Abilene, Kansas organized its own USO-type committee early in 1942 in response to the start of World War II. A registration center designed to provide entertainment and respite for young men training for war, was established in May, 1942, entirely financed by funds received from local churches, service clubs, patriotic organizations and the entire community until absorbed into the national United Service Organization in October, 1943, which then approved the center for national funding. Approximately, 12,000 soldiers were registered between the center's opening and March, 1944.
Under the program, families with more spacious homes signed up to host enlisted men and non-commissioned officers, while those unable to provide housing willingly shared their garden produce and ration coupons with those who were hosting. The servicemen came from three central Kansas armed forces bases from May, 1942 through August 1946. The soldiers came primarily from Fort Riley, located 30 miles east of Abilene, but also from Camp Phillips (with the adjacent Smoky Hill Army Air Field) located near Salina, 30 miles to the west; and even a few sailors from the Naval Air Station located near Yoder, KS, ninety-nine miles to the southwest of Abilene. The town of Abilene provided entertainment for the men in the form of the weekly soldier dance at a hotel in town run by the American Legion and the VFW. In association with the USO, any qualifying enlisted servicemen could receive a 3-day pass and be able to enjoy some great food and entertainment in Ike's home town.
As the largest private home in Abilene, the Seelye's hosted approximately 800 such service men between May, 1942 and August 1946. Anywhere from four to as many as ten 10 servicemen were hosted at the mansion nearly every weekend and holiday during this period. The ballroom on the third floor of the mansion was the scene of dances for the soldiers staying at the Mansion, as well as soldiers staying in other Abilene homes. The Seelye's invited many young women from the area to join the festivities for the dances and socializing. The Fort Riley orchestra was often called upon to provide the music for these soirees.
As guests in a private home, the men had to follow strict rules – no smoking, no drinking, no women-and they had to be in the house by 1:00AM. It is very impressive that among all these guests...a bunch of 18–25 year-old boys preparing for a nasty war...the Seelye’s only had to expel one man for breaking these rules. That shows how well the men behaved while in this home, and the respect they had for their host family. The mansion still has a number of personal pictures and thank-you notes from these guests as well as two Guest Registry books with 806 entries showing the full names and the home city/state of each man, as well as comments on how much they enjoyed their visits. In addition, there is a large scrap book with photographs of most, if not all, of these guests. What is even more impressive is that you can find many names of these soldiers in the daily guest books of the Museum, where they brought their wives, children and even grandchildren back to Abilene to meet the Seelye’s in later years; a tangible tribute showing how much they appreciated what the Seelye’s did for them during the war years.
