|
 Born
in Eltham, London, England, in 1903, Bob Hope stands as a
legend among men. He was the first and only “Honorary
Veteran of the US Armed Forces”, as declared by the US
Congress in 1997, at the age of 93. In two centuries of
lawmaking, resolutions and the likes, this was one action
that was absolutely appropriate and unlike many
Congressional actions, could never be questioned.
Bob was born, Leslie Townes Hope, and found his way to
America when his family immigrated to the US in 1908, coming
with millions of others through Ellis Island for the hope of
a better life. Like many youth who grew up during The
Depression, life was difficult, but probably even more
difficult for immigrant families. Inevitably some kids just
seem to get into trouble, and Hope was no different. As a
rebellious young man he was fortunate to have been sentence
to the Boys Industrial School in Lancaster, OH which was one
notch above reform school, and he took advantage of his
second chance.
Most Americans remember Hope as a Vaudeville dancer,
comedian, an actor, and best friend of Bing Crosby. In his
early years Hope bounced around the Vaudeville circuit
entertaining thousands with his humor and dance routines but
finally made it to the big screen, bringing to life, his
“ski-lift” nose, and tears of laughter to millions with more
than 50 movies and theatrical appearances...but every veteran
knows the name “Bob Hope” as the man who brought America to
the front lines to provide moral support from home.
 Bob
Hope began his commitment to the troops with his first
wartime performance at sea aboard the RMS Queen Mary even
before the United States entered World War II. It was
September 1939, in a transatlantic crossing, a harrowing
feat not for the faint of heart as U-Boats we ever on the
prowl. He went to the captain and volunteered to perform a
special show for the passengers who were gripped with
anxiety and near panic. It proved to be a winning formula
which would be applied over and over again during the next
six decades of his life, but at the front lines in America's
wars with the bravest of the brave.
His trademark, “Thanks for the Memory” theme song, with
rewritten lyrics was performed in his first United Service
Organizations (USO) show on May 6, 1941, at March Field,
California which became his vehicle to travel and entertain
troops in nearly every theater of World War II, and then
later during the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the third
phase of the Lebanon Civil War, followed by the Iran–Iraq
War, and the 1990–1991 Persian Gulf War.
Another trademark of the Hope-USO Troupe, was the
gathering on stage of the entertainment ensemble and closing
the show by leading the audience in singing Silent Night.
To most in attendance, it became the most sobering and
solemn moment in time, never to be forgotten. To many who
never made it home, it was a proper tribute for their valor.
For those who do not know the significance of this Christmas
carol, it made the history books by stopping a war if only
for a few hours. The story as related from eyewitness
accounts retold through the diary of Frank Richards in World
War I
On Christmas Eve in December 1914 one of the most
unusual events in military history took place on the
Western front. On the night of Dec. 24 the weather
abruptly became cold, freezing the water and slush of
the trenches in which the men bunkered. On the German
side, soldiers began lighting candles. British sentries
reported to commanding officers there seemed to be small
lights raised on poles or bayonets. Although these
lanterns clearly illuminated German troops, making them
vulnerable to being shot, the British held their fire.
Even more amazing, British officers saw through their
binoculars that some enemy troops were holding Christmas
trees over their heads with lighted candles in their
branches. The message was clear: Germans, who celebrated
Christmas on the eve of Dec. 24, were extending holiday
greetings to their enemies.
Within moments of that sighting, the British
began hearing a few German soldiers singing a Christmas
carol. It was soon picked up all along the German line
as other soldiers joined in harmonizing. The words heard
were these: “Stille nacht, heilige nacht.” British
troops immediately recognized the melody as “Silent
Night” quickly neutralized all hostilities on both
sides. One by one, British and German soldiers began
laying down their weapons to venture into no-man's-land,
a small patch of bombed-out earth between the two sides.
So many soldiers on both sides ventured out, that
superior officers were prevented from objecting. There
was an undeclared truce and peace had broken out if only
for a brief few hours.
So in tuned was Bob Hope with his military audiences that
when overseas he almost always performed in Army utilities
(fatigues) as a show of support carrying his trusty golf
club. And while many have written about the more than sixty
USO tours and his commitment to perform his morale boosting
miracle, most of us never understood the significance of
Silent Night nor could fathom such devotion to duty. To
anyone lucky enough to be present at a Bob Hope performance,
which always singled out a few lucky attendees with special
messages from home, Bob Hope will never be forgotten. Hope's
USO career lasted half a century. John Steinbeck, renowned
author and Nobel Peace Prizes recipient for literature, who
was working as a war correspondent in 1943 wrote:
“When the time for recognition of service to the
nation in wartime comes to be considered, Bob Hope
should be high on the list. This man drives himself and
is driven. It is impossible to see how he can do so
much, can cover so much ground, can work so hard, and
can be so effective. He works month after month at a
pace that would kill most people.”
 For
his service to his country through the USO, he was awarded
the Sylvanus Thayer Award by the United States Military
Academy at West Point in 1968. “The Thayer Award,
established in honor of Col. Sylvanus Thayer, ‘Father of the
Military Academy,' is presented to an outstanding citizen
whose service and accomplishments in the national interest
exemplify the Military Academy motto, Duty, Honor,
Country. The Association of Graduates has presented the
award annually since 1958.”
For his service to America and to the military in
particular, Bob Hope was awarded the nation's highest honor,
“The Presidential Medal of Freedom”, which was created by
President Harry S. Truman in 1945. But for all the GI's who
ever served, Bob Hope will forever be remembered as the
legendary entertainer and USO Ambassador of Goodwill,
who for six decades, brought the USO's famous “touch of
home” and a string of smiles to millions of GI's often
during their most difficult hours. And maybe what makes Bob
Hope so important is that he and his Hollywood “band of
gypsies” gave the U.S. troops real memories with his words
of humor and wisdom...
-
During the WWII, Hope recalls his
plane being shot at when he was on his way to perform
for the troops, and his response to being shot at ... “I
have critics everywhere.”
-
“I have a wonderful make-up crew.
They're the same people restoring the Statue of
Liberty.”
-
Hope appeared in so many theaters
of war over the decades that it was often cracked (in
Bob Hope style) that “Where there's death, there's
Hope”.
-
“I have seen what a laugh can do.
It can transform almost unbearable tears into something
bearable, even hopeful”.
-
“If you haven't got any charity
in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart
trouble”.
-
“You know you're getting old when
the candles cost more than the cake”.
- “You never get tired unless you stop and take time
for it”.
The 1997 act of Congress signed by President Clinton
named Hope an “Honorary Veteran.” He remarked,
“I've been given many awards in my lifetime — but to be
numbered among the men and women I admire most — is the
greatest honor I have ever received.”...Amen
By Ed Mattson
Copyright 2011
Reprinted from Veterans Today
About Author: Following his service in the Marine Corps Ed Mattson built a diverse career in business in both sales and marketing and management. He is a published author and medical research specialist. He is currently Development Director of the National Guard Bureau of International Affairs-State Partnership Program, Fundraising Coordinator for the Warrior2Citizen Project, and Managing Partner of Center-Point Consultants in North Carolina. Mr. Mattson is a noted speaker and has addressed more than 3000 audiences in 42 states and 5 foreign countries. He has been awarded the Order of the Sword by American Cancer Society, is a Rotarian Paul Harris Fellow and appeared on more than 15 radio and television talk-shows.
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Thanks For The Memories
by David G. Bancroft, USA Patriotism! founder |
