In December of 1970, Bob Hope brought his USO Christmas show to Da Nang Air Base. On the tour with Bob Hope were Ursula Andress(actress), Lola Falama (dancer), Gloria Loring (singer), Bobbi Martin (musician), Jennifer Hosten (Miss World 1970), Johnny Bench (baseball player), "The Golddiggers" (dancers), and Les Brown and his "Band of Renown."
Phillip Tinkle (Charlie Company), John Howard (Alpha Company), and other long-time grunts still in the field from the 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry were selected to attend the show. Not everyone could go, so those who went were a lucky few.
The trip to Da Nang began with most grunts being airlifted directly from the field to LZ Bronco. From LZ Bronco, the grunts flew to Chu Lai and were assembled with the rest of the soldiers from the Americal Division attending the show. They were then loaded onto a convoy of trucks for the drive up Highway 1 to Da Nang.
Here are some pictures of the trip and the show provided by Phillip Tinkle who was a rifleman with C Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry from July, 1970 to July, 1971.
Photograph by Phillip Tinkle
Here, the convoy is leaving Chu Lai on Highway 1 very early in the morning. Before leaving the rear areas in the Americal Division, everyone had to check in their weapons. It was the first time that most grunts had been without their M-16s in months. They felt like a part of themselves was missing.
Photograph by Phillip Tinkle
Phillip took this picture as the convoy passed by a Buddhist Temple. Notice the flag pole has no flag. The Buddists were probably trying to remain neutral during the war.
Photograph by Phillip Tinkle
Because it was a three hour ride to Da Nang, the convoy had to stop for "comfort" breaks along the way. You could call it roadside weed control. Either way, it was a site to behold for any VC/NVA sniper who happened to be around, but luckily there wasn't one around.
Photograph by Phillip Tinkle
This is Bob Hope on the stage holding a golf club and telling a joke like, "As soon as I arrived in Da Nang they gave me a 10-gun salute.... or so they told me on the operating table."
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