Bob Hopes first holiday USO show was in 1948, during the Berlin Airlift. Bob Hopes name has become synonymous with the USO, and there can be no greater honor. He was constantly on, constantly entertainingwhether it was three people in the commissary, or the entire unit. Hope made his television debut on the inaugural broadcast of Los Angeles station KTLA in January 1947 and appeared on various television shows, particularly Christmas specials and various entertainment specials for the U.S. Armed Forces. Bob Hope was many things, but to the USO and to the service members of the United States, he was the one-man-morale machine.. Soon after, he began traveling overseas to visit troops in the European and Pacific Theatres. | On that island it was 113 degrees every day, said Ronning, now 63 and a former mayor of Appleton, Minnesota. Bob Hope Christmas Tour logo I wouldnt have been able to go and produce the show if my father hadnt been there to oversee me and be responsible for me, even though I was the one doing all the business and the work to set up things to protect him and all the cast and crew., To see him on the backs of trucks and doing shows, climbing on ammo crates and in and out of helicopters, it was really inspiring for me, she said. He would be angry if my school schedule wouldnt let me be in one of the Christmas specials. Bob would say, Come here, lets do this, and wed go into one of our little bits. And even though he had 60, 70 years difference between the young men and women who were serving at that time and himself, he tried to be topical and bring the same kind of feeling to the show.. Bob Hope exits a garland-lined bunker in Beirut, Lebanon in December 1983. The final Bob Hope Christmas Show from Vietnam was recorded in 1972. I think one cant be near that in large doses and not be touched. A year later, in December 1948, Hope and his USO troupe (which included Irving Berlin at the time) recorded a Bob Hope Show radio episode in front of troops stationed in Germany supporting the Berlin Airlift, at the request of the Pentagon. (mostly waiting to go to Vietnam. In March 1965, she was the first recipient of the USO Woman of the Year Award, according to Brandeis University. Bob Hope's first radio show for the U.S. Armed Forces was broadcast from March Field in Riverside, California. For our troops and military families, however, theholiday, Bob Hope USO is proud to provide no-cost tickets to major sports and entertainment events in Southern California, free of charge tomembers, Bob Hope USO maintains teams of specially trained volunteers, on call 24/7, when service members make the ultimate sacrifice. Bob Hope dedicated much of his nearly 80-year career to entertaining American troops, both at home and abroad. He wasnt getting the looks he wanted from employers, so he turned to USO partner Hire Heroes USA for help. In fact, during WWII, with only a few exceptions, all of Hope's shows were performed for a military crowd. This program includes footage - previously unreleased - which was obtained from various armed services sources, as well as excerpts from previous . . Here, Hope performs for service members and their families in Fairbanks, Alaska. For nearly six decades, wherever Bob Hope went to entertain the troops . Then, all of a sudden, the sunlight came out.. Your donations help the USO deliver world-class entertainment to service members and military families around the world. Almost 50 years after his first performances for the troops, Bob Hope headed, once again, to the Middle East. By providing your mobile phone number, you opt in to receive calls and texts from USO. Though the performer loved the boys as much as they loved her, she had a special bond with the Special Forces. JOIN YOUR LOCAL USO AND THE LA RAMS OUTREACH TEAM AT A PLAY60 FOOTBALL EVENT FOR KIDS! She kept up her morale-boosting tours through the Korean War and had the troops in stitches during Vietnam and sometimes pulled rankthough her Marine Corps and Army ranks and membership in the Green Berets were all honorary. But Hope and his USO gangs presence on the tiny island was about much more than entertainment. Bob Hope knew what it meant to be away from home during the holidays. The following entertainers performed for U.S. military personnel and their allies in the combat theatre during the Vietnam War (19591975). This story appears in the Spring 2016 issue of On Patrol, the magazine of the USO. Text STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Throughout the 1970s, Bob Hope continued entertaining troops all around the world. A year later, in San Diego, Hope recorded a December episode of his show in