Hope’s Vietnam engagements were among the most dangerous ever for the funnyman and his entertainers. USO entertainers Dixie Leonard and Eddie Sparks travel and perform together through World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. For more than 75 years, the United Service Organizations Inc. (USO) has supported U.S. military members by providing them programs and entertainment during their service. Serving a million clients a month, the show went on. In this article, we’ll be looking some of the Allied entertainment troops that were brought to troops across the world. Steve Martin is a “wild and crazy guy” who has brought his unique comedic style to television and the silver screen since the late 1960s. Bob Hope Entertaining the troops circa 1965. During the Vietnam War, Australian performers brought the swinging '60s to the jungle. 1.2K likes. In this letter, the wife of a soldier Hope entertained quotes her husband’s description of the Christmas show’s emotional concluding moments as GIs joined performers in the singing of “Silent Night.” USO in Vietnam United Service Organization The USO is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to support the troops by providing morale, welfare and recreation-type services to our men and women in uniform; G.I.’s “home away from home.” This was his first Christmas tour to entertain troops and the beginning of a Hope tradition that lasted until1990. Many of the entertainers who toured the Vietnam war were well known...most of them weren't. In this episode we are going to look at some of the unsung heroes of the Vietnam War and that is the entertainers. Other USO show performers mentioned were Dick Powell, Dale Evans, and Yvonne DeCarlo. The comedian and actor participated in 57 USO tours, visiting military members during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the first Gulf War. Other leading performers such as Connie Stevens, Ann-Margret and Joey Heatherton welcomed the opportunity to join him, despite the stress of travel into a far-flung war zone and the hardships they encountered there. Funds are paid by Greater Good Charities to benefiting organizations as a grant. During the Vietnam War, Hope had trouble convincing some performers to join him on tour. They were not a USO outfit. © 2000–2021 The Veterans Site and GreaterGood. … →. Rooney also participated in USO tours during the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Whether it’s in USO centers around the country or on military bases around the world, the USO works hard to bring a slice of home to those serving abroad and in distant lands. Like fellow USO performer Bob Hope, actor and comedian Mickey Rooney began entertaining troops during World War II and continued to do so throughout his lifetime. Most centers offered recreational activities, such as holding dances and showing movies. tours to entertain the troops reads like a who's who of celebrities: John Wayne, Marilyn Monroe, Mickey Rooney, Lucille Ball, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and George Burns, were just a few of the people who performed and visited with the troops in the early days of the U.S.O. Photo: Wikimedia Commons The USO shows weren’t without calamity: In fact, over the years twenty-eight performers died from various causes, including plane crashes or illness. The USO Girls of Vietnam. Bob Hope USO Christmas Show - Vietnam 1969 Addeddate 2016-10-29 04:20:56 Identifier Videoplayback3_201610 Scanner Internet Archive HTML5 Uploader 1.6.3. plus-circle Add Review. President Bill Clinton named Hope an “Honorary Veteran” in 1997, to which Hope said, “I’ve been given many awards in my lifetime — but to be numbered among the men and women I admire most — is the greatest honor I have ever received.”. Thank you. The Kappa Pickers did three USO tours for troops during the height of the Vietnam war, 1970-71. Each one brought there special gift. Jack Jones sings 'Wives and Lovers' to an Army nurse. Provide food and supplies to veterans at The Veterans Site for free! A professional group of musicians and singers who toured Vietnam at various times from 1968-1972. The actor and filmmaker starred in over 140 movies over the course of his 50-year career, which began in the late 1920s and went into the late ’70s. He had a deep respect for the men and women who served in the military, and this was reflected in his willingness to go anywhere in order to entertain them. Left to right: Julie Hibberd, Margaret Britt, Denise Cooper, Carol Middlemiss and Valerie Fallon. The singer slumped, a … The sisters performed extensively for troops of the Allied forces during World War II, frequently singing their hit song, “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” as part of their USO