Cover Story: Bob Hope, Remembered

Bob Hope, according to one top general, was a "magnificent soldier in greasepaint." The inimitable Hope was the consummate entertainer for millions of US armed forces who remember him with fondness and admiration. Veterans Advantage celebrates his legacy, "The Spirit of Hope."

For more than half of his 100 years, the master of the one-liner, the "ambassador of good will," one of the most celebrated showmen of the 20th century, has brought laughter and solace to GI's.

His famous USO Tours made him synonymous with the USO, as an infinite source of morale-boosting laughter.

"The ‘Spirit of Hope’ will live on in the hearts of all of us who have had the experience of seeing him perform and in the scores of young entertainers who follow in his footsteps, donating their time and talents to the USO," said Edward A. Powell, President and CEO of the USO. "We at the USO will carry on the mission that Bob Hope spearheaded in 1941, for as long as there are young men and women out there protecting America's freedom. The legacy of our ‘Ambassador of Good Will’ will last for years to come," Powell added. Bob Hope was born Leslie Townes Hope in Eltham, England, on May 29, 1903, the fifth of seven sons. His family immigrated to America in 1907, settling in Cleveland, Ohio. Thirteen years later the Hope brothers became U.S. citizens by virtue of their father's naturalization.

December of 1966 found Bob Hope and his indefatigable USO Show troupers (Phyllis Diller, Joey Heatherton, Vic Damone, Anita Bryant, Diana Shelton, The Korean Kittens, Les Brown, and Miss World, Reita Faria), entertaining off the shores of Vietnam. (USO Photo) Bob Hope(C) sits among US soldiers in Wonsan, Korea, during the Korean War in October 1950(AFP/National Archives/File)

After graduating from high school, Hope worked as a dance instructor, newspaper reporter, and amateur boxer, fighting under the name "Packy East." He found his calling, however, as an entertainer, becoming a star in vaudeville, on Broadway, in radio, movies, and television - and something of a hero to U.S. servicemen and women.

For more than 40 years thereafter, Bob Hope would spend Christmas entertaining military men and women somewhere in the world. Bob Hope's first USO performance was at March Field, California, May 6, 1941. This was just five short months after the birth of the USO and just seven months before the attack on Pearl Harbor.

1971 Vietnam

His first USO tour went to Alaska and the Aleutian Islands in 1942. With his sidekick Jerry Colonna, singer Frances Langford and musician Tony Romano, Hope kicked off a tradition of memorable performances lasting generations. The Bob Hope Christmas USO tour started for the GIs who participated in the Berlin Airlift, and he visited military bases and veterans hospitals every December for 34 years. His supporting cast represents a "Who's Who" in Hollywood and beyond:

In Beirut, December 1983. (USO Photo)

His last Christmas tour for the USO was in December 1990, when he ventured to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain to be with troops involved in Operation Desert Shield, right before the launch of Operation Desert Storm to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi military occupation.

He’s also been in harm's way. General Patton once ensured a safe evacuation during an air raid, and in Vietnam he dodged a bombing attempt by 10 minutes, prompting a classic quip: "The same thing happened to me when I was in vaudeville - the audiences were always trying to get me!"

Honored five times by the U.S. Congress, Hope has been recognized for his patriotic efforts, too. The USNS Bob Hope, a roll-on/roll-off cargo ship, was christened in May 1997. The comedian also had an Air Force C-17 transport plane named after him. In 1969, Lyndon Johnson presented him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Bob with his wife Dolores during the 75th Anniversary Toluca Lake Parade. (AFP/File/Frederick M. Brown)