Bob Hope, R.I.P.

MSNBC

[leadpenny]

Just Breaking.

[SupplySider]

He really died about 3 years ago, however, no one told him....

Hey - he would have liked that joke......

They said on the news that not long before his passing, he was asked by family where he should be buried when his time comes. He said "Surprise me!" LOL

[MeekOneGOP]

Yep ! He was supposed to celebrate his 100th birthday in England too, or so I had heard.

But I believe he did not. I wondered if it was because the trip would have been too hard on him ?? I'm sure.

Once again, rest in peace, Bob Hope !

[dennisw]

LOVE the GuadalCanal and Vietnam photos.

Rest in peace Bob! You loved America. You loved our fighting men and gals in our armed forces. (You called the ladies gals)

You were the best and they just don't make 'em that way anymore..

[SAMWolf]

Vietnam was my Bob Hope War. Never got to see him live but the got us back to base to watch the Bien Hoa show on AFVN.

Watched all his Christmas Specials for as long as he was doing them on TV.

[celtic gal]

"cant find this on any other channel. Score one for MSNBC"

I live on the left coast and heard the news very early this morning on FOX.

An interesting aside..it was reported that once in an interview Bob Hope was asked where he would like to be buried and his answer was a typical Bob Hope Quip.." Suprise ME".....

He is going to be missed especially by all of us military types....

[TheBigB]

LOL--I have the comic book those panels are from!

[TheBigB]

I have this image of Der Bingle waiting outside the Pearly Gates, a pipe in one hand and a six-iron in the other, saying, "Where the hell ya been? We had a 1998 tee time!" :)

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

We had the good fortune of standing in Bob Hopes dressing room with about 20 people once and meeting him in person. We have some pictures of that moment. It was in the late 80's in Anchorage Alaska. At the Sullivan Arena. I'm going to try to find out the exact date.

I even have a picture of me combing my hair in his dressing room mirror before he got there. :o)

But when he got there it was strange. He wasn't bigger than life like we imagined him, he was smaller in stature and so frail. Or so it seemed to us. He walked in, and it felt as though he was being "directed". Almost as though he was confused. Kind of senile almost.

My co-worker and I stood with him and had our picture taken. (We were both attractive females, or so I'm told). Then others did too. He never really spoke to anyone. Don't get me wrong.. in the pictures you see him smile and they are great pictures. I never mentioned my service. I was too nervous. :o)

Then my husband walked up.

He said "Mr. Hope its great to meet you. I was in Vietnam once when you were, but I missed you in Dong Tam that day, I was flying Medivac at the time".

Mr. Hope TURNED HIS HEAD FOR THE FIRST TIME and looked right into my husbands eyes and his face just changed!! I mean it.. his face lite up!! He put his arm around my husbands shoulder and pulled him into him. My husband told me he hugged him HARD and he grinned ear to ear!! He said "GOOD TO SEE YOU SON"!

Later as we went to our seats, we were conversing about how worried we were. We were nervous he would forget his lines. He just seemed so frail.

Then the lights came on.

It was MAGICAL. It didn't seem like the same man from the dressing room.

So,.. Now the lights are off forever. But we are left with the fact that Bob Hope TRULY loved the troops. We know that he had TOTAL Recall when doing his stage act,.. but when it came to the troops.. THAT WAS FROM THE HEART.

It wasn't an act. The smiles for all the people in the dressing room was something he was used to doing, a routine if you will. But when a medivac pilot who missed the show that night met him for the first time, Bob made the night special. That wasn't "STAGED" but came from the heart.

Later we had drinks with Frank and Eddie Rio, who were with Mr. Hope in Anchorage. Frank went up to his room and Mr. Hope wrote to us on a photograph and signed his name. We were very honored. This is something we both will treasure for the rest of our lives. He really was a great man. I have a feeling when it comes to the troops, there are quite a few stories like ours out there.

"THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES" BOB!!!!!!!!

[sneakers]

God Bless him. May he rest in peace. He gave us all a great gift - the gift of laughter - and his service to the troops was given with love and dedication. There will never be another like him - ever. I'm sure God has a special place for him in heaven.

[Im Your Huckleberry]

What a great guy...a great American passed today.

A true patriot. The guy was as Red, White & Blue as they come.

Hope he and Bing are up there doing another "Road" picture...

[MozartLover]

My favorite Bob Hope movie.......the movie that introduced the Christmas classic "Silver Bells"........

RIP, Mr. Hope. Thanks for the laughter. You will be missed.

[SaveTheChief]

RIP Mr. Hope, and "Thanks for the Memories."

Today, we lost a true national treasure, and a bonafide American hero IMHO.

I had the pleasure of seeing his act back in the early 90's as the Persian Gulf War was about to begin. He had such a great sense of humor, and a true appreciation and understanding for what it means to be an American.

[EternalVigilance]

Bob Hope: An American Touchstone

Bob Hope was an American touchstone
A friend, familiar to us all
As American as apple pie
We loved to watch him have a ball

Through the miracle of the medium
Vaudeville, radio, movies and TV
His unique talents, his superior wit
Were loaned for a lifetime
To you and to me

Like the grandfather everyone loves
Guaranteed to make you smile
We all feel like we knew him
When we found him on the dial

Bless his memory
Bless his family and his wife
Bob Hope lived an ideal
American life

EV

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

If I can find someone local to scan our pictures, maybe we can get them posted here. Thanks for the picture EV. :o)

Thanks for the beautiful poem too.

Mary Ann

[EternalVigilance]

It would be great to see those pics... they are a treasure indeed.

Thank you so much for sharing that wonderful personal story about a wonderful man.

If his picture isn't in Webster's next to the word 'trouper', it should be! :-)

Show biz lost one of a dwindling supply of great ones today, for sure.

[El Gato]

I think Mark Steyn is alluding to liberals from that era which for better or worse have come to be linked to that time.

I'm sure he is, but he's also projecting his own preferances onto a whole generation. It's mine too, and not only did I like his "act", so does my wife, who I just spoke with about his passing.

[goodseedhomeschool (returned)]

Very sorry to hear this news to be sure.

[El Gato]

He always made sure wounded soldiers were given front-row seats at his USO performances, and visited the ones in hospital who were too badly wounded to attend afterwards.

Just think of the sideboys he must have had as he was piped aboard up yonder. Lots of smiling Marine guards up there today too, I'd expect.

[nutmeg]

What a great man and patriot Bob Hope was. Rest in peace, "G.I. Bob"...

[M. Peach]

While visiting the troops near Beirut, he commented, "I was just having lunch in Beirut yesterday in an outdoor cafe.... an hour earlier it was an indoor cafe..."

After playing a round of golf with Gerald Ford, he commented, "Next time I play golf with the president, I'm going to make sure he's over his cold. Every time I was on my down stroke he would start coughing...."