|
Reader Memories: Bob Hope
May-June 2003
|
/a>
HE USED A RADIO TO TRANSMIT TO THOSE WHO WOULD NOT SEE HIM
I was stationed at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, during the years 1955-1958 before Hawaii was given its Statehood. I was part of the Military Air Transport Service (MATS).
At Christmas time, either '56 or '57, Bob Hope and several other well known entertainers, including Jayne Mansfield, were flown by MATS to Hickam to entertain the troops in various areas of the Pacific. One of the things that I recall was that Bob and his very dedicated group, as they flew the Pacific going to other bases, would use the aircraft radio to transmit to those who would not be able to see them perform, such as Navy personnel on ships and those stationed on islands, where the plane did not land. I can imagine what a pleasurable experience that was for all the fellows so far from home.
Bob and all the entertainers did superb jobs, and there were thousands of military personnel who were grateful knowing the extent to which Bob went to, year after year, to entertain the troops at Christmas. Bob Hope has always been at the top of my list, and I never failed to see his TV shows at Christmas time, wherever he was traveling the globe, and entertaining our troops.
An added treat for this former airman was that I was able to present Miss Mansfield with flower lei as soon as they arrived at Hickam Air Force Base! Needless to say, this country boy was the talk of the Base for a few days, anyway.
B. G. Dean
Dyersburg, TN
I WATCHED, SITTING ON COCONUT LOGS
I joined the U.S. Navy during WWII when I was 18 years old. My first assignment was the USS West Point. Later in 1944 I was assigned to a Port Director Unit in Aitape, New Guinea. Located several miles down the road there was a U.S. Army Air Force Base. There Bob Hope, Jerry Colona, Frances Langford, Patty Thomas, and band entertained U.S. and Australian personnel. I can remember sitting on coconut logs.
It is an experience I'll never forget.
Thank you, Bob Hope.
Eugene Genova
Glen Cove, NY
AMERICAN AS APPLE PIE
I will never forget Bob Hope. Saw him for the first time at Grand Central Air Terminal, Glendale, California. At around or about 1942, I was able to receive the signatures of Bob Hope, Frances Langford, Jerry Colona, and Skinny Ennis—all American as apple pie.
I, too will have a birthday in May—82, God willing.
Thank you.
Warren E. Reed
New York
WHAT A TREMENDOUS SHOWMAN
I was a Petty Officer with Acorn 14 assigned to the Naval Air Base at Tarawa for 2 years on an island, November 1943.
Bob Hope, Jerry Colona, Frances Langford, and other entertainers arrived about 5 months after the island was secured. His arrival was a truly great event. At the time the Marines, Seabees, and Naval Air personnel were on the Island. The Bob Hope show was the highlight of my 2 year assignment. What a tremendous showman. None other to ever surpass him.
From an 86-year-old veteran.
Harold G. Grunewald
Milwaukee, WI
THOSE WERE WONDERFUL MEMORIES
My memories of Bob Hope: The first one is seeing him on the stage at the Chicago Theatre on State Street in Chicago. I don't remember the year, but his wife Dolores was singing a song, and he kept making her laugh when he whispered something in her ears. Jerry Colona and Frances Langford were also there, as well as Bill Goodwin, the announcer from his Pepsodent radio show. My husband saw him in the Philippines when he served with the 7th division infantry in World War II.
Those were wonderful memories.
Dolly Wleklinski
Riverview, MI
I ALMOST SAW THE BOB HOPE SHOW
In September of 1943, I was a sergeant in the 91st Fighter Squadron-Eighty First Fighter Group. We were stationed at the former French Naval Base at Bizerte (Tunisia), when we heard that Bob Hope would be giving a show for the troops in the area. We just about got there to see the show when the air raid alarm sounded causing complete confusion as all the troops tried to vacate the area as did Bob Hope. So that was the only time I almost saw the Bob Hope show.
George W. Petersen
Staten Island, NY
CHRISTMAS IN BERLIN
I was in the army and stationed in Berlin, Germany from August 1957 until March of 1959. I was assigned to the 287th Military Police Company in Berlin.
In 1957 Bob Hope put on a Christmas show for the troops in Berlin. Molly Bee was traveling with him then.
Leo J. Clark
Warren, OH
WHAT A WELCOME BREAK
It was in 1966-67 in Khe, Viet Nam, and I was a helicopter mechanic CO D 15 TCBN 1st Cavalry Division.
We worked until 9:00 p.m. every day, dodged mortar rounds the remainder of the night, half day off on Sundays. Yes, I have seen Bob Hope live and what a welcome break.
Thanks a million, Bob.
Harvey Birdwell
Houston, TX
|
