(Image courtesy of United Service Organizations)
The mission of the USO is to strengthen the well-being of US military service members and their families by keeping them connected to home, family, and country. We do this through offering support, creating connections, and providing entertainment from the moment service members sign up. We are there for them during deployments, changes of duty station, and as they transition back to civilian life. The USO provides a “home away from home” via centers, programs, and volunteer opportunities worldwide.
I spoke with an active-duty Soldier, a retiree, a military spouse, and a USO volunteer. They told me their life stories, what first brought them into the USO, and what brings them back. Here, I will be sharing their experiences, to celebrate members of the military community that we serve and illustrating the impact of the USO’s efforts.
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PFC Ansley White (Photo courtesy of USO Camp Walker)
22-year-old PFC Ansley White arrived in South Korea in June, the humidity of Daegu a strong reminder of her home back in Florida. Ansley loves baking, nature, and traveling – the latter being one reason why she joined in the military in March 2024. Coming from a military family, Ansley’s relatives have served the Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force. She ultimately opted to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps by joining the army – he served his country for 30 years, retiring as a First Sergeant. Ansley, a 25 Hotel, is stationed at Camp Walker as a member of the 41st Signal Battalion at United States Army Network Enterprise Center (USANEC) Walker.
Being stationed in South Korea has been exciting for Ansley, but it was an adjustment when she first arrived: this is her first time out of the United States. For many young Soldiers like Ansley, their first duty station may be OCONUS – an exciting opportunity to see the world, but certainly different from what they’ve known before. This is a moment for the USO to be a friendly face that welcomes them to a new duty station. This greeting can involve providing maps to help newcomers navigate the installation, a tour of the center’s amenities, or letting the visitor know about exciting upcoming programs.
Ansley made her first visit to USO Walker while on lunch break, visiting with her supervisor, who is himself a daily visitor. She found the experience to be, “very welcoming, comforting – I could relax and take a break. We’re on a smaller base, so I’m glad we have a place to relax, as we don’t have many of those”. Since then, Ansley has become a frequent patron. She enjoys talking to the staff, glad that she has people here who she can chat with outside of work – all while enjoying a sweet treat!
To Ansley, the USO offers a place for Soldiers like herself to feel at home, offering resources and entertainment.
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John Behrend “JB” (Photo courtesy of USO Camp Walker)
John Behrend, known in the community as “JB”, was born in 1947 at Bremerton Naval Hospital, Washington. His father was in the Navy, meaning that JB’s childhood was spent in various locations: WA, CA, HI, and Japan. After graduating high school, JB enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1967 and is a veteran of the Vietnam War; he recalls spending his 21st birthday in the jungle. JB’s career as a Marine was spent mostly overseas as a member of the 3rd Marine Division, serving in Japan and South Korea. Retiring in 1994 as an E-9, JB looks back on his 26 ½ years served with well-deserved pride, stating that he “would do it all over again”. Following his service, JB was hired, on the Marine Corps’ birthday, to work at Camp Casey for FMWR. Since then, he has worked at what was once Camp Hialeah (Busan) and Camp Henry (Daegu).
JB is well-known throughout USAG Daegu for his love of baseball, usually wearing a Samsung Lions jacket. His love of the sport goes back to when he played back at James Madison High School, in Portland OR. One of his team members was Rick Wise, who would go on to play for the Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox – the winning pitcher for the Red Sox in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series. On Camp Walker, JB has been a huge supporter of the installation’s Middle High School Baseball Teams. Alongside this, JB plays an active role in the region’s Veterans of Foreign Wars. He has lived in Daegu since 1995 with his wife.
JB’s first USO experience was at Camp Kim at Yongsan Garrison. He notes that Camp Walker’s USO did not open until 2009. As a retiree, JB is grateful to the USO for its support of active-duty service members. From his first visit, he felt the USO was a home away from home, saying that “they do a lot of great things”. He particularly appreciates it being a place where he can find “camaraderie with others who serve or have served – you meet some real great people”. He often attends USO events and programs, loving the atmosphere and seeing service members, their spouses and young children enjoying themselves. Above all, one of JB’s favorite things about visiting is the verbal greeting of “Welcome to the USO!”.
