By Sandi Moynihan and Eric Brandner

SEATTLE—It started because of a simple request.

Bob Harris first began volunteering at the USO Northwest Seattle-Tacoma International Airport center in 2013. Shortly after he started, he was asked if he’d be interested in picking up donated bananas and bringing them to the airport center once a week. It wasn’t long after his first delivery that Bob realized the donations runs had earned him a new nickname.

“[I overheard two volunteers] talking about the new guy [me],” Harris said. “[One] said, ‘Oh you mean ‘Banana Bob?’ … And it stuck.”

You can send a message of support and thanks directly to service members via the USO’s Campaign to Connect. Your messages will appear on screens at USO locations around the world.