We were all looking forward to Bob Hopes show. A WW2 icon. My buddy and I just came off shift and were wandering around complete with M14’s over shoulder. We wandered into the theater area. We saw some rows of chairs set up. No one was around. I saw a Utility shirt hanging on one of the chairs. On closer inspection I saw Lt. Bars on the collars. What caught my attention was an Operation Big Cheer attached to the front pocket with a pin. Being a resourceful L/Cpl, I removed the tag and put it on my shirt. My buddy had a fit but it didn’t faze me. We wandered into a tent area looking around. A guy came out of a tent. I knew immediately that it was Jerry Collina by his mustache and eyes. He smiled and talked to us. My buddy told him what I did.
He laughed. He took us into the tent. I met Jack Jones, Miss World and an actress from Days of our Lives I think. I also met Les Brown and several girls. Dancers I guess. Then all of a sudden the tent door flew open. Wow, it was Bob Hope who was cursing like a Marine because he was late. He was told our story and he just shook our hands and laughed. He was impressed with my effort. He put his arm around our shoulders and we had two chairs in the stage wing. We watched the show from there. I got autographs from him and other stars on that tag. It was later list in s divorce. This memory will be with me till I die. Bob Hope was a wonderful man and loved Marines. God Rest his soul. Thanks for reading and Semper Fi to all, including Mr. Hope.
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I remember growing up watching Bob Hope Christmas special’s on tv with my father who was career Navy, never thinking that I would be a young Marine at a Bob Hope Christmas show. But in 1970 at Freedom Hill RVN I was. I remember Bob Hope brought Johnny Bench rookie of the year with him. Even though I couldn’t see the show very well because we were on top of the hill looking down, It will always be a great memory that I’ll never forget. L/Cpl Rhodes
I was at An Hoa in 1970 and my best friend Cpl. RALPH PALMER was also picked to go see Bob Hope. He came back and said the same thing he was so far away he could hardly see the show. We were both in 12th Marines before extending and getting sent to the 11Th Marines.
Thanks for your post Kim. I loved Bob Hope. I still watch his black and white screen movies every chance I get. Semper Fi to you. Oh forgive the spelling in the story. My iPad ain’t that smart. Lol. Stan
Marines in WW II carried the M1 not the M14. The Corps received the M14 in 1962 and used it in the early part of the Vietnam War..
Your Exactly right AL
Your right Al, but if you read the story closer (DAYS OF OUR LIVES), this Marine was in Nam.
He stated he was a L/CPL, obvious he was in Vietnam,There weren’t any L/CPL’S in WW 2
The L/Cpl. did not say he was in WWII but that Bob Hope was a “WWII ICON”. I saw him at Hill 327 (Freedom Hill) Da Nang Christmas show 66 and almost got killed getting there. My Dad saw him during WWII and one of my mother’s bothers saw him in Korea. BTW I was armed with the M-14 my whole four years (64-68) as a T/O weapon, and in Nam also variously used the “Grease gun” .45 cal. submachine gun and an Ithica 12 gauge pump and carried a S&W mod 27-2 .38/357 revolver. MAG-16, I-Corps 66-67. ^^ show–Phyliss Diller, Joey Heatherton, Miss Universe an Asian Indian girl, and a few others, and of course Les Brown. Diller almost caused a riot in her “bird leg” costume. Said something to the effect that she needed some loving and the guys surged toward the stage.
BTW the L/Cpl. rating, an original rank in the Corps in 1775 through the civil war area, came back in 1957. During WWII the rank was Pvt.(E-1), PFC (E-2), Cpl.(E-3), Sgt.(E-4), Tech or Staff Sgt.(E-5), GySgt.(E-6)., etc., etc..
Wrong. After Sgt. rank was SSgt, then TSgt (E-6) and MSgt (E-7). Gunnery Sgt. was a billet not a rank until the pay groups were expanded.
Your right Al. They always talk to long and get caught. 1953 to 1957
John, Where did you do Boot Camp? I did Parris Island Nov 53 Plt 440, graduated 18 Jan54. Then to Camp Pendelton. Next to Korea, Hdq.Co.1 st Engneers Bat. Any chance we could have croosed paths? Chuck Gibson Cpl. 1953 to 1957
Wasn’t it utility JACKET not shirt?
Probably 8 week wonders. A real term bootcamp would have had them more squared away.
