The kick-off for the Bob Hope USO tour in 1970 was at West Point on December 15. Since my dad was the Dean of the Academic board, one of three generals on the post, my mom and dad got to meet him after the show. Mom mentioned that two of her sons were in Viet Nam, so he said he would get them together for Christmas, and asked for their names and addresses. She thought nothing of it, and didn’t tell us.
Lo and behold, on December 23, an Army Major showed up at Danang where my brother Jack (USMA ’65), an Air Force pilot, was stationed. He was supposed to get my brother to Bien Hoa airbase the next day, for the show on Christmas Day. My brother, a Captain, went to his Commanding Officer with the Major, related the situation, and the CO said, “Well, if Bob Hope says so, I guess we better do it.” There was no provision for in-country leave, but a plane with my brother on it left Danang for Bien Hoa the next day.
Also on December 23, a civilian came to Xuan Loc where I was an Engineer Platoon Leader, a First Lieutenant, in the 25th Infantry Division. He explained that there was one seat left on a chartered aircraft from Tan Son Nhut Airport, (Saigon), to JFK in New York, and if someone wanted to, he could take leave, pay the airfare, and go home for Christmas. I asked the junior enlisted soldiers first, then the Squad Leaders, then the Platoon Sergeant. I turned to the man and said that no one wanted to go. Immediately the Squad Leaders and Platoon Sergeant insisted that I go. They said that there was no need to be a hero. We had no missions, and all we would be doing is pulling Motor Stables (vehicle maintenance). Reluctantly, I agreed.
I left the next morning for the flight. I flew to JFK and was met there by my sister-in-law, Jack’s wife, who was, with other waiting wives, living at Stewart Air Force Base.
She drove me to West Point. I rang the back doorbell at 2:00 AM Christmas Day. My youngest sister came to the door, saw me, and screamed “Bobby’s home”. I went upstairs to my bedroom. When my mother saw me, she fainted. It was a wonderful Christmas.
I had to go back on New Year’s Eve. We left about 10PM heading west to an airbase near Anchorage, AK for refueling. The crew had hats, whistles and confetti for the New Year’s celebration on board. We went through several time zones, moving the clock back each time, so we never got to midnight before refueling. We got off, and saw the Northern Lights. Once back on board, and still before midnight, I and most all the passengers fell asleep instantly. I was awakened by a stewardess who handed me a breakfast tray. We were somewhere over the Pacific under a clear blue sky and had crossed the International Date Line. It was now January 2. I had missed New Year’s Day.
When I got back to my unit, the Platoon Sergeant said someone came looking for me an hour after I left. The man didn’t say who he was, or why he was looking for me. I didn’t think anything of it at the time.
I didn’t know Jack’s part in this until the next Christmas, when I saw him for the first time since he had come home from Viet Nam, and he related what had happened to him, and I pieced together the rest.
It turns out that an hour after I left on the 24th, someone from the USO tour came to get me. Finding that I had left, he called back to Saigon, who called Danang, who radioed the plane in the air and had it return to Danang.
Unwittingly I had spoiled Bob Hope’s plan to get us together for Christmas. It’s no wonder that he never spoke to me for the rest of his life.
I saw Bob Hope 50 years ago in DaNang
Even though my brother was stationed there, I guess he didn’t see him.
I was a section Chief on Monkey Mt and I worked that day so my troops could go to the show. To my surprise Gen. Abrahms showed up in my shop to wish me a Merry Christmas
Me too, December 24th, 1970, Freedom Hill.
I got wounded on December 18th 1970. Americal division (Chu-Lia). I was still in hospital pajamas and got the sit front row at the Bob Hope show. Never ever forget it.
My only wound was a truck accident when one of my platoon’s drivers backed his dump truck instead of moving forward out of the borrow pit.
So was my brother Glen Bair.
We were supposed to have front seats to that but Dec 12th I was evacuated to Japan. Met Cissy Kathy Barber while in hospital there. Family Affair.
I saw the tour somewhere around Bien Hoa that December. Great story, Bob! Thanks!
At least I had met Bob Hope at the Supe’s house when he was our Graduation Banquet speaker. I imagine you were there, too. Right?
Great story. Thank you for sharing.
Prime has one of the earlier Hope Christmas tours and it is still fun to watch. No one like him today.
Merry Christmas and “ Thanks for the Memories”.
I always watched his Christmas specials, so I have that memory, too.
Great story, Bob … thanks. I saw Bob Hope on Christmas Day, 1971, in Long Binh. I had been to an orphanage earlier in the morning, and then saw Bob later in the afternoon. I was way way in the back, but at least I can say I was there.
I wish I had been there, too, instead of having a story of what might have been.
Thank, Bob, great memories and story!
Thanks for saying so.
I was stationed in Korea in 1970. On 28 Dec 1970, I rode with 6 others in a 2.5 truck to Osan AFB to see Bob Hope’s USO show. I recorded the show’s audio on a cassette tape that I still have today.
I’m sure it is a treasured keepsake. If I had it, I would replay it every Christmas time.
I saw Bob Hope’s USO show in Anchorage, Alaska before he heading back to the lower 48. Helped with the show by carrying Bob’s cue cards to his dressing room while he was being interviewed by news reporters before the show and by holding the cue cards during the show. Was able to get close up photos of Bob and the Gold Diggers, Gloria Loring, Johnny Bench and Miss World.
You must have had the best seat in the house.
Bob Hope received the West Point Association of Graduates “Thayer Award” in 1968 for his many years of support for the troops, but he brought along many others over the years who also supported them, like the ones you mentioned.
I was stationed in ChuLai with the Americal Division in 1970. A convoy of several trucks carried 4+dozen of us to DaNang on December 24, 1970 to see the Bob Hope USO Christmas show. There had to be several thousand soliders and sailors there at “Freedom Hill”. The entertainment was outstanding….great show. Funny, afterwards walking back to our 2 1/2 t truck….there were hundreds of olive green trucks….it took forever but we found it. Hell of a way to go to a concert…in a convoy wearing flak jackets ! Thanks for the memories Bob !
I was also at “Freedom Hill” had to have field glasses to see the stage. Went from “Bob Hope High” to collecting Marks personnel affects. That’s hitting both ends of the spectrum.
I’m sure that you were glad to go. You were one of the lucky ones. You have a great memory to share, too.”
I had the great honor and thrill to meet and accompany Bob Hope in the late 1960s at the University of Kentucky a few years before I married Mike. He was the headliner for a campus “concert” with Roger Miller as the secondary act. I was on the committee for this concert so got to pick him up at the airport, escort him around campus and be on stage with him as he hosted the Little KY Derby queen contest. What a thrill and memory.
This show was one of the highlights of my career. I was a Platoon Leader in the 25th Inf Div. We were taken by helocopters out of the field the night prior to the show, not knowing why until we got to Long Binh. The next day we trucked to the show and back out to the field after the show. Bob Hope put on a terrific show. He LOVED the troops and we LOVED him in return!