Oral History Interview with Elizabeth Robinson

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents a monologue by Elizabeth Robinson. Robinson was born in Sabine, Texas. In the mid-1930s she moved to New York and became a Broadway dancer. Beginning in May of 1941 Robinson performed with the United Service Organizations (USO) traveling shows, under the name Betsey Berkley. By 1949 the USO Camp Shows, Inc. was formed and designated by the Navy and War Departments as official entertainment for the men and women of the armed forces. In 1945 Robinson traveled overseas to New Guinea, Biak, the Philippines Islands, and Korea in 1946. Robinson describes how the organization was formed, their travels, their uniforms, how she became an integral member and her experiences performing for the service men and women