FROM DANCE STUDIOS TO WAR ZONES Growing up in a musical family, Julieann’s love for performance began at an early age. At 12, her grandparents enrolled her in dance lessons, which ignited a passion that would shape the rest of her life. Little did she know this early love for the arts would lead her to become one of the youngest entertainers to perform with the USO during World War II. In 1945, at just 16 years old, Julieann came across an advertisement in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch calling for
performers to audition for USO Camp Shows. Thousands of girls from across the St. Louis area answered the call, but Julieann, fueled by determination and a desire to contribute to the war effort, took the bold step of auditioning. “I was supposed to be 18, but I was only 16,” she admits with a laugh. “We were poor during the Depression, and everyone had to work. Sometimes that meant bending the rules.” Julieann’s courage paid off. Out of thousands of hopefuls, she was selected as one of only four girls to join the “Foxhole Circuit,” a group of performers who would travel to military bases around the world to entertain troops. Her journey took her far from home- across the country, overseas, and into harm’s way.
ENTERTAINING THE TROOPS
In those days, USO performances were not just shows — they were lifelines. As Julieann’s troupe made its way from New York City to San Francisco, then across the Pacific to Guam, Manila, and beyond, they knew their presence offered more than entertainment. It was a brief escape from the horrors of war, a fleeting moment of joy amid the chaos. Their first stop, Guam, left an impression on the young performer. The sight of wounded soldiers, many missing limbs or severely burned, was something she would never forget. Yet, amid the tragedy, Julieann and her fellow performers worked tirelessly to uplift the soldiers’ spirits. “We visited hospitals and saw things we never thought we’d see,” Julieann recalls, her voice thick with emotion. “Men without arms and legs, burn victims, and those who had been released from Japanese prison camps. You never get over that.” Despite the emotional toll, Julieann remained committed to her mission, visiting soldiers in the hospital and serving in the mess halls. She formed deep connections with the soldiers, many of whom wrote letters praising the performers for bringing a bit of joy to their otherwise grim reality. “Our shows became a symbol of normalcy for them,” she says. “It was not just about singing or dancing. It was about giving them a moment to forget the war.”
CEDARHURST SENIOR LIVING | SPRING FLOURISH 2025 9
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