Athlon Outdoors Supersite
Tactical Life Website
Ballistic Website
Personal Defense World Website
Skillsetmag Website
  • Guns
    • Handguns
      • Semi-Automatic Handguns
      • Revolvers
    • AR Pistols
    • AR Rifles
    • Rifles
      • Semi-Automatic Rifles
      • Lever Action
      • Bolt Action
    • Shotguns
    • Airguns
    • Custom Guns
      • Handgun Build
      • Rifle Build
      • Shotgun Build
    • Specialty Guns
  • Parts
    • Handgun Parts
    • Rifle Parts
  • Accessories
    • Optics & Sights
      • Thermal Vision
    • Lasers & Lights
    • Suppressors
    • Holsters
    • Slings
    • Shooting Rests
    • Targets
    • Maintenance & Tools
  • Ammo
    • Handgun Ammo
      • 9mm
      • 10mm
    • Rifle Ammo
      • .223
    • Shotgun Ammo
      • 12 Gauge
    • Rimfire Ammo
    • Reloading
  • Gear
    • Apparel
    • Ears & Eyes
      • Ears
      • Eyes
        • Night Vision
    • Storage
    • Tactical Gear
      • Body Armor
    • Knives
      • Fixed Blade
      • Folding Knives
      • Tactical Knives
    • Less Lethal
    • Flashlights
    • Electronics
  • Lifestyle
    • Concealed Carry
    • Personal Defense
      • Self-Defense
      • Hand to Hand Combat
    • Home Defense
    • Sport Shooting
      • Hunting
      • Competition Shooting
    • Precision Shooting/Long Range Shooting
    • Training
      • Shooting 101
    • Survival
      • First Aid
    • Tactical & LE
    • Military Lifestyle
    • Pop Culture
      • People
      • Rides
      • History
  • News
    • New Products & Industry News
    • Gun Facts & Laws
    • Police News
    • Military News
    • Politics
  • VIDEOS
No Result
View All Result
Athlon Outdoors
  • Guns
    • Handguns
      • Semi-Automatic Handguns
      • Revolvers
    • AR Pistols
    • AR Rifles
    • Rifles
      • Semi-Automatic Rifles
      • Lever Action
      • Bolt Action
    • Shotguns
    • Airguns
    • Custom Guns
      • Handgun Build
      • Rifle Build
      • Shotgun Build
    • Specialty Guns
  • Parts
    • Handgun Parts
    • Rifle Parts
  • Accessories
    • Optics & Sights
      • Thermal Vision
    • Lasers & Lights
    • Suppressors
    • Holsters
    • Slings
    • Shooting Rests
    • Targets
    • Maintenance & Tools
  • Ammo
    • Handgun Ammo
      • 9mm
      • 10mm
    • Rifle Ammo
      • .223
    • Shotgun Ammo
      • 12 Gauge
    • Rimfire Ammo
    • Reloading
  • Gear
    • Apparel
    • Ears & Eyes
      • Ears
      • Eyes
        • Night Vision
    • Storage
    • Tactical Gear
      • Body Armor
    • Knives
      • Fixed Blade
      • Folding Knives
      • Tactical Knives
    • Less Lethal
    • Flashlights
    • Electronics
  • Lifestyle
    • Concealed Carry
    • Personal Defense
      • Self-Defense
      • Hand to Hand Combat
    • Home Defense
    • Sport Shooting
      • Hunting
      • Competition Shooting
    • Precision Shooting/Long Range Shooting
    • Training
      • Shooting 101
    • Survival
      • First Aid
    • Tactical & LE
    • Military Lifestyle
    • Pop Culture
      • People
      • Rides
      • History
  • News
    • New Products & Industry News
    • Gun Facts & Laws
    • Police News
    • Military News
    • Politics
  • VIDEOS
No Result
View All Result
Athlon Outdoors Super Site
No Result
View All Result
  • TL
  • PDW
  • BM
  • Skillset
 
ENTER TO WIN: Smith & Wesson's Free Gun Friday Package ft. Caldwell, Volcon, and Black Hills

A Quick Story About That Time Raquel Welch Visited Vietnam in 1967

ShareTweetPin
Raquel Welch, Vietnam War, Bob Hope Christmas Show
Ballistic StaffbyBallistic Staff
April 15, 2021
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Ever hear the story of when Raquel Welch visited troops in Vietnam? It goes something like this. The whomp, whomp, whomp of the Huey helicopters made conversation almost impossible. Minutes before, they had taken off from the Air Force side of the field at Da Nang. They were flying lead with two gunships as cover. On the right, the Huey Cobra pilot came within a rotor’s distance from the open-sided chopper. “What the hell are they doing?” yelled the door gunner, pulling his M60 machine gun inside the ship to protect it. Those with headsets could hear the pilot chewing out the sloppy flying of some FNG lieutenant.

