Just a Thought: Speaking
with Bob Hope
by Steve Walker
by Steve Walker
With two more “Just a Thought” columns
left this year on a three year run of my weekly column, I thought I would walk
down memory lane once again. If you add the two previous years of my “Ask the Judge”
column, I will complete five years in anticipating an additional 6th
year in 2016.
In 1995 I was assigned for 17 days to
cover the 50th Anniversary of the ending of the Second World
War in 1945 in Hawaii as an Army Reservist Public Affairs Sergeant. The event
drew thousands of WWII Veterans, celebrities and Americans who gathered in
Hawaii for the remembrance.
As a Reservist who was assigned to the
Pentagon in the Army Newspaper Branch for 12 years to include 1995, I worked 14
hour days during the three week long assignment as part of the support troops
assigned to the task of assuring a successful celebration.
While it was a great opportunity to
visit Hawaii and enjoy the surroundings of the beach, I assure you it was not a
vacation. Although I saw the beach, I did not have time to enjoy it much less
even walk along the beach! Appreciative that I was there, I worked harder and
longer than on most of my Reserve tours over the years.
President Bill
Clinton & then First Lady Hillary
Clinton were present for the event. President Clinton officially laid the
wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier after his speech to those present.
Other well-known personalities also addressed the crowd at the wreath laying as
well.
Immediately after the wreath laying, the
President and First Lady mingled in the crowd. As part of the military media I
was in close proximity to the President and other dignitaries. One of those
dignitaries was Maxine Andrews, a
member of the 1940s sister singing groups, the Andrew Sisters.
The three sisters, Patti, Laverne and
Maxine also entertained troops during World War II with other entertainers to
include Comedian Bob Hope. Patti
Andrews the last survivor of the group passed away two years ago in
her 90s.
I did have the privilege of personally
meeting Maxine and actually hugged her at the time. I hugged her gently since
she looked frail. She graciously told me, “thank you for not squeezing me. I
have four broken ribs.” Boy was I relieved! I could have seriously injured her.
Unfortunately she passed away three weeks after the event at the age of 79.
After the wreath laying ceremony there
was a parade where comedian and icon Bob Hope served as Grand Marshall. As we were readying for
the parade, Bob Hope was
wandering around. Since I missed seeing him perform in Phu Bai, Vietnam when I
was stationed there in 1970, I decided to walk up to him and shake his hand.
As he walked toward me I held out my
hand and said, “Glad to meet you Mr. Hope.” He looked at me a little dazed and
responded, “Which way do I go?” Being the smart mouth all my life, I responded,
“Follow the Yellow Brick Road!” pointing in the distance. He smiled and said,
“Thank You.”
A Colonel who was close by, grabbed my
shoulder and said, “What did you just say to Bob Hope?” Stammering I repeated what I said. I quietly and
quickly removed myself from the area. While Bob Hope lived to be 100
years old, he was 94 at the time and suffering early stages of dementia.
I felt bad that once again my smart
mouth that the nuns in grade school tried to curtail, landed me in trouble with
higher ups again. But then I did get to shake hands with a legend who
entertained troops during WWII, the Korean War and of course Vietnam.
Missing him the first time around, I was
given a second chance 25 years later for a personal encounter with icon Bob Hope.
As always, what I write is Just a
Thought.
Steve Walker is a Vietnam Veteran, former Journalist and
Justice of the Peace.
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