Page 37 - BusinessWest November 10, 2021

allow, adding that such recol- lections certainly help drive him in a role that is far more a pas- sion than it is a job — executive director of the Pioneer Valley USO, housed
at Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee.
There is no ‘interim’ next to Tracy’s title, but technically ... per- haps there should be. Involved with the USO (United Service Organiza-
tions) since the ’80s, he agreed to serve tempo- rarily as executive director when the person in that job left it roughly 15 years ago.
“They’re still looking for an executive direc- tor,” said Tracy with a laugh, adding that he likes everything about his job — except all the paper- work — and especially anything that has to do with helping active-duty servicemen and women and also veterans in need.
And there are many programs and services that fall into that category, from the care pack- ages that are sent out to destinations around the globe to the Monday-night dinners the USO prepares for those serving at Westover, and also other servicemen and veterans as well (he and
his staff were doing the prep work for one as he talked with BusinessWest on Nov. 1); from a pro- gram called Pathfinder that helps retiring ser- vicemen and women transition to the workforce to providing tickets to Thunderbirds games and other sporting events.
“I have a passion, and I love taking care of our military,” he said. “I think that what they do, the
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taking care of our military. I think that what they do, the sacrifices they make, are countless. You’re up all night, you don’t get weekends off ... you’re stuck wherever you’re deployed. They need to know that we’re thinking of them.
sacrifices they make, are countless. You’re up all night, you don’t get weekends off ... you’re stuck wherever you’re deployed. They need to know that we’re thinking of them.”
Tracy is even busier than normal these days as he coordinates a transition of sorts for the local chapter, which is giving up its independent char- ter and becoming part of the World USO.
“Our charter was dissolved on Oct. 1 — we’re now part of World USO. I’m excited. Maybe I won’t have as much paperwork, but I haven’t
I have a passion, and I love
WBy George O’Brien
hen Al Tracy was serving
with the First Marines along the DMZ in Vietnam, the highlight of his day, week, or month — fill in the blank —
was receiving a care package from home. He would get one from his mother pretty
much every month, he recalled, adding that the best thing in them was her apple pie, always wrapped in tinfoil, which was almost as precious — and welcome — as the food.
“We needed that tinfoil — we would reuse it to cook things,” recalled Tracy, flashing back more than a half-century as best his memory would
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