“Ah, Captain, we just wanted a look,” came the reply.

Raquel heard the crew’s lament and stood in the door, holding onto the gunner with one hand and waving with the other. This brought a cry from the chopper on the left, so she started to maneuver to the other side. Then the chopper hit an air pocket and Raquel landed right in my lap. I still remember the looks of shock and envy from the crew. If they only knew.

Raquel Welch Arrives in Vietnam

When we got closer to our destination, a stage that looked like a small dot at this point, Raquel thought it seemed empty. Big tears came to her eyes. She lifted my earphone and said, “We came all the way to Vietnam, and no one showed up!” But then the chopper started to drop from the sky as part of its combat approach. As it hovered for a few seconds before heading for the pad, the hillsides started to move. Soon, Raquel faced 65,000 cheering soldiers. The hand-painted sign above the stage read, “WELCOME TO THE 1967 BOB HOPE CHRISTMAS SHOW.” Now she really started to cry.

From the moment we landed, with Raquel jumping into the waiting arms of the two largest Marine MPs on earth, her life changed forever. All the teasing she’d faced when she was younger—for her funny name, or “foreign” looks, or “bird legs”—disappeared. Here were 65,000 guys who loved her.

Hitting the Stage

Bob Hope started the first show of the ’67 tour right on time. By then, Raquel had headed backstage, and I was led to a seat 10 rows from the stage. The front rows were filled with wounded Marines and airmen as well as dozens of doctors and nurses. For once, the brass and REMFs hadn’t hogged the choice seats. In fact, it seemed like every general and admiral in the Pacific was sitting on the same log as me when Bob started his routine with Gary Crosby.

But the crowd began to grow restless. The chanting of her name started from the cheap seats and moved forward like rolling thunder. Bob stopped the song he was doing with Les Brown and His Band of Renown and said, “OK, boys, here’s what you’ve been fighting for. Yes, sir, ladies—and please be gentlemen—here she is: Raquel Welch!”

Raquel Welch, Vietnam War, Jeep

It was Raquel’s moment, and she took charge. Wearing a short blue and white dress that seemed to start about 30 inches above her knees, she took the microphone and moved to the edge of the stage. When she sat down, it was like the rug got pulled out from under tens of thousands of standing, screaming men. They hit the ground with a thud that must have been heard in Hanoi. Then she and Bob sang and danced before performing a funny routine.

After that, Bob quietly left the stage to Raquel. As she and the band started “A Different Drum,” she invited the Marines and airmen up on the stage to dance. For 20 minutes or more, she danced with as many shy, fresh-faced young men as she could. Finally, Raquel reluctantly left the stage while blowing the crowd a kiss.

Getting Some Attention

Bob came back to introduce the brass in the audience. I didn’t have a chance to flee. Starting with General Westmoreland, Bob worked his way down the log. The grunts tried to cheer the loudest for their own leaders. It was a Marine Corps Air Force Base, and it was no contest. The grunts in green took the day.

I was sitting between two Air Force bird colonels. But it was too late. My stomach turned over as Bob announced, “And ladies and gentlemen, one of your own—and my neighbor from California—who just happens to be married to your favorite girl, Raquel Welch. Here he is, the envy of every man here.” Then he pointed to me and asked me to stand up.

What was he talking about? At this point, I just wanted to dig my way under the log. But the two helpful colonels must have figured out Bob was talking about me because of my beet-red face and threw me to my feet. Thus, 65,000 of my fellow Americans booed me, joined by God knows how many Viet Cong watching from the surrounding hills. I would have gladly sat back down on a Claymore mine.

