Bob Hope USO Show Comes To Ubon
In November of 1965 we began hearing rumors that the Bob Hope USO show might put on a show at our base around Christmas. This was exciting news for us. As we anxiously waited to get confirmation of their visit, Chuck and I began talking about how we might be able to get the members of USO show to allow us to record some seasons greetings for those who would not be able to attend the show.
Finally we got confirmation that the show was coming to Ubon and Chuck got permission from the Base Commander, Col. Bruce Knutson, to allow us to set up a tape recorder and get the interviews.
The Big Day Arrives
Finally the big day arrived and we were at the Terminal building very early that morning to get set. We had a small table set up in one corner of the building with a coffee pot and cooler with soft drinks and beer for the group when they landed. We soon learned that a Air Force C-141 was on final approach and would be on the ground in just a few minutes. Now the excitement was really building. However, we soon learned that this plane only had equipment and support staff and that the show team would arrive sometime later coming in on a C-130 aircraft from Bangkok. So we continued to wait for their arrival. We did interview a few of the crew members from the C-141 just get their comments for the station.
The troupe arrived
It was now about 11:00 a.m when we got word that the C-130 was inbound with the cast aboard. It was “Show Time” for us amateur radio announcers. All of a sudden there they were coming in to the terminal. Carroll Baker, Kaye Stevens, Joey Heatherton, Anita Bryant and then there he was Bob Hope himself.
We Interviewed The Stars On Their Way In
We got wonderful heartfelt interviews with all the stars as well as getting them to autograph pictures for our little studio. Believe me this was exciting for me a 20 year old airman from North Carolina. While Chuck was more mature and handled the mike with a little less nervousness, we both were beside ourselves with excitement.
As we began to interview the stars we quickly learned that our Aussie pilots from across the base had given the inbound C-130 an escort on its approached to Ubon.
All of the stars were very graceful and willing to talk with Chuck and me. My favorite interviews were Carroll Baker and Kaye Stevens.
The Audio Tape of The Interviews Survived.
We played the tape for several days over the base radio station. I made a copy for Chuck and I kept the original tape. Between my regular job as a Crypto Operator and my work with the radio station, my year in Thailand went by quickly.