PERKINS TWP.

Bob Hope visits U.S. troops Dec. 25, 1964, in Saigon, South Vietnam, for his annual Christmas show. Hope died late Sunday at his home in Toluca Lake, Calif. He was 100. (AP file photo)

As the nation mourned the passing of legendary comedian Bob Hope, a few area residents remembered the English-born comedian.

"He was a wonderful person," said James Bunch, 79, who saw Hope in 1943 in Papua New Guinea. "He wants to make you happy and he's full of life himself."

"The man did so much good in his life," said William Weller, 56, a Vietnam veteran. "I thought of him as an uncle.

"Who wasn't a fan of Bob Hope's," Weller continued. "The man was fantastic."

Monday, Hope's family announced the 100-year-old funny man died Sunday evening at his home in Toluca Lake, Calif. The English-born actor who grew up in Cleveland established his career in Vaudeville. He also starred in numerous films, and was known for his popular radio and television shows, most notably his televised birthday specials and the shows he performed at military bases around the world.

One of those stops was a June 1943 show at Camp Perry in Port Clinton that attracted 2,805 soldiers and other military professionals.

In her book, "Camp Perry 1906-1991," Anna Bovia reproduced an excerpt from a Port Clinton newspaper that offered a glimpse into the show Hope put on with Jerry Colonna, Frances Langford and the Skinney Ennis orchestra -- the usual sidekicks for his military shows.

"We had a lot of them here during World War II," Bovia said of the shows. "The main reason they came was to entertain the troops."

While those at the Ohio Veteran's Home didn't attend the Port Clinton show, Weller was among those the OVH residents who remember Hope's other shows.

Having been a Hope fan before he was sent to war, Weller said he was disappointed when he learned he wouldn't be able to see Hope's Long Bin, Vietnam performance.

"I was more than a little upset," said Weller, who couldn't remember if the show was in '69 or '70.

"We were called in from our base camp to make sure the (Viet Cong) didn't get within harms way of him," said Weller, a Cincinnati-native who said the show went on without any security problems. "I think the (Viet Cong) were in the bush trying to listen, too."

Bunch, 79 year-old Harlan, Ken.-native, said the ocean-view show in Papua New Guinea was "quite funny" but, "when the nice ladies came out, that changed everything."

"Of course he always brought along the pretty girls," Weller said. "What else would a G.I. be interested in?"

Eleanor Stroud Evans, a 100-year-old Huron resident, said she saw Hope's shows during World War II when she had a civilian job at Ft. Hayes near Columbus.

"I enjoyed his performance because he made people laugh and there was a sad time during World War II," she said.

Hope's USO shows stretched from pre- World War II to the Gulf War. They weren't so much about the humor as they were about showing support for the troops.

Evans can't remember the details of the Hope special, but says the shows were important.

"It's been so long ago that I really don't know, except that I was very pleased to hear him and pleased that the troops were pleased."

Bob Kreimes, 77, a World War II Navy veteran said he saw Bob Hope in Seattle in a stadium filled with troops.

"As far as the music, I really don't remember that. I was only 17," he said. " I just remembered them being there and (being) top performers at the time.

"One thing I remember about the show had nothing to do with the performance," he said. "They came on and said every one grab a match and when the light goes out everybody strike and it really lit up the stadium."

But most agree Hope will be missed.

"It's going to be a much sadder world without Bob Hope," Weller said. "I kind of wish we could have kept him around another 100 years."

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