World-Class Act

After the show, I sort of wandered about looking for my bride, and that night, the same two giant Marine MPs from before—the “Beasts” that I nicknamed Killer and Bruno—kept everyone, including me, out of the Bachelor Officer Quarters where Raquel was staying. I pulled rank, pulled my hair and would have gladly pulled a gun if Bob Hope hadn’t walked by. And it took him 10 minutes to convince the guards that I wasn’t a spy or something.

Truth be told, Raquel, finally tired of waiting, leaned out the second-story window, resplendent in a diaphanous nightie, and promised each of the MPs a signed photo. But, clever devil that she was, only I could come upstairs and get them.

Raquel and I traveled to a lot of Marine bases around the world after that fateful evening. More than 50 years later, so many Vietnam veterans can take pride in the fact that they helped Raquel find happiness in just being herself. And at least 65,000 of them might smile when they remember booing at me!

Want more stories like this? Subscribe to Ballistic Magazine now at OutdoorGroupStore.com.

Didn't find what you were looking for?

MOST POPULAR

Vote & Win: 2023 Ballistic’s Best Readers’ Choice for Best Guns

Suicide by Cop

WINCHESTER’s SXP ‘Defender’ Pump Shotgun

Holiday Safety Pat McNamara lead Christmas

The ‘No Snowflake’ Guide to Holiday Safety

Gun-Filled Christmas Movies A Christmas Story Ralphie

10 Black Friday Tactical Gear Deals [2023]

TRENDING

Trijicon VCOG

Trijicon VCOG 1-8×28: New Optics Born Out of Military Requests

AWC SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY’s Odyssey II

Master Wong Wing Chun Push Defense Techniques

VIDEO: Wing Chun Push Defense Techniques

gun drawing tips techniques

Tips & Tricks for a Fast Gun Draw

BROWSE BY BRAND

Skillset-Logo_yellow-153x47png
Ballistic_LOGO-217x47
CH-Logo_blue-153x47
T-L-SS-stack life-47x140
PDW_CCH_LOGO-300x101
PDW-2022-Sidebyside-logo 160x30-blk
GOW LOGO x101
AF_LOGO-184x47

SPOTLIGHT

Barrett MRADELR rifle.

Barrett MRADELR: The Extreme Long-Range MRAD is Here!

Barrett Firearms recently announced is long-awaited follow-up to the MRAD platform. The new Barrett MRADELR expands on the martial design...

RELATED POSTS

SIG P320-XTEN ENDURE in 10mm.

SIG P320-XTEN ENDURE: 10mm Pistol Built for the Outdoors

...

Savage Arms KLYM Series rifles.

Savage Arms KLYM Series Rifles Include PROOF, FBT Components

...

Langdon Tactical Beretta Tomcat

Langdon Tactical Beretta Tomcat Upgrades EDC Pistol in 32 ACP

...

Load More

TRENDING

The Colt 1851 Navy Revolver.

The Colt 1851 Navy Revolver: The First Truly Practical Revolver?

The 1851 Navy was the second best-selling revolver from Colt. Outsold only by Colt's 1849 Pocket Pistol, it is arguably...

Suicide by Cop

WINCHESTER’s SXP ‘Defender’ Pump Shotgun

Tactical-Life.com brings you the newest products live from the NASGW ‘08 show!

18 new gun safes

The 18 Best Gun Safes & Storage Solutions [2023]

As gun owners, we are each responsible for gun safety, and a large part of that includes safe storage. Of...

Best Glock Pistols of All-Time, Glock 19, Glock 17, Glock 43, Glock 18, Glock 26

Best Glock Pistols of All-Time | Ranked by Ballistic Magazine

There are several opinions in the firearms world that can be contentious. A classic example is the fight over .45...

MOST POPULAR

The Mossberg MC2sc semi-auto pistol.

12 Best Micro-Compact Handguns for Concealed Carry [2022]

A thick veil of fog stood forever in front of me as I cruised down the highway at 6:30 in...

Police Sidearms, police duty pistols, Handguns, America's Largest Police Departments 2018

Police Sidearms: Handguns of America’s 10 Largest Departments

Law enforcement in the United States is in constant evolution and that includes various police sidearms. These days, law enforcement...

Vote & Win: 2023 Ballistic’s Best Readers’ Choice for Best Guns

One of our most anticipated magazines each year, the 2023 edition of Ballistic's Best, hits the press soon. But first,...

