Al Jolson Entertains Troops in Korea, 1950
Captioned: "Al Jolson entertains troops at Pusan Stadium during his visit to the fighting front. He died shortly after his return from Koera where he gave of his talent untiringly and unceasingly. He made the trip at his own expense." In the 1940s the USO was disbanded due partly to lack of funds. However, in 1950, when the United States entered the Korean War, Secretary of Defense George Marshall and Secretary of the Navy Francis P. Matthews requested that the USO be reactivated. Many stars, both well-known and new, came to perform. Al Jolson (May 26, 1886 - October 23, 1950) was an Lithuanian-born American singer, film actor, and comedian. At the peak of his career, he was dubbed "The World's Greatest Entertainer". He was the first to volunteer and traveled to Korea at his own expense. He drove himself without letup through 42 shows in 16 days. By the end of the war, over 113,000 American USO volunteers were working at 294 centers at home and abroad. Photograph credited to Kondreck, Army, September 17, 1950.
Size: 4200px × 3480px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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