Stories
Stories from USO Japan
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USO Sasebo Spotlight: GSM1 Rhoan Sahagun
GSM1 Rhoan Sahagun, a dedicated Gas Turbine System Technician in the U.S. Navy, has been proudly serving his country for over 20 years. In …
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Rookie & Penny: The Paws Behind "Therapy Tails" at USO Yokosuka
Before departing USO Yokosuka, former Center Operations Coordinator Storie Maurial-McDorman had one last mission: to bring the comfort and …
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Celebrating Nine Years of Service: Dalia’s Journey with USO Japan
Meet Dalia, a USO staff member whose journey with the USO in Japan has been nothing short of incredible. For over nine years, Dalia has ded…
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Dr. Opal Lee Inspires at Yokosuka: A Day of Connection and Motivation
Dr. Opal Lee, affectionately known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” made a memorable visit to Yokosuka on her recent trip to Japan. Her …
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USO Japan’s 2023 Salute to Service Awards
On November 9, 2023, the USO Japan Area Office honored 14 outstanding individuals from U.S. and Japanese service branches. Guest of honor w…
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The USO recently went on tour with comedians Iliza Shlesinger, Laura Peek Comedy and Hunter Hill.
Our incredible team has been on a journey filled with joy, humor, and unforgettable memories. We recently embarked on a tour with some of t…
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USO Yokota Partner with Japan Ground Self-Defense Force for Special Women's Cultural Exchange Event
USO Yokota Partner with Japan Ground Self-Defense Force for Special Women’s Cultural Exchange Event In a heartwarming display of camaraderi…
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USO Yokosuka moms-to-be welcomed Heidi Murkoff at the officer club in Yokosuka.
A baby shower is a special time full of family and friends celebrating the upcoming birth of a baby and honoring the soon-to-be mother. So…
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USO Day at the Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel
The rain didn’t stop us! USO Day at the Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel was created to boost the morale of Service Members and their famili…
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PRIDE Celebrations with USO Yokota and USO Yokosuka
USO Yokosuka was so excited to participate in CFAY’s first Pride March and Festival. USO Yokota was proud to support the 2021 Pride Parade …
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USO Yokosuka Carnival
USO Yokosuka had a blast enjoying a mini carnival with the community. Kicking off the summer with popcorn, snow cones, cotton candy, and ga…
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USO Japan National Donut Day
National Donut Day was celebrated by USO Japan. Donuts were enjoyed by Teachers & Staff across the Iwakuni schools, USO Sasebo enjoyed gues…
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USO Iwakuni National Say Something Nice Day
It was National “Say Something Nice Day” to spread some kindness in the world. Using chalk, USO Iwakuni volunteers wrote encouraging words,…
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USO Sasebo's Fully Belly Friday
Slice, slice baby! During USO Sasebo’s Full Belly, staff and volunteers served over 100 slices of pizza to service members and their famili…
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USO Yokosuka Graduation Lunch
USO Yokosuka held an outdoor lunch for the Graduating Class of 2021. Hot dogs and chips, cap and gowns, volunteers and students were all ex…
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USO Japan Outreach Coffee Connection
USO Japan hosted Coffee Connections at NAF Atsugi for the Military Spouses of NAF Atsugi and Camp Zama. After participating in rounds of “F…
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USO Sasebo's Mental Health Awareness Month Event
In celebration of Mental Health Awareness month, USO Sasebo along with several organizations throughout CFAS hosted a Mental Health Awarene…
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USO Iwakuni and USO Sasebo Olympic Games
Let the games begin! In celebration of the 2020 Olympics, USO Sasebo and USO Iwakuni hosted its own Backyard Olympics. Participants enjoyed…
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Celebrating Our USOvation Awardee
USO Yokosuka Center Manager, Lou Braxton, was awarded the USOvation Award on May 28th. Lou has gone above and beyond in serving the Yokosu…
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USO Pacific RVP Visits USO Yokosuka
On May 8th, USO Pacific’s Regional Vice President, C.K. Hyde, paid a visit to USO Yokosuka and Yokota. He provided insight to volunteers w…
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USO Yokota Celebrating Earth Day
