another name associated with the USO. The comedian is seen entertaining a crowd of soldiers stationed in the South Pacific in 1944.

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Judy Garland (1922–1969) -

Judy Garland entertains civilian employees at the Philadelphia Navy Yard during a War Bond drive in Pennsylvania in 1944.

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Bing Crosby (1903–1977) -

Crooner Bing Crosby makes good use of a flatbed truck as a stage to perform for troops in Europe in late 1944.

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Fred Astaire (1899–1987) -

Song and dance man Fred Astaire finding his feet performing on stage for American soldiers at Versailles, during a USO show for the troops near Paris in September 1944.

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Mickey Rooney (1920–2014) -

Mickey Rooney imitates some Hollywood actors for an audience of Infantrymen of the 44th Division, US Seventh Army during a trip to Germany in 1945. Rooney was a member of a three-man unit making a jeep tour to entertain troops in the last days of the Second World War.

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Marlene Dietrich (1901–1992) -

German-born American actress and singer Marlene Dietrich in fine voice for US troops in 1944 during a tour of Europe.

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Irving Berlin (1888–1989) and Marlene Dietrich (1901–1992) -

Dressed in army garb in Italy in 1944 are composer Irving Berlin and Marlene Dietrich during a break from entertaining US troops.

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Bette Davis (1908–1989) -

Bette Davis chats with a group of African-American servicemen at a USO event in August 1942. The actress was happy to sign autographs and inspect a uniform or two.

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Al Jolson (1885–1950) -

Al Jolson entertaining US troops at Pusan Stadium during his visit to the Korean War front in September 1950. The entertainer died shortly after his return from this tour.

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Bob Hope (1903–2003) -

Bob Hope on stage performing his routine for British troops in England during World War Two.

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Marilyn Monroe (1926–1962) -

In February 1954, Marilyn Monroe flew to South Korea to entertain US troops during a lull in the Korean War. Monroe made the diversion to South Korea while honeymooning in Tokyo with Joe DiMaggio.

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Marilyn Monroe (1926–1962) -

The most-envied tank crew in South Korea takes Marilyn Monroe for a ride before her show in front of troops during her visit in February 1954.

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Martha Raye (1916–1994), Caroll Landis (1919–1948), and Kay Francis (1905–1968) -

Entertainers Martha Raye, Caroll Landis, and Kay Francis ask a local for directions in a staged publicity shot as they drive toward Algiers for a show during the Second World War.

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Sammy Davis Jr. (1925–1990) -

Sammy Davis Jr. in full swing on stage at USAF Base Lakenheath in Suffolk, England in 1960.

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Raquel Welch (1940-2023) -

Raquel Welch dances on stage with a group of soldiers during a Bob Hope USO show at Da Nang, Vietnam, in 1967.

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Ann-Margret -

It's entertainment time for 20,000 GIs in Long Binh, South Vietnam, as Ann-Margret performs a song and dance routine during Bob Hope's annual Christmas concert for servicemen overseas in December 1968.

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Nancy Sinatra -

Similarly, a smiling Nancy Sinatra performs for members of the First Infantry Division in Bien Hoa, South Vietnam, in 1967.

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Bob Hope (1903–2003) -

Bob Hope, seen here in 1970, quips with American GIs in Vietnam, "I hear you guys are interested in gardening here. Our security officer said a lot of you guys are growing your own grass." Hope, who emphasized that he did not smoke marijuana, often spiced up his shows in Vietnam with jokes about the drug.

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John Wayne (1907–1979) -

John Wayne tours then-Saigon with Captain Peter Dawkins of the US Army during the actor's tour of the city to meet troops in 1966. He used the visit in part as research for his 1968 movie 'The Green Berets.'

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Jay Leno -

Jay Leno performs for the Marines and sailors aboard the USS Iwo Jima in Bahrain. Leno was in the region to entertain US troops participating in Operation Desert Shield in 1990.

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Bob Hope (1903–2003) -

Entertainer Bob Hope was still performing well into his eighties when he met military personnel at the USO Christmas Tour, Operation Desert Shield during the Gulf War in 1990 in Saudi Arabia.

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Salma Hayek -

Salma Hayek salutes with a smile during USO's 1999 "Operation Starlift" at the Hollywood Bowl in California.

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Jennifer Lopez -

Jennifer Lopez sings in front of the flag for US military personnel at Ramstein Air Base in Germany in December 2001.

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Robin Williams (1951–2014) -

Robin Williams entertains troops at Baghdad airport in December 2003. Williams poked fun at military life and world politics during his routine for hundreds of troops.

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Arnold Schwarzenegger -

Arnold Schwarzenegger entertains US soldiers at the U.S. LSA (Logistic Support Area) Anaconda Balad airfield near Baghdad, Iraq, in 2003.

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Kid Rock -

US troops at Baghdad International Airport are treated to a concert by Kid Rock in June 2003 as part of the USO Tour.

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Stephen Colbert -

US General Ray Odierno, Commanding General, Multinational-Force-Iraq, about to give a haircut to comedian Stephen Colbert during his performance for US military personnel at Baghdad's Al Faw Palace in June 2009.

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Nicki Minaj and Katy Perry -

Nicki Minaj and Katy Perry perform on stage during 'VH1 Divas Salute the Troops' presented by the USO at the MCAS Miramar in December 2010 in Miramar, California.

