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The USO in T2K

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  • #1

    The USO in T2K

    Hi everyone,

    I remember there was a T2k website dedicated to the 'Last USO' show that was going on right before the nukes went off, stranding the entertainers in Europe.

    It's had me wondering... Has anyone else thought of doing anything like that with NPCs or PCs showing up in their game?

    One of the ideas I had for the USO was that it was still being operated by the various theater commanders as a way to keep morale up for both military and civilians in their areas of responsibilities. Thus i can see them keeping travelling USO shows operating in Europe and most especially in North America. It would be something that both CivGov and MilGov would be doing (and you could actually see troops/civlians wondering why certain celebs don't come and visit their cantonments/towns).

    I have been trying to come up with how they would set up the USO show convoys... I had originally thought of the USAF personnel being assigned to handle the security of the convoys. composed of personnel from those aircraft squadrons no longer having fuel to put them in the air. You'd have officers and enlisted personnel capable of handling their security with some assistance of a little Army or Marine infantry training.

    I had origainlly promosed USAF personnel being assigned to rear support duties manning things like Guntrucks to provide security operations, prior to enlisted personnel finding themselves being assigned to Army Infantry Divisions as replacements/reinforcements to bring them back up to some simbulance of strength (while the Naval personnel found themselves being funneled into Marine divisions after a crash training regimen type of bootcamp).

    But back on target... USO Shows during the Twilight.

    The kinds of adventures this kind of NPC encounter would be vast. a 'superstar' NPC meeting a PC and having a 'star-crossed romance' or even opposition groups trying to find a way to damage morale by targeting the 'on-the-road' USO shows with terror attacks.
    Fuck being a hero. Do you know what you get for being a hero? Nothing! You get shot at. You get a little pat on the back, blah blah blah, attaboy! You get divorced... Your wife can't remember your last name, your kids don't want to talk to you... You get to eat a lot of meals by yourself. Trust me kid, nobody wants to be that guy. I do this because there is nobody else to do it right now. Believe me if there was somebody else to do it, I would let them do it. There's not, so I'm doing it.
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  • #2
    Great post. Lots to mull over for the next few days.

    Originally posted by natehale1971 View Post
    Hi everyone,

    I remember there was a T2k website dedicated to the 'Last USO' show that was going on right before the nukes went off, stranding the entertainers in Europe.
    Semi related, I think I remember someone at RPGhost doing something with survivors of a movie crew who were stranded in Europe. The only details I remember was there were a bobybuilder, a Pamela Anderson type, a stuntman, a cameraman, plus a few others, and most of their weapons were capable of only firing blanks.

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    • #3
      Originally posted by kato13 View Post
      Semi related, I think I remember someone at RPGhost doing something with survivors of a movie crew who were stranded in Europe. The only details I remember was there were a bobybuilder, a Pamela Anderson type, a stuntman, a cameraman, plus a few others, and most of their weapons were capable of only firing blanks.
      I remember that. There was a very informative discussion about the differences between blank firing attachments and movie firearms that are specially made to fire blanks only.

      In my campaign when Major Po and his sociopath squad arrived in Bremerhaven he organised an all-services martial arts tournament at a soccer stadium in an attempt to keep US servicemen and women from getting bored until the Omega fleet left. Unfortunately it became a focus for a massive amount of dodgy activity (mainly illegal gambling and attempted fixing of bouts).

      Things came to a head when my brother's PC (the 6'5", 230lb American Samoan US Marine Corporal Urana Ratowi) made it to the final bout of the highest weight class and beat his opponent to death in the ring. It turned out that the referee (a US Army officer) had a lot of gold bet on Ratowi's opponent and he tried to shoot Ratowi. Ratowi disarmed the ref and beat him to death too, sparking a massive riot. It took a day and a half for the MPs and security units to get things under control again and Po and his group barely made it out of the stadium alive.

      The only decent short story I ever wrote about that campaign was about that tournament and the days leading up to it. I'll go through my old archives and see if I can find it and post it here.
      sigpic "It is better to be feared than loved" - Nicolo Machiavelli

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      • #4
        Does anyone have any ideas how a USO show would be organized?
        Fuck being a hero. Do you know what you get for being a hero? Nothing! You get shot at. You get a little pat on the back, blah blah blah, attaboy! You get divorced... Your wife can't remember your last name, your kids don't want to talk to you... You get to eat a lot of meals by yourself. Trust me kid, nobody wants to be that guy. I do this because there is nobody else to do it right now. Believe me if there was somebody else to do it, I would let them do it. There's not, so I'm doing it.

