During his military service, the USO and the American Red Cross were Larry Smith's favorite volunteer organizations.

The USO brought blankets to the airport when he and his family were stranded during a PCS move.

The American Red Cross was always doing something for the troops, he said.

"When I got out of the military these were the two organizations I wanted to help out," Smith, a retired captain, said.

His volunteer work with the Red Cross started in 2005 during Hurricane Katrina.  He attended meetings and began volunteering a couple of months later.  He now works as a government liaison representing the Red Cross at the county and FEMA levels, he said.  He started with about 20 or more hours a week and now works between 10 and 15 hours a week.

His first experience with a natural disaster was during the San Diego wildfires.  He spent three weeks helping the victims and got a lot of personal satisfaction from the experience.

"When I am sent out on a disaster I work 12 to 14 hour days," he said.  "Food is available, but it isn't much.  But it's worth it.  I get to help individuals or families with problems that they couldn't work out.  It gives me a lot of opportunities to pour myself into helping other people."

He began working with the USO a couple of months ago.  Looking for a routine, he signed on for a weekly commitment to help run the snack bar from 9 a.m. to noon on Mondays.

"I get enough unscheduled surprise with the Red Cross," he said. "I was really looking for something planned with the USO."

Tracye Kakely, the USO Center director at McChord Air Force Base, can't say enough about the new volunteer.

"He's amazing," she said. "He is extremely reliable, and when you are an organization that is staffed with volunteers, that is huge.  He helped sort things out for our food drive.  He is open to the change that goes on around here all the time.  He is just a great person."

Since his start with the group, he met a woman named Ellie who is in her 80s and has volunteered with the group for about 25 years.  She has taught him all sorts of life lessons.  On one recent morning, she showed him how to make egg salad without overcooking the eggs.

"She's teaching me how to cook large quantities," he said.  "That is much different than cooking for a couple of people."

He also helps out when soldiers are deploying and when they return.

"I liked the idea of helping the young soldiers spend their last few hours before a deployment comfortably," he said.