Sources: (USO) (Words Without Borders)

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Edward G. Robinson (1893–1973) -

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Bob Hope (1903–2003) -

Bob Hope was for many years another name associated with the USO. The comedian is seen entertaining a crowd of soldiers stationed in the South Pacific in 1944.

Getty Images

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Judy Garland (1922–1969) -

Judy Garland entertains civilian employees at the Philadelphia Navy Yard during a War Bond drive in Pennsylvania in 1944.

Getty Images

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Bing Crosby (1903–1977) -

Crooner Bing Crosby makes good use of a flatbed truck as a stage to perform for troops in Europe in late 1944.

Getty Images

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Fred Astaire (1899–1987) -

Song and dance man Fred Astaire finding his feet performing on stage for American soldiers at Versailles, during a USO show for the troops near Paris in September 1944.

Getty Images

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Mickey Rooney (1920–2014) -

Getty Images

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Marlene Dietrich (1901–1992) -

German-born American actress and singer Marlene Dietrich in fine voice for US troops in 1944 during a tour of Europe.

Getty Images

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Irving Berlin (1888–1989) and Marlene Dietrich (1901–1992) -

Dressed in army garb in Italy in 1944 are composer Irving Berlin and Marlene Dietrich during a break from entertaining US troops.

Getty Images

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Bette Davis (1908–1989) -

Bette Davis chats with a group of African-American servicemen at a USO event in August 1942. The actress was happy to sign autographs and inspect a uniform or two.

Getty Images

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Al Jolson (1885–1950) -

Al Jolson entertaining US troops at Pusan Stadium during his visit to the Korean War front in September 1950. The entertainer died shortly after his return from this tour.

Getty Images

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Bob Hope (1903–2003) -

Bob Hope on stage performing his routine for British troops in England during World War Two.

Getty Images

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Marilyn Monroe (1926–1962) -

In February 1954, Marilyn Monroe flew to South Korea to entertain US troops during a lull in the Korean War. Monroe made the diversion to South Korea while honeymooning in Tokyo with Joe DiMaggio.

Getty Images

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Marilyn Monroe (1926–1962) -

The most-envied tank crew in South Korea takes Marilyn Monroe for a ride before her show in front of troops during her visit in February 1954.

Getty Images

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Martha Raye (1916–1994), Caroll Landis (1919–1948), and Kay Francis (1905–1968) -

Entertainers Martha Raye, Caroll Landis, and Kay Francis ask a local for directions in a staged publicity shot as they drive toward Algiers for a show during the Second World War.

Getty Images

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Sammy Davis Jr. (1925–1990) -

Sammy Davis Jr. in full swing on stage at USAF Base Lakenheath in Suffolk, England in 1960.

Getty Images

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Raquel Welch (1940-2023) -

Raquel Welch dances on stage with a group of soldiers during a Bob Hope USO show at Da Nang, Vietnam, in 1967.

Getty Images

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Ann-Margret -

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Nancy Sinatra -

Similarly, a smiling Nancy Sinatra performs for members of the First Infantry Division in Bien Hoa, South Vietnam, in 1967.

Getty Images

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Bob Hope (1903–2003) -

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John Wayne (1907–1979) -

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Jay Leno -

Jay Leno performs for the Marines and sailors aboard the USS Iwo Jima in Bahrain. Leno was in the region to entertain US troops participating in Operation Desert Shield in 1990.

Getty Images

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Bob Hope (1903–2003) -

Entertainer Bob Hope was still performing well into his eighties when he met military personnel at the USO Christmas Tour, Operation Desert Shield during the Gulf War in 1990 in Saudi Arabia.

Getty Images

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Salma Hayek -

Salma Hayek salutes with a smile during USO's 1999 "Operation Starlift" at the Hollywood Bowl in California.

Getty Images

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Jennifer Lopez -

Jennifer Lopez sings in front of the flag for US military personnel at Ramstein Air Base in Germany in December 2001.

Getty Images

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Robin Williams (1951–2014) -

Robin Williams entertains troops at Baghdad airport in December 2003. Williams poked fun at military life and world politics during his routine for hundreds of troops.

Getty Images

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Arnold Schwarzenegger -

Arnold Schwarzenegger entertains US soldiers at the U.S. LSA (Logistic Support Area) Anaconda Balad airfield near Baghdad, Iraq, in 2003.

Getty Images

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Kid Rock -

US troops at Baghdad International Airport are treated to a concert by Kid Rock in June 2003 as part of the USO Tour.

Getty Images

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Stephen Colbert -

Getty Images

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Nicki Minaj and Katy Perry -

Nicki Minaj and Katy Perry perform on stage during 'VH1 Divas Salute the Troops' presented by the USO at the MCAS Miramar in December 2010 in Miramar, California.

Sources: (USO) (Words Without Borders)

Getty Images

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Stars who have entertained the troops

Celebrities singing and joking for the Armed Forces

17/07/24 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY Entertainment

The founding in 1941 of the United Services Organizations (USO) to provide live entertainment to members of the United States Armed Forces and their families saw celebrity movie stars and singers perform for military service personnel in the Second World War, and later in Korea and Vietnam. Troops were also entertained during the Gulf War. It's a tradition that continues today, with big name stars following in the footsteps of celebrities from yesteryear and happy to do their bit to boost morale and help raise a smile.

Click through for a nostalgic look back at the stars who have entertained the troops.