Staff and volunteers have quickly come to know JB on a personal level. He will almost always ask for a bag of trail mix and a bottle of water from the snack bar. However, JB says that while “it’s nice to get a free snack, that’s not the main reason I come here. I get to talk to young Soldiers, and find out what they’re looking for, what their goals are… I can pass on my experiences and valuable information, especially for those about to retire. Why keep my experiences to myself? Why not share them with others?”.
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Ella Jeirles (Photo courtesy of USO Camp Walker)
Ella Jeirles’s husband, a 1SGT for 498th Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), has been in the US Army for 16 years. This is their 6th duty station, and first time overseas, far from their home state of Pennsylvania. Ella is enjoying her time in South Korea, exploring the country and enjoying Korean cafes, either with her family or the friends she has made on base. She truly values a sense of community, living at Camp Walker with her husband and four sons.
When she first arrived in South Korea, however, Ella was overwhelmed by the huge move. The life of a military spouse can be simultaneously nerve-wracking and rewarding. While it offers opportunities to encounter new places, friends and experiences, there are also moments of uncertainty. This involves everything from permanent change of station moves to adjusting to life with a deployed service member spouse. Finding your footing at a new duty station, whether CONUS or OCONUS, can be challenging. Ella recalls, “The very first time I came to the USO, I was very upset, but the manager helped me out a lot. I was new here and overwhelmed, but she gave me the resources I needed… for the bus, the schools, she helped me feel at ease. She shared some of her experiences with me. It helped calm my nerves… She was smiling”.
Along with the staff and volunteer interactions, Ella comes back to the USO for events and programs such as Coffee Connections, Story Time, and Trivia Night. Coffee Connections is a USO core program that takes place all over the world, connecting military spouses like Ella through various fun activities. However, she also is grateful that she and her family can relax at the center, by watching movies on the comfy couches or playing board games.
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Tess Conrad (Photo courtesy of USO Camp Walker)
Tess Conrad has been a USO volunteer for a little less than a year. Originally from Seoul, Tess has also lived several places in the United States, such as New York City, NY and Killeen, TX as her father served in the military. Moving around gave her an affinity for traveling, discovering different cultures and life stories. She loves movies and other art forms that showcase these diverse experiences.
After moving back to South Korea with her parents, Tess searched for volunteer opportunities that would help her build a sense of community. She decided on the USO as it was a place that was always there for her family while they traveled. A friend of hers was already a USO volunteer and helped her with the onboarding process. Tess was happy to discover that volunteering at the USO gave her exactly what she was looking for: the opportunity to be part of and support the military community. For Tess, “there’s a fulfillment that comes from being able to make even a small difference. I’m able to use my interests, like drawing, to contribute to the USO while also learning new skills myself”. Tess has become one of USO Walker’s Specialized Volunteers – contributing her art and calligraphy skills to create eye-catching displays for the center’s upcoming events.
Tess notes that while she enjoys the day-to-day interactions of center operations, a notable memory for her is when USO Walker celebrated the US Army’s 250th birthday. Tess assisted other volunteers in preparing food for the party; “I don’t have much experience cooking myself, so it was super fun to learn new recipes. The celebration went smoothly with all the staff and volunteers coordinating to provide efficient service. Towards the end, we shared the cake with all the visitors, eating every last bit off the cardboard. That day was filled with lots of laughter, inside jokes, and community; I feel it was representative of my experience as a USO volunteer”.
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While our community here at Camp Walker is a small one, it is the greatest reward to be able to get to know our patrons and volunteers. The opportunity to share stories, experiences, and talents, all under one roof, speaks to the ever-important need for supporting and strengthening the morale of our troops and their families. We are a place where active-duty Soldiers, like Ansley, can relax on their work break and share stories of their families back home. Retirees, like JB, can find camaraderie and offer guidance to those who are serving or have served. Military spouses, like Ella, can connect with others in their community, and enjoy the amenities with their families. And volunteers, like Tess, can take pride in playing a huge role in creating such a space. Thank you to Ansley, JB, Ella, and Tess for sharing your stories!
