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The USO - An Army of Volunteers

This 45 min. documentary tells the story of the USO, (United Service Organizations) stemming from the earliest days during the American Civil War, through World War One, finally becoming a real organization in 1941. The Veterans of all recent wars tell their experiences, as do the volunteers, who often did without, to bring the food on the table, for our servicemen. The centers in North Platte, Hattiesburg, New York City, Korea, Vietnam, Europe during the Cold War, the Gulf war and Afghanistan are described. Simple soldiers of WW II, to a Vietnam Medal of Honor recipitent, each tell their part of a complex story. Naturally, the volunteers of each period come forth to descrbe their feelings. House wives who spend hours cooking, famous stars who donated their time to entertain the troops and naturally the sponsors that made it all possible, for the USO to provide for our soldiers, until every last one comes home.

  • John Provan III
    Director
  • Harald Kuntz
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    45 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    March 12, 2018
  • Production Budget:
    11,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Germany
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Distribution Information
  • Johnprovan@gmx.net
    Country: Germany
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - John Provan III

Dr. John Provan
Kelkheimer Str. 29A
65779 Kelkheim
GERMANY
Tel.: 01149 (0) 6195 61350
Cell.: 01149 (0) 177 6135000
Email: Johnprovan@gmx.net

As to my Person:
Born on July 26, 1956, in Steubenville, Ohio
Living presently in Kelkheim, Germany
Married since 1989

Education:
1962-65 Kaiserslautern Grade School, Kaiserlautern
1965-68 Colorado Public School, Colorado Springs, CO
1968-69 Sembach Junior High School, Sembach AB
1970-74 Kaiserslautern American High School, Kaiserslautern
1974 Christopher Newport College, Newport News, VA
1974-79 University of Maryland, Heidelberg, BA in History
1985 Johann W. Goethe University, Frankfurt
1986-94 Technical University, Darmstadt, MA in Modern History
1996-01 Technical University, Darmstadt, PhD in History of Architecture

Seminars:
-Feb. 9-12, 1993: Disney University, Walt Disney World: „The Disney Approach to Creative Leadership“
-2005: “Die magische Dreieck”- zum Verhältnis von Kuratierung,
Museumspädagogik und Gestaltung, Thomas Morus Akademie, Köln.

Books which I have written:
-1991 ”The Chiemsee Hotels, from Adolf Hitler till Today”, 50 Seiten, Anton Plenk Verlag,
Berchtesgaden, 2nd Printing 1996
- 1993 ”The Frankfurt Airport, Portrait of a European Airport”, 88 Seiten, Anton Plenk Verlag,
Berchtesgaden
- 1996 CD-Rom, ”Do-X”, DMV Verlag, Piong
- 1997 ”The Berlin Airlift, the Aircraft and the Effort – the Largest Humanitarian Airlift in
History”, 80 Seiten, Paladwr Press, McLean, Virginia
2nd Printing 2005
3rd Printing 2008
- 1998 ”The Big Lift – 50 Jahre Luftbrücke”, 180 Seiten, Temmen Verlag, Bremen
- 2000 ”AFN- The Story of the American Forces Network”, 324 Seiten, LZC, Kelkheim
- 2003 2 CD set- “AFN 60th Anniversary”
- 2007 „LZ 127- Graf Zeppelin kehrt zurück“, Deutsche Post AG, Bonn, 192 Seiten mit CD.
- 2007 RUCO- 150 years creating the future, 44 Seiten
- 2008 “Elvis Presley in Germany, 1958 – 1960”, 26 Seiten
- 2009 „Ferdinand Graf Zeppelin: Der Luftfahrtpionier und sein Konzern“, Delius Klasing
Verlag, Bielefeld, 160 S.
- 2011 E-Book: „History of Rhein-Main Air Base“, VR-Fabrik
- 2011 E-Book: „Hindenburg- a Ship of Dreams“, VR-Fabrik
- 2011 E-Book: „Childhood in Post-War Germany / Kindheit in der Nachkriegsjahren“,
VR-Fabrik
- 2011 E-Book: „Kindheit in den Nachkriegsjahren“, VR-Fabrik
- 2011 E-Book: „Der Flughafen Frankfurt, von der ersten Ballonfahrt bis heute“, VR-Fabrik
- 2011 E-Book: „Berlin Airlift- the First Battle of the Cold War“, (Vol. 1), VR-Fabrik
- 2011 E-Book: „Berlin Airlift- the Task Forces Times“, (Vol. 2), VR-Fabrik
- 2011 E-Book: „Berlin Airlift- the Men that made the Airlift work“, (Vol. 3), VR-Fabrik
- 2011 E-Book: „LZ-127 Graf Zeppelin- the Story of an Airship, VR-Fabrik
- 2012 E-Book: the Wright Brothers –a study of early aviation using a comparative method,
VR-Fabrik
- 2012 Ap (Apple): „Obersalzberg-Hitler’s Mountain“, VR-Fabrik
- 2013 „President John F. Kennedy- Ich bin ein Berliner“, Berlin Story Verlag, 98 Seiten,
ISBN 978-3-86368-112-8
- 2013 E-Book „John F. Kennedy in Germany: „Ich bin ein Berliner“ 0-945794-24-X
- 2018 "Kelkheim in der Zeit des Nationalsozialismus- eine Spurensuche", Societäts Verlag, Frankfurt.

