Christmas Day 1970
It was going to be another hot sunny day in Vietnam, but this would go down as one of my most memorable days by far.
A hand full of Charlie Troopers including Roy McDonald and myself hitched a ride in the back of a 3/4 ton Jeep and headed to Long Binh to attend the Bob Hope USO Christmas Show.
I was fortunate enough to be Charlie Troop’s mail clerk when Christmas Day rolled around. Had I still been with the Blues, I would not have made the trip.
Bob was accompanied by Les Brown & his Band of Renown, Miss Universe, Jennifer Hosten, Lola FaLana, Johnny Bench and the Gold Diggers.
This is where I sat on that hot and sunny Christmas Day. A few GI’s climbed trees and telephone poles to get a better view of the stage.
The show ended with everyone singing “Silent Night” and not a dry eye anywhere.
The following four photos were taken by Staff Sgt Dave Roger at the 1969 Bob Hope Christmas Show in Lai Khe.
The show lasted 2 1/2 hours and included Connie Stevens, The Goldiggers, Theresa Graves from Laugh – In, Miss World from Austria, Les Brown and his Band of Renown, and surprise guest Neil Armstrong.
In Dave’s letters home, he described how emotional it was to hear Silent Night; not a dry eye to be found.
National Salute to Bob Hope & the Military – San Diego, CA
My Vietnam Experience 
This is great. Thanks.
Bob Hope, a patriot.
Pd: Merry Christmas to all the veterans!!
A Patriot indeed!
Merry Christmas to you…
Thanks Walker!
Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones…
While in country my unit never got the chance to see bob hope and all the round eyed girls, but we came close. In 1968, we had just been bought out of the field and were told we were to be palace guards and escourts for the Bob Hope review that was goeing to be held at bien hoa. We were given new green camo covers for our helmets and told to put our jungle fatiques in the laundry so that they could be pressed and starched. Plus we were told to shine our j boots to a high gloss. All this we did with great vigiour, for we had been in the field for more than 30 days and this break was to us God sent. We stood in formation all pressed and clean, shit , you could even smell the soap on all of us. Damn we looked sharp. An officer told us the choppers are on the way and they were . As we were flying my squad was slap happy, laughing and jokeing while in bound. We could see the base, oh happy days, but not so fast. We were not headed to the base but were dropped off out side klicks from the sweet smelling women and the comic bob hope. We told we had the job of makeing sure the base would not be hit by 122mm rockets while the show went on. Talk about being pissed. In the jungle smelling and looking good in charleys back yard. We carried out our task and found some launch sites for the rockets and prevented the base being hit. The grunts get squrewd again. where there`s Hope there`s no grunts. FNGs get all the goods. Company B 3/187 101st ABN Div 67-68
Roland, that was quite a story.
You guys did indeed get screwed!
Glorious blog!
Wow, incredible weblog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy. The entire glance of your site is magnificent, let alone the content material!
Had the pleasure of seeing Bob in Hanau, 1970, Danang, 1971 and USS midway, Indian Ocean, U.S. Navy, 1987. Great stuff
I had the good fortune of being the editor of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment’s Blackhorse newspaper in Dec. 1970and got a press pass to Long Binh up in 15th row behind the generals (and their wives!). See photos of the event at:
https://www/mikerophoto.com.
Went to the press conference following too. Great Show!
Wecome Home Mike…but the link you shared is dead.
I was able to see the Bob Hope show in 1968 and 1969 at lai Khe both times in December brought tears to my eyes but made you feel loved.
Welcome Home Andrew…
Welcome home! Sorry about the link casualty! You can find the photo gallery at http://www.mikerophoto.com. Go to the Nam 1970-71 page. Be well!
Was there also for the 1970 Long Binh Bob Hope Christmas Show. Flew in from FSB Buttons, was with the 1st Cav 8th engineers .
Great show! Welcome Home Ted…
I was there for the ’69 Lai Khe show. He only got boo’d (for real) when he said Nixon had a plan to get us out. Seeing Armstrong was surreal and I got to shake hands with Miss World!
He was booed a few times at Long Binh too. Having a press pass, I sat way up front right behind the generals (and many of their wives!), and the brass looked at each other and shook their heads amid the boos.
Welcome home Grady!