Bob Hope's unwavering commitment to the morale of America's servicemen and women is entertainment history, indeed, world history. Many say 'legend.'

For nearly six decades, be the country at war or at peace, Bob, with a band of super-star gypsies, has traveled the globe to entertain our service men and women.

With the world at peace, following World War II, Bob did not forget GI audiences. He continued to make frequent visits to military bases and hospitals.

Bob began what was to become a Christmas custom in 1948. He 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 was in Saudi Arabia entertaining the men and women of "Operation Desert Storm."

View a Quicktime Movie from
one of Bob's Christmas specials (614 K)