performances. Entertainers of all stripes have volunteered their time and talents to keeping up the morale of … All rights reserved. . Publication date 1969 Topics Bob Hope, USO, Christmas Show, Vietnam, 1969. '” During the Vietnam War, Sinatra visited and sang for troops at the U.S. military bases near Saigon. She scored a hit with the 1966 song, “These Boots Are Made For Walkin. Both past and present, the list of stars who have gone on U.S.O. It has been estimated that the USO performed, between 1941 and 1945 alone, almost 300,000 shows before over 150 million service members. Entertainment, especially travelling groups that would operate dangerously close to the front lines, brought a slice of normality and home life to those abroad. Joan Crawford in the US Like her co-star and rival Bette Davis, Joan Crawford was once one of Hollywood’s biggest names, mostly during the 40s and 50s. With 40 percent of America’s forces overseas and despite the Vietnam War’s most dangerous moments, a total of 5,559 USO performances were staged. As a boy, he already loved Hong Kong cinema. In 1990, Martin and his wife visited troops in Saudi Arabia at the beginning of the Gulf War. Over the last seven decades, some of the country’s best performers have taken the USO stage to entertain troops with music, dancing, and comedy routines. In the Second World War, Rooney served with special services in the U.S. Army for nearly two years, earning a Bronze Star Medal. To lift our spirits and make us smile. In December of 1948, Bob Hope and other performers traveled to Berlin, Germany, to entertain members of the armed forces participating in the Berlin Airlift. God bless America! 7. Consisting of sisters LaVerne, Maxene, and Patty, the group was quite active from the late 1930s into the early ’50s, and boasted sales of more than 75 million records over the group’s career. His USO career lasted half a century, during which he headlined 57 tours. By Robert Klara. Photo: Flickr/Peabody Awards Instead, Martin and his wife met with service members and signed autographs. Many famous Americans answered the call to serve the United States Army, Navy, and Marines during World War II, either performing active duty or as part of home front efforts.This list remembers famous Americans, journalists, musicians, and sports figures who were enlisted voluntarily and were killed while serving their country in one fashion or another … Even with some Americans at home debating Vietnam War policies, the USO continued to assist soldiers far away from home, by whatever means necessary. Here’s a look at 10 of the greatest performers to grace the USO stage. Nine of Bob Hope's Christmas tours included Vietnam, from 1964 until 1972. History Mission and goals. Always in danger as they put on there show. Johnny left Vietnam at the age of 8, uncertain of what lied ahead. In this land of Uncle Ho. Visitors to South Vietnam including Bob Hope, John Wayne and Richard Nixon. Please support The Veterans Site by adding us to your ad blocker’s whitelist – ads help us to provide food and supplies to veterans. Owned and operated by CharityUSA.com, LLC. It was during this performance that the band was forced to leave the stage due to a Viet Cong mortar attack. They came to us to bring a smile. Radio was the chief form of news and entertainment, and listening increased during wartime and by 1945 there were nearly ten million radio licenses in Britain. Veth praised Krause for her work in both her roles with the USO in Vietnam and notes her acceptance of the National Jewish Welfare Board’s Certificate of Achievement in 1966 and the certificate of appreciation she received from Army Gen. William C. Westmoreland, who commanded American forces in Vietnam from 1964-68. USO Show, American soldiers viewed from behind, watching three woman in revealing bikinis dance seductively during a show in Vietnam during the Vietnam War, a man playing a keyboard on stage behind... Seamus O'Dubhlainndonut dollies, uso Actor Mickey Rooney, a World War II Bronze Star recipient, honoring the USO in 2000 The USO was... World War II. The eldest daughter of legendary crooner Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra went on to have a successful singing career of her own in the 1960s and early ’70s. Vietnam War Entertainers today feature story is about Vietnam War Entertainers "Pamela Smith and the Kappa Pickers" - three tours to Vietnam to Entertain the Troops 1970 -1971. entertainers toured the bases in Việt Nam to support the … By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy. Celebrities in Hollywood that have donated their time and talents helping our troops and USO both in US & overseas. Unlike the official USO entertainers in Vietnam, my group stayed in Vietnam for up to a year at a