Along with hosting Jeopardy and being such a warm and thoughtful presence on our TV screens for decades (my siblings and I, as kids, begged our Dad to go on the show. He knew every answer. Always.), Alex Trebek also did a ton of work with the USO over the years, touring overseas to entertain American troops. I mean, look at this photo. It’s not recent! He’s been working with the USO from the jump, going on constant tours to war zones and bases around the world. Some of the soldiers he met during these tours would eventually become contestants on the show. You never heard much about these tours, did you. He didn’t publicize his work with the USO. That’s not why he did it. (This is similar to Robin Williams’ work with the USO. Williams took so many trips to Iraq that we didn’t even find out about until after he died.)
I’ve volunteered for the USO on occasion over the years and I love what they do so I just wanted to shout out this important part of Alex Trebek’s legacy.
He was a caring and generous man. The real McCoy.
Consider donating to the USO in his memory. Here are different ways you can help.
