From Naples to Home: How the USO Brings Familiar Flavors to Service Members in Italy

By Petty Officer 2nd Class Keyly Santizo

For many service members stationed overseas, the smallest reminders of home can carry the greatest comfort. A familiar smell coming from the kitchen, a favorite childhood dish or a taste from a hometown restaurant can spark memories of family gatherings and everyday routines left behind. Being away from those simple comforts can make even the strongest service members pause and long for the life they temporarily left behind.

To help fill that gap, the USO team located in Naples, Italy, offers service members aboard Naval Support Activity with a “Taste of Home,” a monthly USO event designed to bring comfort to service members and their families through homemade meals reminiscent of those shared back home. In support of the ongoing program, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Europe, Africa, Central (EURAFCENT) service members and their families prepared and donated meals, helping the monthly program bring a little bit of home, even while overseas.

“This event gives me the opportunity to try new foods,” said Hospital Corpsman Cuaira Clark, from Chickasha, Oklahoma. “It gives me the chance to meet other sailors and soldiers, as well as people I already know and don’t always get to hang out with.”

This theme for this event was Tex-Mex, and volunteers prepared a variety of dishes, including black bean enchiladas, rice, tacos and coconut flan. The USO team also hosted a trivia game helping service members connect while enjoying great food and conversation.

Programs like this can have a real and positive effect on morale aboard Naval Support Activity Naples. Shared meals and lighthearted activities give service members a break from the routine of military life and create opportunities to connect with others who understand the challenges of being far from home. These moments of camaraderie help reduce stress, build friendships and remind the local military community that they’re supported – not just by the USO, but by one another.

“I love bringing in the connection, the ability to have something to look forward to, and bringing a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel,” said Holley Moore, the USO Center operation specialist in Naples. “We love the sense of community. We are always going to be the place that you can walk in and help point you in the right direction to find that community you are looking for.”

Service members in NAVFAC EURAFCENT, and their families, have teamed up with the USO for similar events in the past. Andi Williams, a military spouse who helped coordinate this meal, explained that last year’s success inspired her to give back again.

“We are here for the community,” said Andi. “We are a part of the community and for one part to succeed, we all need to be there to support each other.”

How the USO is Supporting Sailors’ Resiliency Aboard Ships

Life aboard a U.S. Navy ship isn’t easy. Long deployments, cramped quarters and days that all start to feel the same can take a toll on even the toughest sailors. In 2019, the USS George H.W. Bush faced a heartbreaking reality when three sailors died by suicide in the span of a single week. The tragedies brough a sharp focus to the mental health challenges sailors face while deployed.

In response, the Navy expanded its focus on strengthening the resilience of its sailors – and the USO expanded its support directly onto ships. In 2023, the first USO Center aboard a ship opened on the USS George H.W. Bush, giving sailors a dedicated space to decompress. It’s a place where service members can step off the deck and unwind – grab a snack, play a game, watch TV or just hang out with one another, providing a vital outlet for stress isolation while at sea.

By bringing these programs and spaces directly to sailors, the USO is doing more than boosting morale – we are helping to build resilience during some of the toughest moments at sea. As more ship-based Centers are added across the Navy’s fleet, the USO will continue to keep service members connected to home, to one another and to the strength they need to serve.

- This story was originally published on DVIDShub.net. It has been edited and expanded upon for USO.org