In 1997, an act of Congress made comedian and Hollywood star Bob Hope the first “Honorary Veteran.” Hope never officially wore a uniform or fired a weapon in combat. Instead, from 1941 to 1991, he went on 57 tours of military bases, ships, and even camps near the front lines. He traveled around the globe to places like Italy, Tarawa in the Pacific, Korea, Vietnam, and Saudi Arabia. There, he entertained troops—many of them still in their teens—in sometimes dangerous circumstances.
On receiving this recognition from a grateful nation, Hope said: “I’ve been given many awards in my lifetime, but to be numbered among the men and women I admire most is the greatest honor I have ever received.”