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        • #5
          USO Show Table of Organization

          Entertainers (13):
          1x Host
          2x Comedian
          1x Troupe of Actors or Singers (5)
          1x Band (5)
          1x Lead Guitar
          1x Rhythm Guitar
          1x Bass Guitar
          1x Drummer
          1x Keyboard

          Crew (10):
          1x Producer
          1x Director
          1x Stage Manager
          1x Audio Engineer
          1x Master Electrician
          1x Light Board Operator
          1x Followspot Operator
          1x Master Carpenter
          1x Property Master/Mistress
          1x Wardrobe Mistress/Master

          Assigned Military Personnel (31):
          1x Military Liaison Officer (Captain)
          1x Military Police Platoon (20)
          1x Military Motor Pool (10)
          2x M128A1 Van (Equipment Transport)
          2x M915 Tractor
          2x M35A2C Cargo Truck (Transport for civilians)
          3x M998 HMMWV Troop Carrier
          2x M820 Van Expandable Truck (1 Change Room and 1 Audio and Light Booth)

          Total: 54 People and 10 Vehicles
          Last edited by Canadian Army; 12-25-2009, 05:23 AM.
          "You're damn right, I'm gonna be pissed off! I bought that pig at Pink Floyd's yard sale!"

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          • #6
            Thank you Canadian Army! This helps alot! the only thing i would change/add would be a troupe of dancers or cheerleaders. because the USO shows during WW2 had Bob Hope surrounded by some really beautiful dancers.

            Originally posted by Canadian Army View Post
            USO Show Table of Organization

            Entertainers (13):
            1x Host
            2x Comedian
            1x Troupe of Actors or Singers (5)
            1x Band (5)
            1x Lead Guitar
            1x Rhythm Guitar
            1x Bass Guitar
            1x Drummer
            1x Keyboard

            Crew (10):
            1x Producer
            1x Director
            1x Stage Manager
            1x Audio Engineer
            1x Master Electrician
            1x Light Board Operator
            1x Followspot Operator
            1x Master Carpenter
            1x Property Master/Mistress
            1x Wardrobe Mistress/Master

            Assigned Military Personnel (31):
            1x Military Liaison Officer (Captain)
            1x Military Police Platoon (20)
            1x Military Motor Pool (10)
            2x M128A1 Van (Equipment Transport)
            2x M915 Tractor
            2x M35A2C Cargo Truck (Transport for civilians)
            3x M998 HMMWV Troop Carrier
            2x M820 Van Expandable Truck (1 Change Room and 1 Audio and Light Booth)

            Total: 54 People and 10 Vehicles
            Fuck being a hero. Do you know what you get for being a hero? Nothing! You get shot at. You get a little pat on the back, blah blah blah, attaboy! You get divorced... Your wife can't remember your last name, your kids don't want to talk to you... You get to eat a lot of meals by yourself. Trust me kid, nobody wants to be that guy. I do this because there is nobody else to do it right now. Believe me if there was somebody else to do it, I would let them do it. There's not, so I'm doing it.

            Comment

            • #7
              The Bob Hope Shows in the '80s and in DESERT SHIELD (offshore shows) had the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. He went to the ships offshore supporting the Marines in Beirut, West Berlin, Okinawa, Korea, etc., even though there was no war going on. DESERT SHIELD was his last overseas tour.
              Treat everyone you meet with kindness and respect, but always have a plan to kill them.

              Old USMC Adage

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              • #8
                Ok, but here is a picture of the Liberty Bells troupe of the Metropolitan New York USO. The one in the middle is Miss USO

                "You're damn right, I'm gonna be pissed off! I bought that pig at Pink Floyd's yard sale!"

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by Canadian Army View Post
                  Ok, but here is a picture of the Liberty Bells troupe of the Metropolitan New York USO. The one in the middle is Miss USO

                  This works great... My idea for a troupe of 'generic' USO Singers that would be the most common type of traveling USO Show to keep up morale. Then you'd have 'big name' USO shows that would have 'bigname' actors, signers and bands who'd be going out and hitting very selected areas.

                  Having the Liberty Belles doing a series of singing and dancing acts would be prefect for the highly mobile USO shows i'm thinking of using...

                  the 'big name' USO Shows would have the same organization, with just the addition of the big name talent to the show.

                  I'm trying to come up with a good modern era host/comedian that would live up to the example set by Bob Hope. I've really been thinking of using Scottish-American comedian Craig Ferguson or Drew Carey.