front of service members returning home from Korea on the USS Boxer. Hope moved to Bristol before emigrating with his parents to the USA in 1908. Throughout April, the Month of the Military Child, the USO is highlighting how our centers around the globe are providing creative ways for military children to connect to one another and their families. Whether he was balancing on a plank propped up between two trucks or dancing across a massive stage built just for him, and whether he was talking to a crowd of thousands or just a few men working a late shift, Hope brought the same level of energy to each and every performance. The USO in Florida is coming up with creative ways to support service members, such as with therapy dog visits to USO centers to keep morale and spirits high. Bob Hopes 1990s performances in the Middle East would be the final overseas shows of his legendary career of entertaining the military. The USO Transition 360 Alliance, launched in May 2015, offers a holistic approach to transition through free employment and family programs via partners Hire Heroes USA, Stronger Families, RP/6 and The Comfort Crew for Military Kids. musical comedy films with Bing Crosby as Hope's top-billed partner. Hopes legacy lives on at the USO not only in the entertainment of the troops, but also in his unshakeable belief in and dedication to expressing gratitude to Americas service members for the sacrifices they make every day on behalf of this country. From World War II to Desert Shield, the legendary star spent scores of December days on the front lines entertaining service members all around the world. Here, Hope performs for troops in the Persian Gulf in 1990. Though he wore many hats as an entertainer, starting out as a dancer, film actor, and radio comedian, Bob Hope is perhaps best remembered as the driving force behind the USO . Bob Hope entertains our troops at his annual USO tour of Southeast Asian military bases. Photo credit USO Archives. In the 1940s and 1950s, Hope often did his radio show from military bases overseas. Text STOP to opt out, HELP for help. After the conclusion of World War II, Hope continued his film career and successfully made the transition to television. In 1990, Martin and his wife visited troops in Saudi Arabia at the beginning of the Gulf War. Over a 50-year span, Bob Hope entertained American troops overseas. He really wanted to continue his presence with the military and thats what were trying to dois reach out to veterans. Men hung from cranes and other heavy equipment for a better view of the stage. This tradition began in 1941, when he performed a radio show at March Field in Riverside, California. Driving Force Behind the USO Tours. Thank you. Over the last seven decades, some of the countrys best performers have taken the USO stage to entertain troops with music, dancing, and comedy routines. Interestingly, Dolores Hope was the only woman allowed to perform for Americans in Saudi Arabia during the tour; the other women were only permitted to perform on aircraft carriers stationed offshore. But he didnt play favorites. It was pretty awesome, frankly.. The words thank you are simply not enough when we talk about all Bob Hope did for the troops and the USO. Starting bid: US $5.00 [ 0 bids] Shipping: $8.25 Economy Shipping | See . Copyright 2003-2021. Please support The Veterans Site by adding us to your ad blockers whitelist ads help us to provide food and supplies to veterans. Bob Hope brings his USO Christmas tour to Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Thailand, Midway, and aboard the USS Hancock and the USS New Jersey in the South China Sea. During World War II Hope was sufficiently moved by the sacrifices the U.S. troops made on behalf of the U.S. public that he and his radio troupe traveled nearly every week to perform The Pepsodent Show at a military training site. VIETNAM BOB HOPE USO SHOW Limited Edition Art Print - $46.78. Country music legend Loretta Lynn, who went overseas with the USO in 1983 and 1986, headlined our 1988 Christmas tour with her friend, Conway Twitty. Actor: The Ghost Breakers. As part of the USO Transition 360 Alliance, RP/6 connects service members and their families with resources in their community that can ease their transition. Programs for Service Members and Their Families. 