First Edition of the Thunderbolt, Camp Toccoa, Georgia, August 1943, Volume 1, Number 1.

Bob Hope Livens Routine Grind With Hot Performance

Colona, Langford, Romano, Vague Help Keep Rookies Rolling In The Aisles

The rookie left his barracks and marched down to the theatre. This night was to be his. Something different was coming into his sheltered Paratrooper’s life. Why? Bob Hope was coming tonight. The Rookie would get his mind off the obstacle course. That run up Mt. Currahee could be forgotten—at least until tomorrow. What if his rifle wasn’t clean? The sarge wouldn’t see it—he was at the show.

Lt Schmitz leads Songs.

So what happens? He walks into the theatre and after nearly an hour’s wait during which Lt Schmitz led the boys in a little song fest, the one and only Bob Hope walks out on the stage. They are going to put the new roof on the movie house any day now, but that is not the important thing. Do you know what that Hope did the very first thing? That’s right—he got down and did push-ups. Of course his nice plaid coat got a little dusty and he collapsed after the fourth one, but that’s not the point. The memories of the day’s work were brought back to mind.

However, it is doubtful that anyone thought of anything but the fugitive from a tooth paste ad for the next hour and a half as he gave the boys all he and his cast had for the rest of the evening. Besides Hope there was Frances Langford who probably would have drawn the boys out without the rest of the cast. Tony Romano slipped in some soothing guitar music to counter Miss Langford’s swingy tunes.

Vera Vague Steals Show

Then came the fun.; First there was Vera Vague. Her slanderous cracks about herself seemed very strange to the boys who were seeing her in person for the first time. She is far from the Brenda and Cobina type that she makes herself out on the radio.

Then came the pay off. The rookies of the second world war were taken back to the Spanish American fracas as a pair of handle bars crossed the stage under the nose of one Jerry Colona. Those men whose sides were still intact went the limit with their laughs as he sang in his own inimitable way, bellowing out the first eight or ten words in one big yell then settling down to real nonsense.

It was a contented crowd of soldiers—that is, paratroopers—who filed back to their bunks. Yes, they rose at 5:45, but it didn’t matter that they were up til 12 the night before.

After the show, Hope was made honorary member of the officer’s mess and presented with a leather cigarette case.

From Website

Letter from Bob Hope

Bob Hart

Ben, I have been unable to download the registration form @ program for the Salt Lake reunion . Is there some way to e-mail this to me? If not by mail. Would like to know Marion Busch address as I live close. Also want to order 1 pair of wings. How to pay? Bob Hart

bobkath19@msn.com Bob Hart 820 E. Rd. of Tralee Shelton, Wa 98584

Wings lcurtis@utah.gov . Only address that I have for M Busch is 7141 Marvin Rd. N.E, Olympia, WA. - Ben

Nancy Fraser Armand (daughter of Don Fraser)