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Leading Off Bob Hope, world famous comedian, died last month at the age of 100. Hope, who spent more than half of his life bringing smiles and laughter to the faces of thousands of American soldiers, succumbed to pneumonia on the evening of July 27, 2003. Throughout his career Hope supported troops stationed overseas with his signature shows that transcended generations, and he was the first and only American ever to be made an honorary Veteran of America's Armed Forces. Dubbed by U.S. President George W. Bush as A "true American patriot," Hope began his tours of comedy in 1941 when he went to March Field in California to perform a radio show for airmen stationed there. His first trip into a combat area was in 1943 during WWII, when he and his small USO troupe visited U.S. military facil- ities in England, Africa, Sicily and Iceland. His vocation of laughter to American troops would continue for more than 40 years with Hope traveling to entertain for virtually every conflict that involved American G.l.'s. As a staunch supporter of our American troops, Hope was honored with his own class of Navy ships (pictured above), all of which were built at Northrop Grumman's Avondale Operations. Measuring 950 ft. (289.5-m), the USNS Bob Hope was the first of the seven-member class to have been built in the MSC's Large, Medium Speed RoRo T-AKR class. "It is an honor to serve aboard USNS Bob Hope, a vessel named for a man that has done so much for our men and women in uniform," said the ship's master Capt. Joseph "David" Henderson, Jr. "During times of conflict and separation from friends and family, he brought them a moment of happiness and laughter. I like to think he sails with us in spirit and approves of our small contribution. Bob Hope, I wish you fair winds and following seas as you travel to that distant shore." Maritime Meanings Chunder: To Chunder is to vomit. It is widely used in Australian colloquial speech and is said to derive from the fact that a seasick passenger on an upper deck would (it was hoped) cry out "Watch Under!" as he leant over the rail while succumbing tot he rigors of sea travel. Chunder is the laconic shortenings of an otherwise heartfelt cry. Source: An Ocean of Words: A Dictionary of Nautical Words and Phrases, by Peter D. Jeans; Birch Lane Press , 1998. Cartoon "PR0B4PLY A XA/S2.D PI LOT HOUSE f/?OM A PASS/NG- JV