340 Golden Shore, Suite 400. They were a reminder of home and a reminder that even as they served miles away, the folks back home in the U.S. still remembered them. Text STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Bob and Janis Paige appear as kitchen workers who pretend they are wealthy to impress the other. Actress Marilyn Monroe entertains American troops during a USO tour in 1954 in South Korea. And hed tell all of us that with the DoD and the USO well be as safe as possible.. She told jokes and played cards with us, treated our wounds She was one of us.. | There would be all the band members. He loved to joke about sex and women: Theres still a great need for the USO. 2023 USO, Inc. Jayne Mansfield. Here, Hope introduces Langford to an audience of enlisted men. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. His shows grew from a small comedy act to an ensemble of celebrity-studded, televised programs. It was miserable there. The troupe performed for service members working on six U.S. ships off the coast of Lebanon. It was, essentially, a reminder of what they were fighting for. Here's a look at 10 of the greatest performers to grace the USO stage. Being stationed overseas can be difficult for every member of a military family, but especially for military children, who often have to constantly adapt to new environments and remain resilient through every new move. Hopes legacy as a USO tour veteran lives on in the USO Hope Coin, which is now presented to USO entertainers who emulate Hope in supporting the troops through in-person entertainment and activism. Bob Hope. After 15 years in the Air Force, Doug Watjus left the military armed with a degree from Texas A&M University and an MBA. In December 1950, reluctantly beginning to appear more regularly on television, Hope recorded his first-ever holiday variety TV special for a New York studio audience, just after returning from a fall USO tour to Korea, where he also recorded episodes of his show. Joining him on this trip were entertainers Rosemary Clooney, Brooke Shields, Les Brown and his band, LaToya Jackson and Miss Universe 1990. Why was the USO created? VIETNAM BOB HOPE USO SHOW Limited Edition Art Print. A few years later, in 1957, Bob Hope headed overseas to Guam and Japan for a holiday tour. Be the first to learn about news, service member stories and fundraising updates from USO. In 1954, when actress Marilyn Monroe was on her honeymoon in Japan with her new husband, New York Yankees legend Joe DiMaggio, she flew to South Korea to perform for the American troops there shortly after the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed. He was also a frequent visitor to American forces stationed in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, regularly seen with his trademark golf club. Here, during that same trip, Bob Hope and Ann Gillian perform for service members on the USS Guam during the 1983 USO Holiday Tour. In retrospect, it was these performances that endeared Hope into the hearts and minds of patriotic citizens for years to come. The 1970 show was one of American televisions most-watched events of all time. He couldnt remember the up-and-comers name, so he called her the Dinah girl. It stuck throughout her more than 50 years in entertainment. Bob Hope's USO shows were a staple for many decades, entertaining generations of military personnel in the United States Armed Forces. Imagine those guys thanking me! Raquel Welch teamed up with Bob Hope and others in 1967 and traveled to Saigon, Vietnam, to perform a TV special. Every day, Americas service members selflessly put their lives on the line to keep us safe and free. Anywhere we went, whenever we landed we would always do an impromptu show, she said. Im looking for pictures of the 1984 miss uso pagent in Hollywood, ca. In honor of Womens History Month, were looking back at some of the famous females who have helped shape the history of the USO. Above you'll see a picture of Bill Johnson, who will appear as Bob Hope, along with singer John Stevens as Bing Crosby and Cape vocalists Jessica Curran, Jenn Dashnaw and Anna McEntee as the Andrews Sisters. (Above) Bob . Please take a moment to let our troops know how much we appreciate their service and sacrifice. I remember seeing these letters Dad would get on very thin, onion-skin paper. It was correspondence from the GIs. Her acting career contains a recurring James Bond credit: she played General Gogol's assistant Rubelvitch in the films The Spy Who Loved Me, For Your Eyes Only, and Octopussy. We will be meeting at the Joshua Tree Visitors Center (off of Smoketree and 62 - Freedom Way Plaza), Fort Irwin National Training Center, Center, 21 Langford Lake Rd, Actress Brooke Shields recalls having an awesome time with Bob Hope, too. After seven years and nearly 6,000 hours of volunteer service to her credit, Terry Grimes has no plans to slow down. One woman with a truck and a tent changed that for thousands of service members. Bob