The USO is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to support the troops by providing morale, welfare and recreation-type services to our men and women in uniform; G.I.’s “home away from home.”
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.
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.
Curry Amphitheater on Long Binh Post – Photo by Dave Ondrey
Vietnam “Santa Claus” with a group of hospital patients during one of the 1970 Bob Hope Christmas Shows. Photographer unknown
Santa visits Phuoc Vinh The man to the right of Santa is CPT Enn Tietenberg, 1/9th’s XO. Photographer unknown
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.
My Vietnam Experience 
