From the S&S archives: GIs cheer Hope — and miniskirts

DA NANG, Vietnam — Comic Bob Hope brought his 18th annual Christmas show into Da Nang Monday to the cheers of servicemen who got the point when he called the place "Dodge City."

The cheers were matched by what might have been the greatest mass wolf-whistle ever heard in Vietnam when Hope trotted out his miniskirted female entourage, including actress Raquel Welch.

About 12,000 troopers — many of them Marines who man the Demilitarized Zone border with North Vietnam — turned out for the performance. About 100 of them spent the night on the hillside to make sure they got a seat.

"This place has changed hands more often than Liz Taylor," Hope quipped. Then he took off, joking about officers, chow, the Viet Cong and peace demonstrators back home.

When he mentioned a recent directive banning pinups, somebody in the audience held up a picture of Miss Welch.

"What do you think of all those people at the Pentagon — all those scientists and intelligence people. The can't even invent a new ration," Hope said.

What kind? "Powdered women."

Hope and singer Phil Crosby, wigged and carrying antiwar signs, drew roars of approval as they ribbed the peaceniks.

Hope told the Marines, soldiers and airmen, many of whom came to the show carrying M16 rifles:

"Don't worry about the riots in the states, You'll be sent to survival school before you go back there."

Lt. Gen. Robert Cushman, commander of U.S. Marines in Vietnam, entertained Hope and his troupe at a buffet lunch shortly before the performance.

For Hope, this is the 19th Christmas season spent overseas with American servicemen since the Berlin Airlift of 1948. The schedule calls for 22 shows in 13 days plus stops at field hospitals and hospital ships.

With him were Miss Welch in a hip-hugging blue and white knit miniskirt; musical comedy star Elaine Dunn in a white sequined mini; Miss World, Medallion Hartog Bel, of Peru, in a snug gold mini, and singer Barbara McNair, who wore a slinky orange gown and drew roars as she sang, "I'm a Woman."

At the end of the two-hour show, Miss McNair led the thousands of troopers in "Silent Night."

Then Hope and the others left to talk to wounded servicemen aboard the hospital ship Sanctuary in Da Nang Harbor and at the Navy Station Hospital and 1st Medical Det.

Hundreds of wounded and sick troopers, mostly in blue medical pajamas, managed to make it to the show.

Hope and his troupe are staying in Bangkok for security reasons. They are to be flown into South Vietnam each (lay aboard big Air Force transport planes for the shows.

"They won't even tell me where we are playing next," Hope said.