The Bob Hope USO Christmas Show in An Khe, Vietnam, in December 1966 was a major morale booster for the 1st Air Cavalry Division, featuring comedians like Phyllis Diller, singer Anita Bryant, actress Joey Heatherton, and Korean vocalists The Kim Sisters, bringing laughter and a sense of appreciation to thousands of troops during the holiday season in the middle of the war. (Google)
The photo above I have shared before and also the quick story.
I had a ringside seat at this Bob Hope Christmas Special with the 1st Air Cav, An Khe, Vietnam, December 1966.
I had been in country for a little over a week. Flew to An Khe in the back seat of a UH-1H, assigned to my unit the 2nd of the 20th, ARA. I maybe had one or two flight hours under my belt; as green as they come and lost in the speed of getting my year's tour of duty started.
The pilots drew straws to get to go this Bob Hope Christmas special, and I was one of three of us getting a short straw. It was fair and square, but I felt one of the older experienced pilots should have gotten my slot. But, it was fair and all understood.
The walk to the show across the base would have taken well over an hour but the Captain was officer in charge of the three of us and quite a character. We found a lone jeep, commandeered the vehicle, told to get in and be quite. Off we went to the Bob Hope Show in someone else's jeep.
Upon arrival, we left the jeep and climbed to the gathering only to find ourselves far from the stage and at the outer ring of a sea of soldiers already in place. No room to walk through.
The Captain then found some kind of white cloth, ripped three strips and we each tied one to our upper sleeves. He said to follow him and not to say a word. We entered the ring of tightly packed GIs, the Captain saying, "General's pilots! Generals pilots!" as we entered the gathering. And like magic, a path cleared and we walked right down to the back of the chairs where the real generals were seated. I had much to learn that year and that Captain taught me much about living a life. Standing just behind the generals seated to watch the show was a ringside seat for the three of us. We had many laughs about that moment that year. I have never forgot the lesson(s).
Bob Hope Christmas special 1966
Christmas, 59 years ago, far from home in a war zone. At 37:33 shows some of the An Khe show and the sea of GIs we waded through.
Those years tore at our country. The Bob Hope Specials brought home and laughter to the men and women serving. The actors and singers that went with Bob Hope were proud to share their time with us and it helped all of us get through a tough Christmas far away from home, be just a little closer to us and that we were appreciated.
I could write much here, but maybe for another time. Take some time to watch the goodness that Bob Hope brought to this country at a most difficult time in our history.
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A 2025 White Christmas Eve morning.
Merry Christmas to you and yours on this Christmas Eve.
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