A Tribute to Bob Hope: Thanks for the Memories

Wednesday, 08 July 2009
Contact: John Gilmore (619) 686-6222, [Photos] Dale Frost

Bob Hope, the beloved figure who serenaded millions of men and women in the Armed Forced for more than five decades with his signature song, "Thanks for the Memories," is still making memories.

His latest came today, July 8, 2009, at the dedication of a military artwork: “A National Salute to Bob Hope and the Military,” which includes a bronze sculpture of the famed entertainer and 15 bronze figures representing the branches of the military – the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard.

Linda Hope, the entertainer’s daughter, said before the ceremony in the shadows of the USS Midway, that her dad came to San Diego often during World War II to entertain the sailors. In fact, she said in the interview, a few days before the ceremony, she listened to old radio show tapes of his San Diego visits.

Through the tribute to her father, Hope said, “I just hope people realize his relationship to the military and the sense of commitment that dad had to the nation’s military men and women.”

More than 100 people attended the dedication of the artwork made possible by the Port of San Diego, the Hope family and members of a Navy task force called Taffy 3 (Task Unit 77.4.3), a group of World War II veterans who helped raise the $1.5 million for the project that was first conceived more than 15 years ago.

Included in the audience were Eugene Daub, picked by the Hope family to create the Bob Hope Sculpture, and Stephen Whyte, who created eight of the military figures.

Members of the Taffy 3 group, who survived the hellish attack during the Battle for Leyte Gulf, were among those attending the ceremony that featured music by the Marine Corps Band and the presentation of the colors by a Navy color guard.

Robert “Dukie” Valderrama, Vice Chair of the Board of Port Commissioners, served as master of ceremonies. He introduced many of those in attendance, including the four members of the Taffy 3 group.

“I salute you for your service,” Valderrama told the survivors.

The battle the Taffy 3 group fought was described by Valderrama as the greatest Navy battle in U.S. history, 895 service personnel died. Five ships among the 13 that were in the battle, were sunk. Jack Yusen, 83, of Bellvue, Wash., and president of the Taffy 3 contingent, was among those attending and one of those who fought on that day.

His ship, the USS Samuel B. Roberts, was sunk in the battle on Oct. 25, 1944. But before the ship went down, Yusen said his ship took out two Japanese cruisers. Half the crew of nearly 200 perished. Twelve were eaten by sharks, Yusen said.

“We lost a lot of guys who drank salt water, hallucinated and drifted off,” he said.

The St. Louis Cardinals figured in the rescue of Yusen and his shipmates.

A rescue ship conducting a night-time search for survivors came upon Yusen and the others. Yusen had been in the water three days.

Someone aboard the vessel shouted to the men in the water, asking what ship they were from.

“The USS Samuel Roberts,” they yelled.

“Who won the world series?” came the reply.

“The St. Louis Cardinals,” they answered.

Although he never saw Hope entertain in person, Yusen speaks fondly of the entertainer.

“Bob Hope was an exceptional man,” Yusen said. “He loved guys in the military. He called them ‘my kids.’”

The tribute is located a few yards from San Diego Bay. The tree-shaded display resembles a setting that became so familiar to millions of Americans: Bob Hope smiling over a group of service personnel, in this case, the 15 bronze life-sized figures.

Bob Hope’s son, Kelly, who attended the event, said that he hoped that many people will visit the tribute to his father and the military personnel and remember the sacrifices that were made by so many.

Said Hope: “For all those who pass by, may they stop, reflect and remember.”

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