USO Service Member Honorees and Volunteers of the Year Recognized at the 2014 USO Gala

All six USO service members of the year on stage at the 2014 USO Gala in Washington, D.C., Oct. 17, 2014. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Daniel Hinton.

Every fall, the USO invites more than 1,000 guests to gather together and pay tribute to our men and women in uniform. This year’s annual gala in Washington, DC was attended by Members of Congress, military leadership, as well as service members and their families from around the globe. During the gala, the USO recognized service members from each military branch and volunteers who represent the epitome of valor and dedication to service.

Last week, Joining Forces was thrilled to greet the 2014 USO Service Member Honorees and Volunteers of the Year at the White House for a tour of the East Wing.

The 2014 USO Gala Service Members Honorees included the United States’:

• Army Soldier of the Year, Sergeant Andrew J. Mahoney
• Marine of the Year, Matthew E. Belleci
• Sailor of the Year, Petty Officer 1^st Class Troy A. Cromer
• Airman of the Year, John C. Hamilton
• Coast Guardsman of the Year, Petty Officer 3^rd Class Brett R. Bates
• National Guardsman of the Year, Andrew J. Mehltretter
• Volunteers of the Year LeAnn Thornton and U.S. Army Sergeant Geraldin “Thibaut” Lenkoue