Displays that I have organized:
- 1983 „Chicago, Century of Progress“; Neu Isenburg
- 1984 „Clara Adams“; Frankfurt International Airport
- 1984 „Von der ILA zum Weltflughafen“; BFG Bank
- 1986 „Berlin, 1936 Olympics“; Neu Isenburg
- 1987 „Eine Reise nach Berlin“; Technik Museum, Berlin
- 1988 „150th Birthday of Count von Zeppelin“; Frankfurt International Airport
- 1989 „Airship Sheds“; Royal Architectural Society, London
- 1991 „Otto Lilienthal“; Frankfurt International Airport
- 1994 „The Humanitarian Airlifts from Rhein-Main AB“; Frankfurt International Airport
- 1997 „150th Anniversary of Thomas A. Edison, an Inventor who changed our World“, Frankfurt International Airport
- 1998 „50th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift“; ILA, Berlin, 18 – 24 May
- 1998 „50th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift“; Frankfurt Historical Museum
- 1998 „50th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift and the Role of CARE“; Gropius Passage,
Berlin, 25 – 27 June
- 1998 „50th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift“; Hamburg International Airport
- 1998 „50th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift and the USO“, Federal Building, Baden-Wurtemburg, Stuttgart, 1 – 16 Nov.
- 2000 "The Zeppelin in Art, Design and Advertisement", Frankfurt International Airport, 11 May – 30 July
- 2000 "The Airship Parade in Bad Homburg", Kronhof, Bad Homburg, 26 Aug. –
3 Sept.
- 2000 "The Zeppelin in Art" Europa Park, Rust, 17 - 21 Sept.
- 2001 "The view from an Airship", Kronhof, Bad Homburg, 25 – 26 Aug.
- 2001 "The view from an Airship", Europa Park, Rust, 20 – 23 Sept.
- 2001 "60 Years USO", USO- Kurhaus, Wiesbaden, 29 Sept.
- 2002 "11 September – Ground Zero", Frankfurt International Airport,
12 Sept. – 30 Jan. 2003
- 2002 Land Combat Expo- Historical Display "1776 to present", 24 – 26 Sept.
- 2002 "Lufthansa and the Frankfurt Airport", Hessen State Office, Berlin,
3 – 10 Oct.
- 2002 "Charles Lindbergh", USO- Kurhaus, Wiesbaden, 5 Oct.
- 2003 "60 Years AFN", theme at USAFE Talent Competition, Sembach AB, 7 – 12 April
- 2003 "60 Years AFN", Historische Museum, Frankfurt, 26 March – 27 July
- 2003 "Flugplatz Rebstock – Frankfurt's First Airport", Kronhof, Bad Homburg, 16 Aug.
- 2003 Land Combat Expo- Historical Display "From the Cold War to present", 9 – 11 Sept.
- 2003 "100 Years Wright Brothers", Hamburg Air Classics, 13 – 14 Sept.
- 2003 "60 Years AFN", Hessen State Office, Berlin, 25 Sept. – 24 Oct.
- 2003 "60 Years AFN", USO- Kurhaus, Wiesbaden, 3 Oct.
- 2003 "100 Years Wright Brothers", Bodensee Messe, Friedrichshafen,
31 Oct. – 2 Nov.
- 2003 "100 Years Wright Brothers", Frankfurt International Airport,
11 Nov. – 15 March 2004
- 2003 "60 Years AFN", Frankfurt International Airport, 11 Nov. 2003 – 15 Aug. 2004
- 2004 "The War on Terrorism- our Fighting Soldiers", 3rd COSCOM, Wiesbaden AAF, 21 Feb. – 1 September
- 2004 "60 years Normandy" for the USO presentation at Omaha Beach, 6 June 2004
- 2004 Wright presentation at "Die Kunst zu fliegen", NRW Forum, Düsseldorf, 9 July – 19 Sept. 2004
- 2004 "Wood Working in Kelkheim", in the City Museum of Kelkheim, 15 May –
- 2004 Land Combat Expo- Historical Display, Heidelberg 27 – 30 Sept.
- 2004 "Wright Brothers" at EuroMold Fair, 1 – 4 Dec. 2004
- 2005 "Ferien vom Kalten Krieg" (Kinderlifts) Alliied Museum, Berlin, Jan. – April
- 2005 "30 Years Stuttgart USO", Stuttart City Hall, 2 – 22 March
- 2005 „Der Zeppelin in Stereo“, Luftschiffparade, Kronenhof, Bad Homburg, 20.8.05
- 2005 Land Combat Expo- Historical Display, Heidelberg, 21. - 23.9.05
- 2005 “Meilensteine der Fliegerei“, auf EuroMold Messe, Frankfurt 30.11.-3.12.05
- 2007 “Friedberg- Army Home of Elvis Presley“- Ray Barracks, Friedberg 15.8.07-12.09.07
- 2007 „150 Jahre- A.M. Ramp- RUCO”, Eppstein 14.9.07
- 2008 “Sgt. Elvis Presley in Germany, 1958-1960“, Alliierten Museum, Clayallee, Berlin
7.03 – 18.06.08
- 2008 “Sgt. Elvis Presley in Germany, 1958-1960”, Verkehrs Museum, Nürnberg, 30.06 –
- 2008 “60 Jahre Berliner Luftbrücke“, Stuttgart Air Field. 10.-13.07.
- 2008 “Sgt. Elvis Presley in Germany, 1958-1960“, TimePort, Bremerhaven, 1.10.-15.11.
- 2009 “Sgt. Elvis Presley in Germany, 1958-1960”, Rathaus, Wiesbaden- 30.01-29.02.
- 2009 “Sgt. Elvis Presley in Germany, 1958-1960“ Stuttgart Air Field
- 2010 „Graf Ferdinand von Zeppelin“, 7. Luftschiffparade, Kronenhof, Bad Homburg,
20.8.10
- 2010 “Kindheit in der Nachkriegszeit”, Museum Kelkheim, 8.09. – 17.10
- 2012 „Sgt. Elvis Presley in Gemany, 1958-1960“, Kelkheim
- 2012 „Berlin Luftbrücke“, Rathaus Mörfelden-Walldorf, 24.08.-14.09.2012
- 2012 „Kindheit in der Nachkriegszeit“, Kriesmuseum Wewelsburg, Büren
30.08-25.11.2012
- 2016 "75th Anniversary of the USO", Ramstein AB
- 2017 "75th Anniversary of the Stars & Stripes Newspaper", Ramstein AB

