Dear Bob: Bob Hope's Wartime Correspondence with the G.I.s of World War II

by Martha Bolton, Linda Hope

Winner of the 2021 Golden Scroll Awards for Memoir of the Year and Christian Market Book of the Year awarded by the Advanced Writers and Speakers AssociationFIRST PLACE WINNER IN THE MEMOIR CATEGORY OF THE 2022 SELAH AWARDSFirst Place winner in the 2021 Chanticleer International Book Awards - Military and Front Line DivisionFor five decades, comedian, actor, singer, dancer, and entertainer Bob Hope (1903-2003) traveled the world performing before American and Allied troops and putting on morale-boosting USO shows. Dear Bob . . . : Bob Hope's Wartime Correspondence with the G.I.s of World War II tells the story of Hope's remarkable service to the fighting men and women of World War II, collecting personal letters, postcards, packages, and more sent back and forth among Hope and the troops and their loved ones back home.Soldiers, nurses, wives, and parents shared their innermost thoughts, swapped jokes, and commiserated with the "G.I.s' best friend" about war, sacrifice, lonely days, and worrisome, silent nights. The Entertainer of the Century performed for millions of soldiers in person, in films, and over the radio. He visited them in the hospitals and became not just a pal but their link to home. This unforgettable collection of letters and images, many of which remained in Hope's personal files throughout his life and now reside at the Library of Congress, capture a personal side of both writer and recipient in a very special and often-emotional way. This volume heralds the voices of those servicemen and women whom Hope entertained and who, it is clear, delighted and inspired him.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Memoir, Biography, World War II

329 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 2, 2021

About the author

Bob Hope's first female staff writer, working for the legendary comedian in the 1980s and 1990s. She has received nominations for an Emmy, a Dove, and a WGA Award. The author of 88 books, including her newest, Dear Bob... Bob Hope's Wartime Correspondence with the GIs of WW2, which was awarded the Christian Market Book of the Year and the AWSA Memoir of the Year at the Golden Scrolls 2021. She was also named AWSA Member of the Year for 2021. Martha is also a prolific playwright with shows playing in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. Two of the musicals are based on her novels, Josiah for President and The Home Game. Martha has also written for Phyllis Diller and numerous other comedians.

Reviews

[Chris Clevenger · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who grew up as a child of the Greatest Generation, I remember watching Bob Hope on TV. I laughed right along with my parents. That humor wasn’t making fun of other people without a nod and a wink. There wasn’t vulgar language from him or any of the troop that joined him on his travels. As comedian Joe E.Brown said “If an entertainer has to resort to sexual jokes and innuendo, they are shouting that they don’t have enough talent to keep your attention any other way”. He had as much in common with Presidents as he had with those who served in the foxholes. Receiving thousands of letters for a movie star isn’t usual. It’s that he wrote back to as many as he could. Visited when he was free. Gave up Christmas at home to spend it cheering up our troops who were either at military bases or hospitals. They don’t make them like Bob Hope anymore. Loved seeing a few of the letters to and from Bob. Would have liked to have known more about his shows but that may be in a different book.

[Eden · Rating 3 out of 5]

2021 bk 255. I spotted this gem in the new nf books at my public library. Having copies of Hope's books telling of his USO tours in WWII, I picked this one up. A lot of the book is NOT the letters, but scapbook items; photos, tickets, etc. designed to flesh out the pages. The letters are themselves edited and narrated with snippets from his earlier books. At least one of the letters to Bob Hope had sections referring to visits from other artists omitted as I have the original book and letter in it to compare it to. But overall, if you don't have access to I NEVER LEFT HOME, this is an enjoyable read with many interesting letters that do give snippets of life beyond adoring Bob Hope. (not that that is a bad thing - but I was hoping that there would be more of the snippets about their daily lives that were included in the book by Hope himself.

[Lana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not only the story of Bob Hope (told through fan letters), but also the story of young men who laid down their lives for our country. Always good to remind ourselves of the sacrifice made by the greatest generation - may we never forget..

