The USO Brings a Taste of Home to Service Members Stationed in Sasebo, Japan

By Trey Smith

Whether supporting service members stationed on shore or those preparing to deploy from the port, the USO team in Sasebo, Japan, is quietly at work behind the scenes — offering comfort, care and connection to the people who serve when it matters most. Through steady, ongoing snack deliveries, USO staff and volunteers regularly deliver packages filled with treats and heartfelt encouragement to service members in their local community, including those at port. It’s more than just food – it’s a consistent reminder that no matter where their military journey takes them, these service members carry a piece of home with them.

Service members stationed in Sasebo, Japan, are thousands of miles from home, and live with the constant reality of distance – distance from home, from loved ones and from the everyday rhythm of life back in the States. In Japan, mornings arrive at the same time their family and friends who are stateside are still fast asleep, turning even a quick phone call into a carefully timed effort. Outside the base, the sights, sounds and customs of Japan are a daily reminder that they are in a place far different than what they’re used to. From street signs to traditions still being learned, the cultural divide can deepen the ache of isolation and separation, and it’s why the local USO team has continued to find new and unique ways to make these service members feel supported.

At USO Sasebo, one of the most anticipated gestures of support comes in the form of snack deliveries to service members across base. Family members – whether stationed nearby or thousands miles away back home – can nominate their loved one’s unit for a surprise visit. Each month, USO Sasebo invites these military families to get involved by nominating a command or department to receive support. Announcements go out on social media and during base meetings, and nominations can be submitted via email or through the USO Sasebo Facebook page. It’s a simple process with a big impact. Whichever team is selected becomes the group that they support that month.

In a place where the time difference and distance can make connection feel fleeting, these deliveries bring a tangible piece of home right to service members directly. When the USO team arrives, arms full of snacks and treats, it’s more than just a drop-off; it’s reassurance that someone back home is thinking of them and finding a way to bridge the miles.

USO Center Operations Specialist Kristina Sanchez and Center Operations Manager Marielle Huegel started these deliveries in May 2024 as another way to address the ongoing need to boost morale and connect with service members in Sasebo, and the USO Sasebo team keeps spirits going with every delivery they make, and have served more than 3,000 service members across multiple commands and departments.

Each delivery is enough to lift a tired mood or power someone through a long shift and usually contains anything from energy drinks and fruit snacks to chips and other treats. But it’s more than just fuel. In the quiet moments between their military life and being far from home, these familiar snacks offer a small dose of comfort – something easy and familiar when one is on the other side of the world and thrust into another country and culture different from their own.

It might seem like a simple gesture, but the response is anything but. Service members light up when they see the USO team coming, bags in hand. Whether they’re in the middle of a busy duty day or just before a long stretch at sea, this connection makes all the difference.

“Oh, they love it,” Kristina said. “A lot of times, we do it during an all-hands [meeting], so they have the crew together for other reasons, but they’re excited that the USO comes aboard the ship. They’re excited that they get a small token of appreciation from us.”

Of all the nominations, one stood out in particular. A mother hadn’t seen her daughter in years, and nominated the supply department that her daughter is part of as a treat from home. When that department was chosen to receive the snack bags, and it happened to be on her daughter’s birthday, and the entire crew joined in to sing “Happy Birthday,” turning a regular workday into something a little more special. It was a small but meaningful moment that reminded everyone how far a little connection can go.

“I thought that was really special because it was connecting this parent to her daughter, but also, the whole crew was super excited singing to her,” Kristina said. “She was a little embarrassed, but you could tell that she was really grateful to be recognized like that.”

These special deliveries aren’t the only way USO Sasebo shows up for service members at sea. Through their local “On Board” Series, the team also visits ships with fun, morale-boosting events, bringing along games like Bingo, as well as pizza, drinks and prizes onboard. Whether a ship is in port or preparing to get underway, these visits offer a break from the routine and a chance to relax, laugh and connect. It’s all part of the USO’s broader mission: strengthening the well-being of the people who serve.

One of the highlights of USO Sasebo’s visits to ships is introducing sailors to what they call “Sasebo Tops,” a traditional Japanese spinning top game where players compete to keep their tops spinning the longest or knock opponents’ tops out of a designated circle. Beyond just a game, this activity offers service members a hands-on way to connect with Japanese culture and the local community, turning a casual break into a camaraderie and a shared experience.

For service members living far from home, these brief moments of cultural exchange can offer unexpected comfort and connection. Learning a local tradition and embracing the local culture, can also make a real difference in their experience overseas and in a different country. In doing so, service members can gain a deeper appreciation for the community around them and turn a foreign country into something that feels a little more like home.

At the end of the day, it’s the little things that leave the biggest mark. From surprising service members with treats, to a surprise round of Bingo with shipmates after a long day, to a simple Japanese game, all of these small gestures of support can lift the spirits of people serving far away from home. The USO Sasebo team isn’t just showing up; they’re building something that lasts and reminding service members overseas that connection – to each other, to their loved ones, to home – is always within reach thanks to the USO.