time. The following entertainers performed for U.S. military personnel and their allies in the combat theatre during the Vietnam War (1959–1975): Quintessence 1970 (Clive and Stanley Romney, Sheryl Albiston, Jack McDonald, Ruth Sorensen), [Soapography, "Rick Springfield and Kimberly McCullough", aired June 16, 2007 on SOAPnet], The Ralph Kimbrough and Dee Steele Show (1969), The Bob Hope Vietnam Christmas Show (1971)(TV) (IMDb.com), On the Road: USO Shows: Bob Hope and American Variety (Library of Congress), Bob Hope's Overseas Christmas Tours: Around the World with the Troops - 1941-1972 (1980)(TV) (IMDb.com), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_entertainers_who_performed_for_American_troops_in_Vietnam&oldid=999917692, United States military support organizations, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 12 January 2021, at 16:23. Despite the death of LaVerne in 1967, the Andrews Sisters remained active until disbanding in 1975. Although, the actor and comedian didn’t put on a show, which was at the request of military officials, as public entertainment was not locally permitted. Those were the girls of the USO. In the fierce tropical heat of Bien Hoa Airbase they sang, danced and joked for 70 minutes to a packed audience of troops. Other performers included Davis' wife, Altovise, and folk singer Lynn Kellogg. The group lived off the local economy. artist: Ken Schultz Long Binh, Vietnam, February 23, 1972: Sammy Davis Jr. meets one of the 15,000 servicemembers who were on hand for his USO-sponsored show. Musician - Carmine D'Amico where he worked with Bob Hope and other USO performers in Vietnam http://cdbaby.com/cd/cde D' Mighty Mustangs: 1968 Damone, Vic Singer, Actor - Bob Hope Christmas show 1966: Daly, Jan: Bob Hope Christmas show 1971: Davis, Willie Vietnam War Entertainers, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Johnny would start training in martial arts and now has over 18 years of experience in Kung Fu, Tai Chi and Japanese Aikido. Bob Hope’s annual USO Christmas tours in Vietnam prompted many letters from family members of servicemen. Cathy Wayne had just finished her set with the Sweethearts on Parade band in the US Marines mess at Da Nang when the shot rang out. A troupe of Australian entertainers last week took the "big beat" to Australian soldiers in Viet Nam during a three-day tour of Army bases. 10 of the Stars Who’ve Made the USO the Biggest Celebrity Brand in History. Keeping the morale of those both at home and abroad undoubtedly went a great way to helping the war effort. The name “Bob Hope” just seems to be synonymous with the USO, as Hope devoted so much time to the organization and the troops. It was equally important to those serving in the forces, both in Britain and overseas. They all chose to come here . Sort by: View: 25 names 1. John Wayne was the iconic symbol of a frontiersman in American cinema. This USO History Channel video shows Danny Kaye entertaining the World War II soldiers. And there were... Korean War. As an actor, Rooney appeared in over 300 films, his career spanning from the late 1930s until he passed away in 2014. Getty Images offers exclusive rights-ready and premium royalty-free analog, HD, and 4K video of the highest quality. Johnny is … The Andrews Sisters were instrumental in boosting morale toward the war effort, encouraging the sale of war bonds through their music, and often wearing military uniforms as they performed. Approx 3,000 American U.S.O. A procession of the biggest names of the era travelled to entertain Australian and US troops: Patti McGrath, Denise Drysdale, Col Joye, Johnny O'Keefe, … The event was yet another USO tour that took place on Christmas Eve in 1970, all in aid of raising the spirits amongst soldiers in the Vietnam War. Bob Hope USO Christmas Show - Vietnam 1969. Find professional Uso videos and stock footage available for license in film, television, advertising and corporate uses. The Andrews Sisters were a popular singing group of the swing and boogie-woogie music eras. Entertainment during the Second World War provided civilians with a form of escape from the hardships of wartime life. The following entertainers performed for U.S. military personnel and their allies in the combat theatre during the Vietnam War (1959–1975): Bobby Rydell; Roy Acuff1970; Anna Maria Alberghetti; Caroll Baker; Madeleine Hartog Bell; Johnny Bench; Polly Bergen; Joey Bishop; Vida Blue; Jimmy Boyd; James Brown; Les Brown; Anita Bryant; John W. Bubbles; Raymond Burr; … The group took a break from their act in the mid-1950s, but later continued to perform. Wayne did a USO tour in the Pacific theater during World War II and also visited troops during the Vietnam War.
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