Hope entertaining the troops in 1944 (U.S. Army photo via WikiMedia Commons; public domain) One of the entertainers who would become inextricably linked with the USO was Bob Hope. Photo: Flickr/Peabody Awards The group took a break from their act in the mid-1950s, but later continued to perform. Whether Christmas or any other time, it was always an event for the Hope children to say goodbye to their father as he headed off on a tour, Linda said.We would go to see them off at some private airfield. In October, USO CEO and President J.D. -This story was originally published on USO.org in 2018. During the Vietnam War, it was difficult for Hope to secure talent to travel with, but this did not deter him. Photo credit Library of Congress. Throughout the 1960s, Bob Hope traveled overseas many times to visit the troops. Bob Hope traveled with several other entertainers during his 1943 USO tour of Europe and North Africa. Twentynine Palms, CA 92278, Stop by our USO booth at the So Cal Air Show! Like Bob Hope, you can provide U.S. servicemen with a link to home by sending direct messages of thanks and support through the USOs Campaign to Connect. Clip from Bob Hope USO tour Cu Chi Vietnam 1968.DVD series available at Time/Life The beloved Bob Hope USO Shows. Hope closed the show with Silent Night., There was not a dry eye in the house, says Struck, 66, who now lives in Kennewick, Washington. In my eyes, Bob Hope is a true American hero. Victoria Dawn Addams - entertained the troops in Korea December 1952/January 1953 USA & International; Australia; Canada; France; Germany; Italy; Spain; United Kingdom; It was really interesting, she remembered. Christmas 1972. We would see all the wives and families of the band members. The people back at home loved hearing something from a base from where one of their loved ones was stationed, Linda said. The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have taken the lives of nearly 7,000 American service members. The government would build and lease buildings and citizens would staff and fund centers through the newly formed USO. All these other families have their dads home for Christmas, Linda said. Hope, twirling his golf club and delivering one-liners, was a huge hit. I soon went to MTT-1 and after a few months we ended up in Tam Ky about 3 miles inland from the water. For over 50 years, the USO and NFL have joined forces to keep service members connected to family, home and country. His daughter, Linda, one of Bob and Dolores Hopes four children, said was simple. Learn about the history of the USO, its mission and its continuing legacy today. As a USO Grafenwoehr volunteer, Army Staff Sgt. His maternal grandmother was Welsh. Vicki Lawrence. His first show for the group was in California on May 6, 1941. Offered through Bob Hope USO. Special guests on his shows included the likes of Ann-Margret, Redd Foxx, Brooke Shields, Lola Falana and more. By then, computers and cellphones were starting to change the world. Bob Hope entertains troops in Saudi Arabia in 1990. Hopes holiday specials, a tradition started in 1950 on NBC, also became part of his commitment to the USO. With extensive support from the Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation, the City of Los Angeles and other generous donors, in 2018 this location replaced smaller space and is recognized around the world as a flagship USO. She danced in USO tours in Korea in 1954 and 1956.) Ann Oldenburg is a Washington area-based freelance writer and former Washington Post and USA Today writer. 20 Year old beauty pageant winner from Vienna, Austria. "75 Years and Counting: On Patrol Takes a Look at the USO's Past, Present and Future ", he provided a crucial link to home for military families, Bob and Dolores Hope Charitable Foundation, her fathers memory and contributions will not be forgotten, sending direct messages of thanks and support through the USOs Campaign to Connect, USO Legend Bob Hope Brought a Bit of Home Everywhere he Went, For 40 Years, Bob Hope USO Christmas Shows Brightened the Holidays for Deployed Troops, Programs for Service Members and Their Families. Photo credit USO Archives. Hope was 80 years old at the time of this USO tour. Hope would continue this tradition of entertaining troops during the holiday season for decades to come. ' During the Vietnam War, Sinatra visited and sang for troops at the U.S. military bases near Saigon. March ARB, CA 92518, 21 Langford Lake Rd, Here, in 1969, Hope performs on stage for troops in Southeast Asia. John Wayne Airport In a bit of very rare 16mm home movies, the famous entertainer Bob Hope and his small troupe arrive and perform a USO