The DeRidder USO was built for the same reasons as all other United Service Organizations; to provide a relaxing atmosphere to members of the armed forces. The building is located at 250 Seventh Street and is across the street from the present day Beauregard Memorial Hospital.

NRHP listing

The DeRidder USO building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 25, 1992.

History

The DeRidder USO opened November 28, 1941, was accepted by the United Service Organization on December 1, 1941, and served permanent party and visitor members of the armed services of the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 from DeRidder Army Air Base

Beauregard Regional Airport

Beauregard Regional Airport is a public use airport in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is owned by Beauregard Parish and is located three nautical miles southwest of the central business district of De Ridder, Louisiana...

, as well as Camp Polk.

More than 500 USO's were built for our service men during World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 and some in foreign lands. What sets this one apart is that it was the first USO not built on a military reservation and built specificately for, and donated to, the USO. The second USO in Galveston

Galveston, Texas

Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...

 opened 24 hours later.
Civic Center

Civic center

A civic center or civic centre is a prominent land area within a community that is constructed to be its focal point or center. It usually contains one or more dominant public buildings, which may also include a government building...

 records show that 89,000 soldiers visited the DeRidder USO, 15,000 had showers, and 27,000 saw movies during the time it was an active USO.

Current

The building now serves as the community

Community

The term community has two distinct meanings:*a group of interacting people, possibly living in close proximity, and often refers to a group that shares some common values, and is attributed with social cohesion within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household...

 Civic Center for Beauregard Parish. Plaques commemorating Generals Bradley

Omar Bradley

Omar Nelson Bradley was a senior U.S. Army field commander in North Africa and Europe during World War II, and a General of the Army in the United States Army...

, Mark Clark

Mark Wayne Clark

Mark Wayne Clark was an American general during World War II and the Korean War and was the youngest lieutenant general in the U.S. Army...

, Eisenhower

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...

, Marshall

George Marshall

George Catlett Marshall was an American military leader, Chief of Staff of the Army, Secretary of State, and the third Secretary of Defense...

 and Patton

George S. Patton

George Smith Patton, Jr. was a United States Army officer best known for his leadership while commanding corps and armies as a general during World War II. He was also well known for his eccentricity and controversial outspokenness.Patton was commissioned in the U.S. Army after his graduation from...

, along with their pictures, hang on the walls near the entrances of meeting halls named in their honor. Fort Polk or Louisiana does not have a USO at this time.