Earth Day was on April 22nd and Tot Time for USO Yokota. Tables were set up outside of the center, where supplies such as pots, seeds, dir…
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Volunteer Appreciation Week at Iwakuni
Volunteers are important to the USO because they help the USO carry out the mission, which is to connect service members to their families …
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Welcoming Home Service Members
We’ve heard that saying before, “Sailors belong on ships, and ships belong at sea”. Well, it is always nice to welcome home sailors from t…
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Thanking Our Camp Fuji Volunteers
Our volunteers help us fulfill the mission of the USO. They also help maintain the centers during after work hours, to allow service membe…
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Operation That's My Dress
With the help of USO Japan and USO Pacific, USO Iwakuni was able to bring Operation That’s My Dress to young women for their high school pr…
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USO Iwakuni Serving the Community
To show their appreciation towards the first aid responders, security forces team, and employees throughout the base, USO Iwakuni delivered…
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Outreach Opportunity at Misawa Air Base
Our mission at the USO is to connect service members to their families and home. Not all base locations have USO facilities to support ser…
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Showing Our Thanks to Our Volunteers
USO Sasebo hosted a Volunteer Appreciation Party for their volunteers on March 15th. Our volunteers help support the USO mission of connec…
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Adopt-a-Unit at Iwakuni
USO Iwakuni decided to whip up Backyard Style BBQ for service members from a unit on March 13th. Adopt-a-Unit is when the USO provides mea…
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Regional Vice President Pays a Visit to Iwakuni
Our centers are the heart of mission delivery across the Pacific Region. One of our very own USO Japan Employees was recognized as the Are…
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USO Yokosuka Provides Information about USO Pathfinder®
On February 28th, Center Manager for USO Yokosuka, Lou, attended the ‘Hiring Our Heroes Fair’ in Yokosuka. While there, Lou was able to di…
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Big D & Bubba Tour Japan
Special Guests payed a visit to mainland Japan to perform for our service members and families. Big D & Bubba are radio hosts, and also ha…
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A Day in Iwakuni's Shoes
USO Iwakuni was quite busy on February 28th, hosting a Family Movie Night and delivering two Operation Birthday Cake requests. The first b…
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USO Japan Hosts a Virtual Bingo Night
USO Japan hosted a virtual Bingo night at various USO and outreach locations. All four USO Japan locations participated in this event, as …
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Brunchin' with USO Yokota
USO Yokota hosted a ‘Brunchin’ with the USO’ on February 10. This brunch opportunity occurs monthly on a weekend to allow service members …
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Yokosuka Celebrates USO's 78th Birthday
On February 4, 1971, the United Service Organizations was formed. 78 years later, on February 4, 2019, the USO turned 78 on Superbowl Mond…
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USO Sasebo Welcomes AU to the Center
On January 31, sponsors from AU/KDDI visited the USO Sasebo centers. As a not-for-profit organization, the USO has relied on the generosit…
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Iwakuni's Volunteer of the Month
On January 23, USO Iwakuni congratulated their volunteer of the month, Marsha James. Here is why Marsha loves volunteering with the USO, an…
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USO Yokosuka Celebrates Sailor of the Year
USO Yokosuka hosted a Luncheon for Sailors of the Year on January 15. The Yokosuka staff helped celebrate the Seventh Fleet Sailors of the…
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USO Japan Providing for Outreach Locations
There are only 4 USO Center’s on Mainland Japan, not to include the USO Area Office. There are a number of Outreach Locations where USO Ja…
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Santa Pays a Visit to Sasebo
The holiday season was busy in Sasebo, and was fortunate enough to have Santa Claus pay a visit on December 22. With help from the volunte…
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USO Iwakuni Delivers a Birthday Cake
USO Iwakuni was able to surprise a service member with a cake requested from their family member back on the mainland. This program is cal…
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USO Japan Gives Back to the Yokosuka Post Office