                  But if anyone has some good suggestions I'm more than open for them... Because the existance of smaller and highly mobile USO shows would mean alot of different hosts and acts that could easily mean some fictional celebs. .
                  Fuck being a hero. Do you know what you get for being a hero? Nothing! You get shot at. You get a little pat on the back, blah blah blah, attaboy! You get divorced... Your wife can't remember your last name, your kids don't want to talk to you... You get to eat a lot of meals by yourself. Trust me kid, nobody wants to be that guy. I do this because there is nobody else to do it right now. Believe me if there was somebody else to do it, I would let them do it. There's not, so I'm doing it.

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    I have been doing some research and think a change out for the motorpool that would have a double duty for the USO show would be two M977 HEMTT cargo trucks with M1076 Palletized Load System Trailers. Not only would the HEMTT cargo trucks be able to carry all of the show's equipment & stage backdrops/sets, and once the trailers are unloaded when they have arrived where the USO show would be set up... They could be used as the stage for the show. This would also have the ability to save resources since the show wouldn't have to keep building stages every time they would set up.
                    Fuck being a hero. Do you know what you get for being a hero? Nothing! You get shot at. You get a little pat on the back, blah blah blah, attaboy! You get divorced... Your wife can't remember your last name, your kids don't want to talk to you... You get to eat a lot of meals by yourself. Trust me kid, nobody wants to be that guy. I do this because there is nobody else to do it right now. Believe me if there was somebody else to do it, I would let them do it. There's not, so I'm doing it.

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      This article has a good list of those who've performed recently for the USO
                      Page Not Found (404) | USA TODAY
                      http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2005-12-22-uso-cover_x.htm


                      Comedians for the USO - real-world

                      There is a real-world group called "Comics on Duty"

                      Stephen Colbert has recorded his show to a USO audience

                      Al Franken

                      Robin Williams

                      Drew Carey


                      Other (foreign) candidates that might work in the canon period
                      Rick Mercer (Canadian. well-known for supporting Canadian troops) http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/174660

                      Billy Connolly (British & proud veteran of the Territorial Army)

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        i've decided to go with Craig Ferguson as the 'Bob Hope' of the 'Twilight War' in 'Twilight of Innocence'... While Robin Williams is 'Bob Hope' of the 'Twilight War' druing the standard 1st Edition universe of T2K. I think Both men have the comedic talent and ability to pull it off, though, i really, really doubt we'll ever see anyone fill Bob Hope's shoes.
                        Fuck being a hero. Do you know what you get for being a hero? Nothing! You get shot at. You get a little pat on the back, blah blah blah, attaboy! You get divorced... Your wife can't remember your last name, your kids don't want to talk to you... You get to eat a lot of meals by yourself. Trust me kid, nobody wants to be that guy. I do this because there is nobody else to do it right now. Believe me if there was somebody else to do it, I would let them do it. There's not, so I'm doing it.

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          On a side note Wayne Newton has taken Bob Hope's role within the USO
                          I will not hide. I will not be deterred nor will I be intimidated from my performing my duty, I am a Canadian Soldier.

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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by rcaf_777 View Post
                            On a side note Wayne Newton has taken Bob Hope's role within the USO
                            I read about that... he's recuriting as many entertainers as possible for USO shows... i was meaning someone to host shows in the middle of combat zones like we saw during WW2 in both Europe and the Pacific. since Craig Furgusson is also a comedian he'd be great to act as the host, to get that 'feel' we saw with Bob.
                            Fuck being a hero. Do you know what you get for being a hero? Nothing! You get shot at. You get a little pat on the back, blah blah blah, attaboy! You get divorced... Your wife can't remember your last name, your kids don't want to talk to you... You get to eat a lot of meals by yourself. Trust me kid, nobody wants to be that guy. I do this because there is nobody else to do it right now. Believe me if there was somebody else to do it, I would let them do it. There's not, so I'm doing it.

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                            • #15
                              "Everything is going up at home: prices, taxes and miniskirts. Miniskirts are bigger than ever. Even some of the fellas are wearing them. Don't laugh! If you had thought of it, you wouldn't be here." - Bob Hope, South Vietnam, 1971

                              "The men (here) wear long robes and the women are completely covered. The wedding nights are full of surprises, I'll tell you that." - Bob Hope, Bahrain, 1990
                              Fuck being a hero. Do you know what you get for being a hero? Nothing! You get shot at. You get a little pat on the back, blah blah blah, attaboy! You get divorced... Your wife can't remember your last name, your kids don't want to talk to you... You get to eat a lot of meals by yourself. Trust me kid, nobody wants to be that guy. I do this because there is nobody else to do it right now. Believe me if there was somebody else to do it, I would let them do it. There's not, so I'm doing it.

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