I missed Hope in Osan, Korea at christmas 1957 (He was in our hangar with his show and I was on strip Alert at the end of the runway).
In Vietnam during christmas timeframe 1966 (New in country and working)
In Vietnam, christmas timeframe 1969 at Camp Eagle, Hue (Hauling troops in from the field to see the show). By the time we brought the last troops in and got shut down I'd have had better seats on top of my hootch that I would have had on that hillside near Division HQ that was used as a theater.
During my Military career I spent other christmas periods away from home on isolated tours.(Southwest Turkey 1962 for the Syrian revolution comes to mind.)
I never got to see him live, but, like you said, Knowing he was there meant a lot.
and I sent a thank you to his website some time back telling him "Thanks, and thanks for the memories."
^5 and salute
Bob T