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Bob Hope USO Show in North Africa

Bob Hope USO Show in North Africa

Posted: 2 Jan 2008 2:05AM GMT
Classification: Query
My father was in the 7th Army, 9th Evacuation Hospital during World War II. While he was in North Africa sometime in 1943, he was in the audience during a Bob Hope USO Show. Also in this particular show my father saw Jerry Colona and Frances Langford.
I was wondering if there is someone out there who might know the date of that show and where in North Africa it took place?

Thank you, Keith Lawrence

keith79lawrence@msn.com



Re: Bob Hope USO Show in North Africa

Posted: 17 Jan 2008 12:54AM GMT
Classification: Query
He was at Djedeida airfield near Tunis, French North Africa, on August 10, 1943, and announced he was ready to put on a show for the 319th Bomb Group see http://home.att.net/~ww2aviation/BobHope.html

I believe there are some records for Bob’s tours at the US Achives – Try contacting Bobhope.com to see if they can shed any light on it – see http://www.bobhope.com/BobBio7.htm .

Alternatively try contacting the USO see http://www.uso.org/whatwedo/entertainment/historicalusocamps...

Re: Bob Hope USO Show in North Africa

Posted: 19 Jan 2008 12:16AM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi Keith:

My dad was stationed in North Africa. I have a newspaper article detailing the fact that my dad's unit was the last to leave North Africa after the was declared over.

My parents loved Bob Hope but because my dad didn't like to talk about the war, I don't know if he actually saw him while serving overseas.

Re: Bob Hope USO Show in North Africa

Posted: 4 Jan 2013 2:22AM GMT
Classification: Query
My father was the commander of a detail of US Navy gunners assigned to defend a Liberty ship that unloaded cargo in Bone, Tunis, North Africa during August of 1943.

In an informal log that he kept in his possession, he notes that he attended a "Red Cross" show in an open area near that town on the afternoon of August 13th and arranged for his sailors to attend a second performance that evening.

He does not identify the performers, but years later he told me that he had seen Bob Hope and Frances Langford on that convoy run.

In the book "Duty, Honor, Applause: America's Entertainers in World War II"
By Gary L. Bloomfield, Stacie L. Shain, Arlen C. Davidson, there is an undated reference to Hope's performance in Bone, after which the troupe moved on to Algiers.

As an aside, my father did not particularly enjoy Hope's brand of humor...but he had a soft spot in his heart for the man for the rest of his life.



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