On December 20, USO Japan brought Domino’s Pizza, Drinks and Chips to the hard working team at the Yokosuka Post Office. Yokosuka Post Off…
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USO Yokota Welcomes All for a Christmas Breakfast
With the holiday season in plain sight, Yokota wanted to celebrate and provide something special to those in the area with families, or tho…
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Holiday Party Invite for USO Iwakuni
On December 16, staff from USO Iwakuni attended the Holiday Party for Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Detachment Iwakuni (AIMD Iwakuni). …
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Paint Night at Yokosuka
USO Yokosuka hosted a Holiday-Themed Paint Night called “Christmas Card on Canvas” on December 8. USO Yokosuka’s Center Manager, Lou Braxt…
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USO Japan Brings the Spa to Camp Fuji
Christmas arrived early at Camp Fuji where USO Japan treated the women stationed there with a Spa-La-La-La-La-La Event on December 6. This…
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Pizza is Served at Yokota
USO Yokota surprised service members with a pizza party on December 4. The hungry airman were all attached to the 374th Communications Squ…
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Japanese Cooking Lesson at USO Yokosuka
USO Yokosuka hosted a Japanese Cooking Lesson on November 28. One of our All-Star Volunteers, who was also Volunteer of the Month for Nove…
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Sasebo Hosts a 2-Day Long Thanksgiving Event
On November 21 & 22, USO Sasebo hosted a Thanksgiving Dinner Event for both days consecutively. The center was able to serve over 200 serv…
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Thanksgiving Dinner at USO Iwakuni
On November 20, USO Iwakuni hosted a community Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings. The Center Staff and volunteers contributed to t…
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USO Iwakuni Hosts Tot Time
USO Iwakuni held their monthly Tot Time on November 6, with a Thanksgiving Day theme. Parents and their children were invited to the center…
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Trick-Or-Treating at USO Yokota
USO Yokota opened their doors to over 200 military families for a Halloween Kiddie Party on October 27. USO Yokota had provided 25 pizzas …
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Mystery Kitchen at USO Sasebo
On October 27, USO Sasebo hosted their first Chef vs. Chef, Mystery Kitchen Edition at the Community Education Center (CEC). There were fo…
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3rd Annual Ladies’ Fall High Tea & Hat Party
Dozens of ladies gathered on October 25 for a women’s wellness tea and hat party hosted by USO Yokosuka. There were 5 keynote speakers who…
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Halloween Themed Tot Time at Iwakuni
USO Iwakuni hosted a Tot Time event on October 9, 2018 at the MCAS Iwakuni’s USO Center. Tot Time is a program that provides families with …
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Golf Par-Tee at Yokota
Service members and their families were able to participate in 9 holes of golf at Par-3, the on base golf course and driving range on Octob…
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USO Yokosuka Serving Tacos
For lunch on 6 October 2018, USO Yokosuka served up Italian Sausage tacos with red peppers and onions. It’s no secret that our patrons like…
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Yokota Delivers Random Snacks of Kindess
USO Yokota staff and volunteers in partnership with Yokota Red Cross, delivered “random Snacks of Kindness” on October 3. Together we have …
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Pizza Party in Sasebo
On September 28, USO Sasebo held a Domino’s Pizza Party for Port Operations personnel. This event was held in support of Port Ops personnel…
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Fandom Day in Yokosuka
Entering the Fall season, USO Yokosuka ended the month of September with a Mini Comic-Con Event. On September 28, 2018 USO Yokosuka hosted …
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Spouse Networking Event in Iwakuni
On September 26, 2018 at 6pm-9pm USO Iwakuni hosted a Spouses Networking program. This month’s theme was Bunco Night, which is a popular di…
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USO Yokota hosted Game Night
USO Yokota invited military and family members to their Game Night on September 25, 2018. This event provided a fun and exciting night of t…
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USO Show Troupe Visit Sasebo
Performing live annually for more than thousands of service members and their families, the USO Show Troupe travelled from afar to perform …
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USO Japan's 2018 Service Salute Gala
On 8 September 2018, USO Japan honored 18 service members from the US Military and the Japanese Self Defense Forces and they honored the US…