Chris, can you explain your “8 week wonders” remark? Also, “real term boot camp?” Were many of our 58,000 lost brothers “8 week wonders?” If so, it’s a shame they were not as you say, “more squared away.”
I was an “8 Week Wonder” Jan/Mar 1966. According to our D.I.’s they crammed 12 weeks of training into 8 weeks. We trained instead of having inter-platoon games on Saturdays and drilled on Sunday afternoons. Everything was push, push, push. Also, the “8 Week Wonders” bled red and died dead just like the rest.
Bob, Amen brother.
The author was talking about Vietnam and not WWII
Christmas 1969. No show for us as we were humping in mountains northwest of Danang. PFC Ricky Glaspey and PFC Terry Joslin both KIA on December 26th. Not a good Christmas. I later heard a recording of Connie Stevens singing “Wedding Bell Blues” at the Freedom Hill Christmas show. Hearing that song stirs many memories to this day. On a lighter note: When Easter came around in 1970 Cardinal Cooke was to say mass at Freedom Hill. Some of us “Mackerel Snappers” were put on a supply chopper and sent to the rear to attend mass. We got there early and immediately deployed to the beer garden. When mass time came around some First Sergeant had to use the threat of discipline to get us to mass. It wasn’t Bob Hope but anytime you could get to the rear with the gear (and have COLD beer) was a good thing. Semper Fi brothers. (USMC 68-72) (RVN 69-70) 0351
He just stated the Bob Hope was a WWII icon, not that it was during WWII.
You old farts need to lighten up!! We are all Marines and we are allowed to tell our story our way! Enjoy the story, quit nit pick’n! I wish I had been so lucky. My Dad saw Bob during WWII. He said it nice for a few hours, then back to business. Semper Fi to old and new and in between Marines!!!!!!!! Cpl. Walter, 1968-75
MR WALTER I SECOND YOUR STATEMENT. TO MANY KNOW IT ALL MARINES WITH A MIND SET OF NIT PICK IN. WHO GIVES A SHIT IF IT WAS AN M1 M5 M14 OR M16. THEY ALL KILL THE ENEMY THE SAME WAY——-DEAD. SEMPER FI GUYS EVEN YOU OLD FARTS LIKE ME AND PROUD OF IT. 1ST MAW DANANG 66—68. LOTS OF GOOD CLEAN FUN. IF YOU BELIEVE THAT I HAVE A BRIDGE YOU MIGHT WANT TO BUY. IT’S CALLED THE TAPPEN ZEE. THE OLD ONE NOT THE NEW ONE. GO HAVE A COLD BEER ON ME.
The Bob Hope show came to Chu Lai, VN, December 1966. I was stationed at Chu Lai with VMA-223 and we rotated to Iwakuni 2 weeks before the show. Later I found out that none of the Marines stationed at Chu Lai were allowed to go to the show, it was for the grunts in the field. Sorry to have missed the opportunity but loved Hope anyway. And Japan was better than VN anyway. Semper Fi to the rest of you Jarheads.
Dec 1968 Bob Hope’s Christmas Show was at Freedom Hill. At the time I was stationed at the logistics center Camp Books also known as Red Beach although the beach was more pink than red. I was about 3/4s of the way up the hill and had a pair of beat up and almost useless binoculars. Ann Margaret was dancing and singing in a very thin outfit and I was fortunate there was a jarhead with a hugh pair of what I think were artillery binoculars on a tripod very close to my position. My memory is he charged two US dollars for one minute which I gladly paid. Could be a little off on the rental price but worth whatever the going rate was.
Enjoyed these wonderful comments. Quite a few celebrities visited Vietnam while I was there (1966-1967) for what was called, “Handshake Tours,” meaning just that–they would be escorted from different military service unit areas to literally “shake the hands” of our Soldiers, Sailors and Marines and thank them for their service. I had the privilege of escorting several such dignitaries as Robert Mitchum, Robert Stack, Henry Fonda, Wendell Corey, Roy Rogers and his wife Dale, and also Heavyweight Boxing Champion Floyd Patterson (youngest and oldest champ). I wrote a “pictorial”that includes pictures of some of them, titled, “A Great Marine General Died in Vietnam,” which can be seen by pasting this link into your browser: http://www.stagnesalumni.org/StoriesGenHochmuth.shtml