Bob Hope: For Servicemen The Name Speaks For Itself.

A lot is being said about Bob Hope, and a lot should be said. He was truly a great American. But there is something interesting about how we remember this man. He was a comedian, a celebrity, a Hollywood type, if you will, even though Hollywood played second fiddle to the great days of radio. He made people laugh, but very few of us can remember specific jokes or lines. Maybe it is because there were too many of them, for when he took to the stage ... any stage ... everyone knew there was going to be a running series of one-liners, and crazy stories that poked fun at famous people, and odd-ball jokes ... and before the program was even underway the audience was rolling in laughter. And, I might add, it was superbly funny without being filthy dirty. He was a funny man.

But I ask you this: what is your first image of Bob Hope. And I'll bet it is not a TV show, or a movie with Bing Crosby, or even the sound of radio. I'll wager your first image of Bob Hope is just like mine: It is Bob Hope the American comedian in front of a group of American military men in some God-forsaken spot in the world, breaking their monotony with laughter, having fun with them out where they are fighting for our freedom, poking fun at their commanding officers with the help of those good men, saying to our troops wherever they were that those of us back home honor them and thank them.

It would be interesting to know just how many days in Bob Hope's 100 year lifetime he spent preparing for and carrying out trips to entertain the troops. He did not simply go to the comfortable places, for he liked to entertain where the duty was tough. He gave up his Christmases and holidays with his family to entertain servicemen who were giving up theirs. He did not take the easy trips. He went to the troops, when we were winning and when we were losing, and whether the war was popular or not.

I don't ever remember Bob Hope speaking out about how he supported our troops. He didn't have to. He gave of himself, and used his great talent to support them, and for that I will always love him.

This is Gordon Sawyer, from a window on historic Green Street.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2003/8/174819