13. The development of the USO Camp Shows began early in the war
Following the success of the first USO Camp Show, which visited American Caribbean bases in 1941, formal plans for touring shows developed. Four distinct touring programs were prepared by their parent organization, the USO, as individual USO Camp Shows. The touring programs, otherwise known as circuits, were the Victory Circuit, the Blue Circuit, the Hospital Circuit, and the Fox Hole Circuit. All were tasked with providing live entertainment for the military. Providing stateside entertainment fell to the Victory and Blue circuits. Foxhole circuit entertainers were assigned the task of traveling to the overseas bases and fronts to entertain the troops, while the Hospital Circuit troupes visited the wounded and offered what solace they could. As more and more American service personnel deployed overseas, more and more entertainers joined all four of the circuits.
Some American troops in Italy were being entertained by actress Marlene Dietrich when she learned of the Allied landings at Normandy. She announced the landings to her audience, to wild applause. Within days she was in France, entertaining the troops who had landed at Normandy. Despite her German background, she was one of the most tireless and popular of the USO entertainers throughout the war. Another was Bob Hope, whose dedication to the USO and the troops became a legend during his lifetime. He continued to support American troops during overseas deployments until the 1990-91 Persian Gulf War, more than 50 years of dedication to the American military. During World War II, singer Dinah Shore was another popular entertainer who gave selflessly of her time and money, and the troops flocked to hear her wherever she appeared.