LAS VEGAS, Nev. — In the 1960s, Bob Hope and host of other up and coming performers of the day embarked on USO tours to entertain U.S. servicemembers serving their nation in the most remote regions of Southeast Asia. Thirty years later, the story is the same as the USO continues to perform shows around the globe bringing a piece of America home to servicemembers serving their nation in an array of peacetime and combat billets around the globe.
Aviation Nation 2005—The Las Vegas-Nellis Air Force Base Air Show will host its own USO Show Nov. 12-13 as part of the national kickoff for Operation Welcome Home—a year-long celebration to publicly honor, thank and recognize America's 2.7 million Vietnam veterans.
"The USO is excited to be part of Operation Welcome Home," USO president and CEO Edward Powell said. "Vietnam veterans have added immeasurably to this country, and it is well past time to recognize them for their contribution to the United States."
Spearheading the USO Show is drummer turned actor Mickey Jones who toured Vietnam with Ann-Margaret, Johnny Rivers and Chuck Day in 1966. Jones, who is the celebrity ambassador for Operation Welcome Home, has volunteered to produce the show. He has also donated use of his unseen collection of 8mm film from the tour to Operation Welcome Home. The film, which has been digitally re-mastered and edited by the Aviation Nation Foundation's award-winning media production team, will be used during the USO Show and numerous other videos being produced for the event.
"My time with the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines in Vietnam had a profound effect on me and who I am today," said Jones, the son of a World War II U.S. Navy pilot and one of the largest supporters of veterans and military causes in the nation. "I cannot put into words what it means to me to be a part of Operation Welcome Home and give back to the men and women to so valiantly served our nation in Southeast Asia. It's a tremendous honor and I will give it my all—just like each and every one of them did over 30 years ago."
Performers for the Aviation Nation USO show include recording artists Hank Brake and Paulette Carlson who have a passion for Vietnam veterans and have donated their time to be with them this weekend.
Hank Brake was born and raised in North Carolina and comes from a family that cherishes music. He recorded "Thank You," written by Daniel Smith, in honor of all past and present members of our Armed Forces, but most especially for his uncle, U.S. Army 1st. Lt. Kenneth Slaughter who was killed in Vietnam in 1970. "Thank You" is the official theme song for Operation Welcome Home.
"I finally found a way to say thank you to my uncle for his service to our country. I only wish he was here so I could shake his hand and say it to him personally," said Mr. Brake. "My goal is to have any American who has ever worn the uniform, past or present, to hear the song and understand just how much we appreciate their duty to country and sacrifices they and their families make while defending our freedom. I am especially honored to be a part of thanking those who served with my Uncle Ken in Vietnam."
Singer/songwriter Paulette Carlson helped start Highway 101 and has had numerous hits over the years including "Whiskey If I were a Woman," "The Bed you made For Me," "Somewhere Tonight," "Cry, Cry, Cry," and "Just Say Yes" to name just a few. She has recently come out of retirement and is donating her time to perform during the USO Show at Aviation Nation.
Inspired by her late brother a Vietnam veteran who was a medic with the 82nd and 173rd Airborne she wrote this single, "Thank You Vets" which appears on her new country CD "It's About Time." She's committed to seeing that the song is heard not only by the Vietnam veterans who inspired it, but also heard by their families and the entire country country.
"When I wrote the song "Thank You Vets" in the fall of 2004, I realized that this piece of music came with responsibility and that it was a song that needed to be heard," Ms. Carlson said. With the help of my many friends, this CD came easily together. The album is not only dedicated to the memory of my brother Gary, but all our Vietnam veterans and service men and women of the Vietnam era."
More information on the USO Reunion Show and performers will be released as it becomes available.
Nov. 10-13, Las Vegas and Nellis Air Force Base will host a four-day national kick-off for Operation Welcome Home—a one-year celebration to publicly honor, thank and recognize America's 2.7 million Vietnam veterans. The culmination of a nine-month local celebration which began in Mesquite, Nev., Feb. 10-13.
Aviation Nation 2005—The Nellis Air Force Base-Las Vegas Centennial Air Show, Nov. 12-13; a visit by The Moving Wall Nov. 10-13; the Las Vegas Operation Welcome Home Veterans Day Parade Nov. 11; and a free nightly Operation Welcome Home Patriots Party at Las Vegas' Fremont Street Experience Nov. 11-13.
For nearly 65 years, the USO has been providing morale, welfare and recreational services to U.S. military personnel and their families. The USO is a nonprofit, charitable organization, relying entirely on the generosity of the American people to support its programs and services. The USO operates more than 120 centers around the world, including Europe, the Pacific and in Southwest Asia. For more information about the USO and its programs, please visit www.uso.org.
This news is released by Aviation Nation Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit, non-Federal organization with the mission of promoting American airpower through support of annual air shows at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. ANF does not intend to imply official endorsement of the U.S. Air Force or any other government agency.