Woodfork Genealogy

USO Highway No. 2 Club
Bowling Green (New Baltimore), VA

The United Service Organizations (USO) was formed a few months prior to the United States entering World War II when six civilian organizations joined forces to coordinate their civilian war efforts. Those organizations were: the Salvation Army, Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), the Knights of Columbus, National Travelers Aid Association, National Jewish Welfare Board, and the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA). The USO was incorporated In January of 1941. Its mission was to met the educational, recreational, religious, social, and entertainment needs for members of the armed forces. The goal was to make the USO facility a “Home Away From Home” for solider members of the military 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 for the construction of 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 consisting of members of the professional and business community 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 facility, named USO Highway No. 2 Club, 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 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 8th 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 were essential to the successful operation of the facility. They planned and hosted a variety of activities for the soldiers. There were various forms of entertainment including 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 provided assistance to soldiers and visiting families unfamiliar with the area. They also helped soldiers with family and financial matters. Sometimes they just provided a listening ear to a solider dealing with the stress of war and/or 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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The USO staff had an excellent relationship with the community. Most of the pastors from local churches served as guest speakers at the Sunday evening church services. The Director spoke at the Union High Commencement Service and was a guest speaker at the school’s chapel service on many occasions. Members of the USO, School Board and other organizations worked together to secure a contract for the facility to provide water to Union High school by allowing the school to connect a pipe to the USO facilities pumping system.

The operation was transferred from a separate operation to an XO extension of the white USO facility at Courthouse Square on February 21, 1945. The XO extension service was briefly terminated on July 31, 1945, was reactived on November 1st 1945 and continued to operate until February 23, 1947.

Whether it was a chance for a friendly game of basketball, a dance with a pretty young lady, some much needed spiritual renewal or a warm cup of coffee and a shoulder to cry on; the USO Highway No. 2 Club provided great comfort to the African American soldiers training at AP Hill during a very difficult time in their lives and truly became their “Home Away from Home”.