show for American troops overseasg. The appearance of DoD visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement. Although comedy and the U.S. military had changed a great deal since that first show in 1941, Hope was still delighted to do what he did best: bring laughter to service members just when they needed it most. I won miss congeniality that year & hit to meet Bob Hope. Whether its in USO centers around the country or on military bases around the world, the USO works hard to bring a slice of home to those serving abroad and in distant lands. As a longtime supporter of the military and a military brat herself, Debbie Keller has dedicated thousands of hours to supporting service members and their military family members at the USO center in Orlando, Florida - and now is being recognized for her efforts, as the 2023 CONUS Volunteer of the Year. In 2015, after recognizing the need for an increased presence in military communities both stateside and abroad, the USO launched an aggressive center expansion effort to bring connectivity, entertainment and programming to more service members and families. His maternal grandmother was Welsh. Bob Hope USO Headquarters. Americans back on the home front, too, eagerly watched Hopes holiday specials, hoping to catch a glimpse of their soldier serving overseas. The comedian and actor participated in 57 USO tours, visiting military members during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the first Gulf War. for directions to Bob Hope USO Headquarters, for directions to Los Angeles International Airport, for directions to John Wayne Orange County Airport, for directions to Palm Springs International Airport, for directions to Ontario International Airport, for directions to Military Entrance Processing Station, Los Angeles, for directions to March ARB Joint Regional Deployment Center, Military Entrance Processing Station, Los Angeles, March ARB Joint Regional Deployment Center. It was a . You could see the joy that it gave them for us to be there.. I was 19. When the USO joined forces with the NFL in 1966 for a series of goodwill tours to visit U.S. military members stationed in Vietnam, four future Hall of Famers led the way. Here, on December 26, 1987, Hope performs at a USO show aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Okinawa. On May 6, 1941, he performed his first USO Show at March Field in Riverside, California, to do a radio show for the airmen stationed there. Los Angeles International Airport Raquel Welch teamed up with Bob Hope and others in 1967 and traveled to Saigon, Vietnam, to perform a TV special. USO icon. Aside from Hopes impact as a performer, the true testament to Hopes influence can be seen in the number of actors, comedians, musicians and athletes today who eagerly volunteer to join a USO show or tour. Here, Hope is wearing a flight suit and helmet as he shakes hands with Col. Netcher on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, on December 27, 1957. A few years later, during the Korean War, Bob Hope hit the road again to entertain troops serving in both Japan and Korea. Many of the young women who volunteered at USO centers in the 1940s and 50s were looking for a way to contribute to the war effort. The USO's famed Stage Door and Hollywood Canteens during World War II served up glitz and glamour to millions of service members. In 1964, Hope took the first of nine USO trips to Vietnam to record special holiday episodes of his show and he never went alone. Already an established comedian and actor by the onset of World War II, Bob Hope performed and broadcast his first USO show on the radio for service members on May 6, 1941, at an Army Air Corps (now known as the U.S. Air Force) Base at March Field in Riverside, California. Photo credit Naval Surface Warfare Center Corona, Hope hosted a special recording of the Pepsodent Show,, reluctantly beginning to appear more regularly on television, service members returning home from Korea on the USS Boxer, USO Bob Hope Christmas Show experiences, his 1970 holiday broadcast still stands as one of the most popular television episodes, final Bob Hope Christmas Show from Vietnam was recorded in 1972, stole the show with her performance of White Christmas, Veterans Share Their Memories of Bob Hope USO Christmas Shows, A New Look at Bob Hope: 11 Rare Photos from the USO Archives, USO Shows In Prose: Entertainment During World War II, Programs for Service Members and Their Families. Undeterred by enemy fire or rough seas, Hope went straight to the front lines, delivering laughter . Find another USO location . 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