Bob Hope

[Voyager28]

In another thread about weapons used in Vietnam, being a Nam vet, my thoughts naturally, as they always do, came around to thinking about this remarkable man.

Bob Hope Christmas

I saw him in 1968 and for a few precious moments, he made us forget. But, he is a man I will never forget.

Bob

 

[the ringo kid]

I never saw him in person anywhere but, a few years ago--found an interesting vidoe of himtaken during WWII.He was doing one of his shows at the NAS-Corpus Christi--which is a rare video in itself. It was neat to see how much ofthe area his act was done in-has changed since WWII.

 

[SC_Mike]

Bob Hope was a Great American for sure and I know he's missed.

 

[steveno]

there was two busloads of us from Rhein Main AB to Hanau (1971). I do remember Ursula Andress but then she is very easy to remember.

 

[Aticus]

Saw this right after he died.

 

[CH47gunner]

A great American - I saw him Christmas of 1969 at Lai Khe, in III Corps.
At the time I was in a holding company pulling perimeter/bunker guard every night. Lots of excitement there.

 

[walkin jack]

I too am a Vietnam vet. I never did get to see Bob Hope or any other celebrity except in the summer of 1966 John Wayne did come to Chu Lai where I was stationed with the 5th Marines. I have the same exact feeling about the Duke and that experience as you have about Bob Hope. These are great memories that we will always treasure. I'll remember that afternoon long after all the unpleasantness has faded from my now deteriorating memory.

Thanks for a great post!

 

[NYlakesider]

I remember having to turn off the TV one night when his show was on in December 1976. I was in the hospital flat on my back after a nasty 20' fall and his monologue was on. He had me laughing so hard and the 5 ribs I broke and other parts hurt like heck I was laughing so hard ,so in self defense I shut down the TV till it was over. Managed to get through the rest of the show but it hurt some times.

Without a doubt one of the greatest entertainers of the last century.

 

[labworm]

In 1967 he visited the troops in Cu Chi with Raquel Welch and Barbara McNair.

It was a great time for all of us.

Barbara Mcnair sang Silent Night near the end of the show, everyone shed a lot of tears while she was singing.

He surely has done a lot in his life for all of us members of the military. We were lucky to have him.

 

[JayCeeNC]

I attended his show at Camp Sukiran, Okinawa, in December, 1971 and loved it. He really had a positive impact on GI's around the world.

 

[italiansport]

A truly Great American He along with John Wayne, Ron Reagan etc. were a credit to this Country for many years.
BTW: I never got to see it but he purportedly hade a nice weapons and militaria collection at his home in Palm Springs.
Jim

 

[opoefc]

Bob Hope was one of the premier collectors of Nazi weapons and military memorabilia in the US. Quite a bit of the collection was acquired from gifts from GIs and vets. I've always wondered what became of the collection. Anyone know ? Ed.

 

[shouldazagged]

I was never much of a fan of his comedy, but God bless him for what he did for our military personnel for many decades.

He was a great man, absolutely devoted to bringing the relief of entertainment to the troops.

 

[Mcwsky09]

He was related through marriage to a neighbor of mine. Not sure if he ever visited but he sent them lost cards.

 

[RodGD]

I saw the Bob Hope show in Cam-Ranh Bay in 1968. At the time I was stationed up in the highlands at Ban-Me-Thuot. We were a forward support maintenance detachment from the 129th Maintenance Company in Nha-Trang. There were thirty or so of us living in a big sandbag covered hootch we built, scabbed onto a mechanized artillery battery's firebase (B battery 5/22). Word came up from our parent company that we would be getting 12 passes to fly down to CRB for the Bob Hope show. Everybody threw a dog tag into a helmet and Sgt. Billy Dean Hechton drew out twelve winners. I was one of the lucky ones.

So on the day of the show we lucky ones caught a C130 from East Field to CRB. We were told to wear our best fatigues. Well, in the highlands the dirt tends to be red and the dust permeates everything. You could never wash the red tint out of anything.

Landed pretty early at CRB AFB and hitched a ride to where the show was scheduled. I seem to remember it was going to start at 1800.

So we had fun shopping at a real PX and going to a real NCO club. Oh, we also got picked up by the courtesy patrol because we had "Red" fatigues. They told us we had to go change our uniforms. We told them it'd be kind of hard to do as we didn't live in this "Resort". They called our company in Nha-Trang and then let us go. #%&@$* REMF's.

We eventually made our way to the venue for the show about three hours early. We'd also stopped at the liquor store and bought a case of Bourbon Supreme. Every bottle had a little gold braided string with a gold tassel hanging from the neck. I've still got mine around here somewhere. The odd things people save.

There was a vendor selling sodas behind the bleachers we had staked out so we spent the time till the show drinking bourbon/cokes.

For obvious reasons I don't remember much of the show. Ann Margaret through an alcohol haze.....

What I do remember was Ernie Floyd getting into an altercation with one of the locals that was selling the sodas. Guy hit Ernie with a can of coke in the chin and split it wide open, the chin not the coke.

Spent the night sleeping on baggage racks at the air port and flew back up country the next morning.

Maybe later I'll tell about the Georgie Jessel show. HE came to us.

 

[rog8732]

Not to undercut Bob Hope, for he was the number one supporter for service men and women, but I only learned lately that the Lady, Martha Raye, was also a great supporter of the troops.

No Ann Margaret, Ursula Andress nor Raquel Welch certainly, but loved by millions.

Don't know as we have any of those type folks anymore, unless that is what their attorney makes them do, to kinda offset the felony they just got charged with.

 

[Mydogmax]

I too am a Vietnam vet. I never did get to see Bob Hope or any other celebrity except in the summer of 1966 John Wayne did come to Chu Lai where I was stationed with the 5th Marines. I have the same exact feeling about the Duke and that experience as you have about Bob Hope. These are great memories that we will always treasure. I'll remember that afternoon long after all the unpleasantness has faded from my now deteriorating memory.

Thanks for a great post!

Hey Jack. I was with the 5th in the Summer of 66 in Chu Lai. Remember me? 5'10" Dark hair & wearing green clothes.

 

[shouldazagged]

Not to undercut Bob Hope, for he was the number one supporter for service men and women, but I only learned lately that the Lady, Martha Raye, was also a great supporter of the troops.

No Ann Margaret, Ursula Andress nor Raquel Welch certainly, but loved by millions.

She's buried in Arlington, through a special dispensation. And deserved it.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

She's buried in Arlington, through a special dispensation. And deserved it.

A buddy of mine flew Martha Raye around on a USO tour in a T-39.
He liked her a bunch!
She's buried at Ft. Bragg.

 

[carpriver]

Martha Ray was a nurse and I believe she did serve in Viet Nam. I have read that she did spend a lot of time at hospitals in England, Korea, and Vietnam.