Comic Bob Hope gave his final Christmas present to U.S. servicemen in Saigon on this day in history, Dec. 24, 1972.
The enduring entertainer, who starred in additional than 50 movies, saved up a practice of visiting troops deployed abroad since WWII.
Hope’s 1972 present marked his ninth consecutive Christmas appearance in Vietnam, based on Historical past.com.
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Hope took his first USO journey to Vietnam in 1964 to file a particular vacation episode of “The Bob Hope Show.”
The seasonal particular quickly grew to become a smash hit — and he by no means confirmed up alone.
Bob Hope and Carroll Baker aboard the Ticonderoga, off the coast of Vietnam, in 1972. (CORBIS/Corbis through Getty Photos)
He typically introduced in main celebrities every year.
Amongst those that did exhibits with him: Ann-Margret, Lola Falana, Raquel Welch, Rosie Grier, Neil Armstrong and Sammy Davis Jr.
Comic Bob Hope and actress Raquel Welch break by means of a adorned bundle labeled “To the G.I.’s” moments earlier than boarding a MATS airline as Hope and his troupe of 60 individuals departed on his seventeenth annual Christmas tour of abroad navy bases on Dec. 15, 1967. (Getty Photos)
Hope’s longtime sideman Jerry Colonna was additionally recognized for enjoying Santa Claus, based on the USO.
Service members — in addition to Individuals who intently watched the specials in hopes of catching a glimpse of their troopers — bear in mind Hope’s Vietnam-era excursions fondly.
Comic Bob Hope stands at a microphone on stage as crowds of United States troops watch the Christmas present he placed on for troops on the Camp Eagle military base, southeast of Hue, Vietnam, on Dec. 22, 1970. (Bettmann Archive/Getty Photos)
In later reflections highlighted by USO, troopers who had been chosen to attend Hope’s efficiency in individual bear in mind their disbelief at seeing Hope in individual, in addition to different celebrities — in addition to being issued clear uniforms.
As Hope’s time in Vietnam got here to an finish, he mirrored on the final 20 years of spreading pleasure to America’s troops.
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“I hope I can be excused a little sentimentality as I look back over 22 of these Christmas trips [and remember] the millions of servicemen and women who responded to our efforts with warmth, enthusiasm and affection,” he stated, based on USO.
Hope was honored with South Vietnam’s highest civilian medal for his “anti-communist zeal” after endorsing then-president Richard Nixon’s bombing of North Korea.
Although he was criticized for supporting authorities insurance policies regarding the battle, Hope believed it was his duty to “lift spirits by entertaining the troops,” as Historical past.com studies.
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Bob Hope lived to be 100 years previous.
On the morning of July 27, 2003, he handed away of pneumonia at his house in Toluca Lake, California, two months after his a centesimal birthday.
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