Walking in Bob Hope's Shoes

For decades from WWII to Korea to Vietnam to the Gulf War Bob Hope traveled abroad as part of a USO tour to entertain our troops. Sadly, he's gone now but others are stepping up to take his place:

U.S. AIR BASE, Kuwait – Army Staff Sgt. Andrew Guffey was assigned to the distinguished visitors just arriving to the airbase in the middle of the Kuwaiti desert. The 27-year-old native of Pangburn, Ark., with 10 and a half years of military service was on his first tour of the Middle East and assigned the duty of looking after members of the press.

The occasion was the USO tour just before Christmas hosted by Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Guffey had the photographers and military media under control so he would have the time to enjoy the concert himself.
An old pro of visiting the troops, Robin Williams is on his fourth full USO tour.

Within moments, comedian Lewis Black, Kid Rock, Miss USA Rachel Black and Lance Armstrong were going to entertain the troops, but even before anyone took the stage, Robin Williams was already putting on a show.

This was William's fourth tour in the area of operations. Among all the top celebrities paraded in the American media today, it's difficult to find anyone who has committed more energy and time to the troops than the man known as Mrs. Doubtfire.

Guffey, for one, was happy to see the visitors give soldiers "the sense that someone back home cares enough to come out there."

"We dedicate between 7 to 8 million dollars on entertainment," said John Hanson, USO senior vice president of marketing and communication. "We don't pay the talent but we will offer a small per diem." he said. "Most of them refuse it." ...

The daily program can change according to the mood of a Blawkhawk helicopter, but the schedule is set for two to three shows per day in seven countries in just under two weeks.

"We have to be flexible," Hanson cautioned.

The military makes an effort to transport the distinguished visitors, but they often have to wait in line for air assets like anyone else.

"There's a war going on," said Hanson, in the tone of a man who has met and overcome scheduling issues without any of the arrogance normally afforded to Hollywood icons.

Often the issue keeping other stars from coming out are prior engagements. Robin Williams alone had four movies releases in 2005 and six films in 2006. When the stars are not working, the hundreds of people who work with them are also not working.

I don't normally have much use for Hollywood types, but I applaud the men and women willing to travel to our far-flung posts and bring a bit of home to our deployed military forces.