World War II Radio Broadcast for Armed Forces During World War II

Bob Hope began most of his radio broadcasts with the words, "This is Bob [fill in name of remote location] Hope." Hope continued to entertain U.S. troops, wherever they were stationed, for fifty years. In 1997 Bob Hope was designated an honorary veteran for his humanitarian services to the United States Armed Forces by Congress. He is the only individual in history to have earned this honor.

Bob Hope's first radio show for the U.S. Armed Forces was broadcast from March Field in Riverside, California. During World War II Hope was sufficiently moved by the sacrifices the U.S. troops made on behalf of the U.S. public that he and his radio troupe traveled nearly every week to perform The Pepsodent Show at a military training site. Of the 144 episodes of the radio program aired during the war, only nine originated from NBC's studios.

I Never Left Home

In 1944 Bob Hope wrote a book, I Never Left Home, about his work entertaining members of the armed forces during World War II. Over 1.5 million copies of the book were sold. It was adapted for radio for the Lux Radio Theater and recorded as an album for Capitol Records.

First Overseas Visit to the Troops

Nine months after the United States's entered World War II, Bob Hope made his first overseas trip to entertain members of the armed forces. His travel to Alaska, then a U.S. territory, required a special permit.

World War II photos of Bob Hope and Company

In the summer of 1944 Bob Hope hopped from island to island in the South Pacific to entertain the troops. It was an emotional, as well as dangerous, journey for Hope and his colleagues. He logged over 30,000 miles and gave more than 150 performances. Accompanying Hope on the trip were guitarist Tony Romano, singer Frances Langford, dancer Patty Thomas, and gag-writer and Hope chum, Barney Dean.

On the Road to Vietnam

This LP includes excerpts from Hope's mono logs during his 1964 tour of Vietnam and Southeast Asia. The performers' royalties from the sales of the disk were dedicated to the United Service Organizations (U.S.O). The record received only limited distribution.

Delivering "Home" for the Holidays

In December of 1948, Bob Hope and other performers traveled to Berlin, Germany, to entertain members of the armed forces participating in the Berlin Airlift. This was his first Christmas tour to entertain troops and the beginning of a Hope tradition that lasted until1990. Nine of Bob Hope's Christmas tours included Vietnam, from 1964 until 1972.

Bob Hope in Vietnam

The U.S.O. established a tradition of sending Bob Hope on tour to entertain members of the armed forces during the Christmas holiday season.

Da Nang AB: Freedom Hill - 1966

USS Ticonderoga

"Around the World with the U.S.O."

The 1969 "Around the World with the U.S.O." tour was the most ambitious of Hope's career, with performances in Germany, Turkey, Thailand, Korea, and Vietnam. The first performance of the tour was for President Richard M. Nixon and guests at the White House.

Bob Hope's Trademark Golf Club

Bob Hope never stopped being a vaudevillian. Throughout his 1969 U.S.O. tour he carried on stage a symbol of his life-long love for golf-a golf club-using it as a vaudeville song-and-dance man would use a cane. This is the wood used by Bob Hope on the 1969 World Tour.

Artillery Shell Mug

Throughout his career, Bob Hope has been methodical about keeping records, objects, and memorabilia that document his extensive career. Among the memorabilia in Hope's archive is this mug made from a shell casing, given to him during the 1969 U.S.O. tour. This item is one of thousands of such handmade gifts given to Bob Hope by his admirers.