chapter 144 L
12/14/2014
Bob Hope
there's always comic relief and hope in a war zone
On 28Dec1966 the Bob Hope Christmas Tour Special stopped at Da Nang Air Base Vietnam on one of it's 14 stops in the war zone. It was a wonderful thing for morale that Bob did for troops for many years going back to WW2. Troops enjoyed actress Playboy model Joey Heatherton and the baton twirling Diane Shelton, who went on to become a doctor and professor of Veterinary Science.
Singer Anita Bryant, comedian Phyllis Diller and the first Asian to win Miss World Reita Faria also entertained among many others. Anita took a pie in the face a decade from gay rights activists. Phyllis's husband worked at the Ford's Willow Run plant during WW2 churning out B-24s. Reita actually shunned a modeling career instead becoming a medical doctor.
Witowski photo of the troops was of sufficient quality to crop into a dozen cropped shots. A hundred recognizable soldiers, posted on Facebook to see if anyone recognized themselves. Would be cool to get the reverse angle shot from one of those cameras.
link to summary Vietnam Slideshow 66-68
Blonde Sgt Robert Witowski squats center among his crew of USAF, Army, and ARVN soldiers near a rice paddy. He had joined up right out of New York High School of Art and Design and did three tours in Vietnam.
In summary: other chapters where I used Witowski photos F4 Phantom, Combat Photography, Jolly Green Giant, Khe Sanh
Bob Hope Christmas Tour Special
USO veterans to elephants to veterinary professor
US military units at Da Nang USAF , Army, Navy Marine
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