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Bob was hilarious! And no, that title is not a typo. This was filled with his signature jokes that were self deprecating and instantly made him seem like an old friend that I laughed along with. I loved this! The admiration people had for Hope is just remarkable. The heartfelt letters contained in these pages were so touching. They showed the genuine appreciation the service men and woman had for his selfless devotion to make this group of people laugh.

I cannot believe that an Englishman who immigrated to America at the age of 3 after he discovered he “would not be king” would have a global and infinite impact on American armed forces around the world. It seems impossible that Hope received 38,000 letters a week, sometimes only addressed to “Bob Hope Hollywood” – and the letters somehow got to him! It is even more unbelievable that Hope responded to these letters himself with detailed jokes that further forged a relationship between him and and his fans.

It was clear how grateful Hope was for this unique opportunity when he said, “We had no idea we were going to discover an audience so ready for laughter, it would make what we did for a living seem like stealing money.” On every page I found myself either laughing or hugely impressed by his devotion to raising the spirits of the armed forces.

The letters show that Hope was popular and loved, partly because he lived, ate, and suffered foot fungus, just like the men and women he was visiting overseas. His self deprecating humor transcends time and instantly made him relatable to those serving, and would also connect him to people today. Is there another celebrity who would write to soldiers families? Send soldiers signed photographs? Give them tickets to his shows? Hope was a remarkable human, who is inspiring to everyone.

This was an absolute 5 star read! For hours, I excitedly bugged my husband with the facts here. I could go on and on and on about what I loved about this gorgeous biography, and the writing that made this a heartwarming tribute to a true American hero.

[Mrs Hadson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are interested in WW2 era life and history this book is a treasure. Yes it is about Bob Hope and his team of troubadours but it is also very much about all the service men and women, their families and their everyday lives enshrined in the countless number of letters Bob Hope received.
I knew of Bob Hope before this book, he is outside my sphere of interest mostly, now I am an immediate fan. The unmitigated selflessness of Bob Hope and his family is on full display. Imagine a mega star today taking the physical time of writing back admirers in the sheer numbers that Bob Hope did…. it is just a different time. The writing is lovely and keeps good pace. My only complaint, if I had one, is that the letters are not in chronological order but are categorized by subject matter and that killed my brain a little. Do not let that deter you.
The unsung absolutely HERO in this memoir is Bob Hope’s secretaries but especially Marjorie Hughes for taking such careful records and saving as much as she did. She needs her own story written.

[Sheila Cronin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a 10-star read. My copy was given to me by a Vietnam veteran, my brother the Marine, one of the lucky ones who came home.
What quickly becomes apparent reading Dear Bob... is that here was someone so "embedded" --to use a modern term--in the wars for which his audiences fought, they felt compelled to write him and thank him for all he and his troupes did for them. Thousands of these letters were carefully read and answered. This collection is but a glimpse into a part of Hope's life that the public rarely saw. Oh, we saw the Christmas TV specials; they can be found on YouTube right now. But these letters are personal and precious. The book is wonderfully edited with photos, and momentos from WWII, Korea, Vietnam and more. A story near the end that takes place at a restaurant--far from cameras and the press--between Hope and a young soldier, just back from the Gulf War, shows why these soldiers held him in high esteem. Not a bad place to be.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

No other star is as closely associated with the USO than Bob Hope. Over a span of sixty years, he traveled tens of thousands of miles across the globe to entertain the troops. His last trip was to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in 1990 during Desert Shield. He was 87 years old. Dear Bob is an interesting behind-the-scenes look at one aspect of Bob’s life through the eyes of personal letters he wrote in response to servicemen. He makes casual comments about filming schedules, directors, his kids, and traveling which gives us a peek at the man himself. His respect for the troops is evident as he downplays his role in the movies and as an entertainer. The letters are in chronological order so readers get a subtle history as to the order of events in WWII and subsequent wars. I already admired Mr. Hope, but this book made me love him even more. Very enjoyable.

[Jim D · Rating 4 out of 5]

THis was a very good book about a great man. The method was to share some of the countless letters he got during world war 11 as well as his answers to the servicemembers. I especially liked the back stories of the tours, world events taking place at the time, and the personal impact on the individuals involved. It touches very briefly on his final show in the Persian Gulf in 1990 but basically covers only the World War 11 years. Although this was a fitting tribute to Bob, I have to say i did get bored at times with so many letters that pretty much said the same thing, so I glossed through them. Not a big concern though as the book was well worth the reading.

[Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most inspirational and heartbreaking books that I've read in quite some time.

Well researched & well-written books that chronicles Bob Hope's years entertaining the troops, particularly focusing on the WWII years.

A majority of the book is letters that GI's, nurses & hospital staff, and "those left behind" wrote to Bob. The book also includes many of the letters that he wrote back to them.

Many copies of photos, posters and memorabilia are also interspersed throughout the book.

Bob's daughter Linda along with Martha Bolton researched and wrote this book. What a tribute to a man that worked tirelessly for the soldiers, their families and the hospital staff that served them.

[Casertalaura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book was like stepping into a time machine. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing the many stories about Bob Hope's mission to entertain our troops. I grew up watching Bob Hope's Christmas specials every year, and remember hearing about how devoted he was to the military, but never realized just how much he touched the hearts of those he entertained. The chronicles of his travels in WW2 are really interesting and inspiring. He literally risked his life time and time again in order to lift the morale of GI Joe. And he continued to do so in every war we were caught up in after that. This book is a great tribute to America's first Honorary Veteran!

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable look at the years of work Bob Hope and his troupe undertook during WWII. As an entertainer, he was welcome everywhere. As a friend, he showed himself true and loyal to the servicemembers. He went wherever we had troops deployed and did his best to put a smile on their faces. There were other entertainers who served the troops, too, but Bob Hope was the best known and most requested. His devotion and depth of feeling are highlighted throughout the book. Highly recommended for those who are interested in the junction between Hollywood and WWII.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very touching book! Snippets of Bob Hope's trademark self-deprecating humor interspersed with some of the tens of thousands of letters he received from people serving in the military and their families, all deftly organized in a progression of chapters by Martha Bolton and Linda Hope. Bob Hope tirelessly provided entertainment for the troops over his lifetime not because he supported war, but because he supported the people who sacrificed so much for all of us. This book focuses mainly on his years of entertainment during World War 2. Bob Hope was an amazing, generous man.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the greatest Americans that should be celebrated today and always. The book and letters are a reminder of how great America is and the sacrifices Americans made so the next generations can live better lives. Mr. Hope is an American patriot, icon, and legend. They don't make them like that anymore. I highly recommend this book to all Americans. It tells real stories from real people about the greatest country on earth. Thank you Bob for your sacrifices and patriotism. God Bless.

[Terri Librande · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope was his name

Growing up, I always wanted to meet Bob Hope. Outside of seeing him playing golf on a course in Palm Springs, I never met him. Now, thanks to this book, I've rediscovered my friend, Bob Hope. Its written from the heart of every member of the military who saw him perform during WW2. The letters tell of a compassionate man who never failed to give people a smile, no matter what. I hope you feel a little of the man when you read this book.

[Alfred Weber · Rating 5 out of 5]

A moving book about the brave men and women who served in WWII and a great American, Bob Hope, who, along with his fellow performers, risked his life to entertain these service people.

I've always been a huge admirer of Hope and this book just enhanced those feelings.

I guarantee the correspondence in this book will bring a tear to your eye.

[Paul Manfredi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks For The Memory!!

Inspirational book featuring the letters that soldiers wrote to Bob Hope and the letters they he wrote to them. So inspiring to read how much he meant to so many! Just proves that you have to have HOPE!

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting. This is a great tribute to Bob Hope. I never really watched or listened to him. Wrong generation I guess. Even though I knew something of him I did not know about the great good he did for our troops. Truly a unique man.

[Geri Gilham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Wonderful collection of letters & quotes from & about a true American hero.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Moving. Hard to put down.

[John Fielding · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this book. As a WWII buff, it was right up my alley. I will admit that I skimmed the last 30 pages because most of the letters were sounding all alike by then. On the other hand, this book did prompt me to jump on YouTube to find film of some of Bob's troop shows. What a genuine blessing England bestowed on America when she gave us Bob Hope.