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It began in May, 1941 when
Bob, with a group of performers, went to March Field, California,
to do a radio show for airmen stationed there.
Throughout World War II, with only two exceptions,
all of Bob's radio shows were performed and aired from military
bases and installations throughout the United States and theaters
of war in Europe and the South Pacific. His first trip into the
combat area was in 1943 when he and his small USO troupe - Frances
Langford, Tony Romano and Jack Pepper visited US military facilities
in England, Africa, Sicily and Ireland. In later years his itinerary
included the South Pacific.
Bob began what was to become a Christmas custom in
1948. He, with wife Dolores, went to Germany at the request of then
Secretary of the Air Force, Stuart Symington, to entertain the troops
involved in the Berlin Airlift.
With the end of the Vietnam conflict in sight, Hope
hailed his 1972 trip as his "last Christmas show." But
each Christmas that followed, he was somewhere in the country doing
a show at a military base or veterans hospital.
In 1983 the call came from Beirut and Hope was "on the road again."
In 1987, Hope flew around the world to entertain servicemen and women
in the Pacific. Atlantic and Indian Oceans and in the Persian Gulf.
He embarked on a goodwill tour in May, 1990 to entertain military
personnel stationed in England, Russia, and Germany. At Christmas
that year, he and wife Dolores, were in Saudi Arabia entertaining
the men and women of "Operation Desert Storm." 1994 was
a good year for Bob. His "Bob Hope: The First 90 Years,"
produced by daughter Linda Hope, won an Emmy. And he returned to
his native England for a personal appearance tour in June, commemorating
the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II.
1996 marked the publication of Bob's collection of Presidential humor
called "Dear Prez, I Wanna Tell Ya", and in November, he
aired his 284th television special for NBC, Bob Hope Laughing with
the Presidents." The show featured appearances by President and
Mrs. Clinton, President and Mrs. Bush, President and Mrs. Ford, Julie
Nixon and David Eisenhower. Bob's co-host was Tony Danza.
May 1997, New Orleans - Bob stood by as Dolores christened the
USNS Bob
Hope (AKR 300), the first of a new class of ships named after Bob.
Not to be outdone, one month later the US Air Force dedicated a new
C-17 in his name. (In 2001, the C-17 the 'Spirit of Bob Hope,' transported
the pilots and crew of the reconnaissance plane downed in China back
safe and sound to Hawaii.)
Five times Bob was honored by the United States Congress. But,
in October 1997, Bob received one of his greatest tributes when
Resolution 75 was unanimously passed by members of both houses making
him an Honorary Veteran - the first individual so honored in the
history of the United States. He was feted in the US Capitol Rotunda
by members of congress, military personnel and veterans. The next
day, Bob, family and friends were guests in the oval office for
the signing of the resolution by President Clinton
Bob's next visit to Washington, D.C. was in May 2000 when he officially
opened the Bob Hope Gallery of American Enterainment at the Library
of Congress. In July 2001, the 'Pentagon' (US Army Adjutant General
Corps) paid a visit to Bob Hope's home in Toluca Lake, California
for the presentation of the Order of Horatio Gates Gold Medal for
his life-long contributions toward maintaining the high morale of
soldiers around the world. And on his 99th birthday, May 29, 2002;
The Chapel at the Los Angeles National Cemetery was named The Bob
Hope Veterans Chapel.
Top of page.
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The
media dubbed him "America's No. 1 Soldier
in Greasepaint." To the GIs, he was
"G.I. Bob" and their clown hero.