TV Documentaries which I have worked on:
- 1990 "The Blimp is Back," Michael Barnes as producer.
- 1995 "Zeppelin," the Network Group, Karin Leuthy as producer.
- 1995 "The Hindenburg", Greystone Television, Robert Beemer as producer.
- 1998 Assoc. producer of "50th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift", PBS,
Robert Fyre as producer.
- 1998 "Berlin Luftbrücke", Spiegel TV
- 1998 "Berlin Airlift, the first Battle of the Cold War", Greystone Television,
Robert Beemer as producer.
- 1998 "The Spirit of Freedom, the Berlin Airlift", USAF Production,
Richard Luckin as producer.
- 2003 AFN special: "On the Air, Over there", Kane Farabaugh as producer.
- 2004 "Hindenburg", History Channel, Becky Kelly as producer.
- 2004 SWR special on AFN
- 2005 AFN Documentary: “Rhein-Main Air Base”
- 2005 “Sterne, Streifen, Schokolade-60 Jahre Rhein-Main Air Base”,
von Oliver Schimd und Götz Schauer. (ARD / HR)
- 2009 “What went Down-the Hindenburg” (Creative Differences)
- 2010 “Als Hessen fliegen lernte- Die Geschichte der Luftfahrt”, HR (90 min)
- 2010 ”Der Hindenburg“, RTL
- 2012 “Rhein Air Base“, ARD, 29 Oktober
- 2013 “Hallo Hessen“ am 14. Juni 16:00 bis 18:00
- 2014 “Good-Bye Heidelberg“, am May 11 SWR
- 2014 “Vergessenes Hessen“ December 23 at 21:00 HR
- 2015 “Hallo Hessen“, 80th anniversary of Elvis Presley, January 8 at 16:00 to 18:00. HR
- 2015 ZDF-Info "Geheimnise des Kalten Krieg" (5 part series)
- 2018 “The USO- an Army of Volunteers”

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Director Statement

For 30 years I have supported the USO, with my time and energy, supporting our American soldiers that pass through Germany. It therefore, seemed logical that I undertake the task of producing this TV documentary. In all, we filmed some 56 individuals, soldiers, veterans and USO volunteers, that tell their stories, covering a total distance of 15,000 miles. From Normandy to North Platte, we traveled to where our interview partners were to be found. It was a honor that I could do this project and I believe it is a great story, that needs to be told.