High morale in any war zone has always been hard to come by. Care packages from home prove to be the best spirit booster but, in their place, celebrities sometimes entertain troops overseas.
Naturally, such shows are and were not always possible. In heavy combat areas, the military wisely doesn't endanger troops or performers.
One showman pushed that envelope and was a virtual staple of GIs for six decades, offering a continual glimmer of "hope" in battle zones the world over. Beginning in 1941 and extending through Operation Desert Storm, comedian Bob Hope exhaustively entertained military personnel.
By the 1930s, Hope was making guest appearances on several radio shows before headlining "The Pepsodent Show" on NBC radio. There he featured an opening monologue of topical jokes – the precursor of what we enjoy today on late-night television talk shows.
Radio was followed by films, which included "The Big Broadcast of 1938." In that he sang "Thanks for the Memory," which would become his signature tune the rest of his life. Once World War II broke out, Hope jumped in. While never officially serving in any branch of the military, he became the official ambassador of morale, performing hundreds of times overseas for troops. He was given the nickname "GI Bob" because of his enduring commitment to entertaining those who fought, and was the first person recognized by Congress as an honorary veteran of the United States Armed Forces. Because of his work with the troops, his honors also include the Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Hope died at his home in Southern California on July 27, 2003, two months after his 100th birthday.
Last week, Hope was postally immortalized on a new U.S. first-class stamp featuring his unmistakable likeness. The 44-cent stamp was released in a ceremony that included his daughter Linda. At the event, Linda commented, "I know Dad would have been thrilled by this honor.
"In one of his monologues he said, 'Have you seen the new commemorative the post office is issuing? They feature pictures of people who died of shock when they heard what a stamp will cost.' "
The stamps are on sale nationwide. There's also one other postal tribute to Hope's legacy of supporting the troops. Those all-important care packages soldiers yearn for are discounted when shipped overseas. Flat-Rate Priority Mail boxes in the United States cost $13.95 to send domestically. However, if sent to a U.S. military addresses overseas, the price is reduced to $11.95.
Peter Rexford writes for Creators Syndicate. Contact him at P.O. Box 50377, St. Louis, MO 63105.
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