From the S&S archives: Bob Hope: They love him in Cu Chi

CU CHI, Vietnam — Bob Hope brought his Christmas road show to this 25th Inf. Div. camp Tuesday and told an audience of 15,000 GIs they were last year's winners in the draft lottery.

"One guy offered to bet the government double or nothing," the 66-year-old comedian said. "He's now stationed at Fort Benning and Fort Dix."

Wearing jungle fatigues, red Ranger beret and master sergeant stripes, Hope staged a 2½-hour show at this outpost 20 miles northwest of Saigon with his 83-member troupe, including astronaut Neil Armstrong.

In the audience were Adm. John S. McCain, commander in chief Pacific; Lt. Gen. Julian J. Ewell, commander of 100,000 American troops in the provinces around Saigon; 25th Division commander Maj. Gen. Harris Hollis and other high-ranking U.S. officers.

Seated 20 feet from the VIP delegation was a GI in a leg cast with a bright red peace symbol painted on it.

Hope told the GIs the peace talks in Paris were "going great — then the North Vietnamese showed up."

Armstrong, first man to walk on the moon, appeared in fatigue pants and a yellow T-shirt bearing the words "Chieu Hoi." The latter is Vietnamese for "Open Arms," the government program under which Communist deserters are given asylum.

Armstrong's tour with the Hope troupe was arranged by Vice President Spiro T. Agnew in his capacity as chief of the National Space Program. Armstrong was in Bangkok on a goodwill mission when he joined the Hope entourage for the rest of the trip.

"It's man's nature to explore the unknown," the Apollo 11 spaceman told Hope.

"You don't have to tell these guys," Hope said. "they eat in the mess hall every day."

"You weren't one of the funniest astronauts," the comedian said.

"Well, Bob, there are some of us who don't travel with idiot (cue) cards," Armstrong replied.

Other members of the Hope cast this year include the Les Brown band, singer-actress Connie Stevens. singer-dancer Teresa Graves of the "Laugh-In" television show, dancer Suzanne Charny and the 12-girl dance group "The Golddiggers."