U.S. Secret Service adopts Glock G47

FIRST LOOK: Glock Just Very Quietly Unveiled the New Glock 47 Pistol

Tuesday afternoon we broke news that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection selected three Glock 9mm pistols as its new standard...

VIDEO SERIES: AT THE READY | SEASON 2

MORE VIDEOS

Barrett MRADELR rifle.

Barrett MRADELR: The Extreme Long-Range MRAD is Here!

Walther PDP Match Steel Frame and Polymer pistols.

Walther PDP Match: Steel & Polymer-Framed Competition Blasters

HANDGUNS

The Taurus TS9 was developed for the military and police market and was adopted by the Philippine National Police.

The Taurus TS9 9mm Pistol Excels in Concealed Carry: Review

SIG P320-XTEN ENDURE in 10mm.

SIG P320-XTEN ENDURE: 10mm Pistol Built for the Outdoors

Walther PDP Match Steel Frame and Polymer pistols.

Walther PDP Match: Steel & Polymer-Framed Competition Blasters

The Standard Manufacturing Damascus 1911.

Damn Sweet: Standard Manufacturing Damascus 1911 Review

Viridian Package.

The Springfield Hellcat Pro is Now Available with Veridian Package

The Smith & Wesson Performance Center Metal M&P9 M2.0 Spec Series.

The Smith & Wesson Performance Center M&P9 Metal M2.0

RIFLES - click to see all

Barrett MRADELR rifle.

Barrett MRADELR: The Extreme Long-Range MRAD is Here!

Savage Arms KLYM Series rifles.

Savage Arms KLYM Series Rifles Include PROOF, FBT Components

The MDC VOLK-S AK-47.

The MDC VOLK-S Changes the Game with 100% US-Made AK-47

The 21st Tec TEC-GIII Rifle.

The 21st Tec TEC-GIII AR-10 Rifle – in .308 or 6.5 Creedmoor

AMMO - click to see all

X-DEF Line from Freedom Munitions Expands with the Addition of .357 Sig.

Freedom Munitions X-DEF Line Adds .357 Sig Self-Defense Ammo

HEVI-Shot HEVI-Bismuth Upland loads.

HEVI-Shot HEVI-Bismuth Upland Expands Hunting Lineup

Ammo Storage, Survival Ammo, long term ammo storage, Prepper

Best Methods for Long-Term Ammo Storage

6 .410 Ammo Options for Home and Personal Defense.

.410 Ammo for Home Defense [2023]

410 bore revolvers for self defense

6 Best .410 Bore Revolvers

.44 Magnum dirty harry

Your Guide to the .44 Magnum Cartridge

No Result
View All Result
  • Guns
    • Handguns
      • Semi-Automatic Handguns
      • Revolvers
    • AR Pistols
    • AR Rifles
    • Rifles
      • Semi-Automatic Rifles
      • Lever Action
      • Bolt Action
    • Shotguns
    • Airguns
    • Custom Guns
      • Handgun Build
      • Rifle Build
      • Shotgun Build
    • Specialty Guns
  • Parts
    • Handgun Parts
    • Rifle Parts
  • Accessories
    • Optics & Sights
      • Thermal Vision
    • Lasers & Lights
    • Suppressors
    • Holsters
    • Slings
    • Shooting Rests
    • Targets
    • Maintenance & Tools
  • Ammo
    • Handgun Ammo
      • 9mm
      • 10mm
    • Rifle Ammo
      • .223
    • Shotgun Ammo
      • 12 Gauge
    • Rimfire Ammo
    • Reloading
  • Gear
    • Apparel
    • Ears & Eyes
      • Ears
      • Eyes
    • Storage
    • Tactical Gear
      • Body Armor
    • Knives
      • Fixed Blade
      • Folding Knives
      • Tactical Knives
    • Less Lethal
    • Flashlights
    • Electronics
  • Lifestyle
    • Concealed Carry
    • Personal Defense
      • Self-Defense
      • Hand to Hand Combat
    • Home Defense
    • Sport Shooting
      • Hunting
      • Competition Shooting
    • Precision Shooting/Long Range Shooting
    • Training
      • Shooting 101
    • Survival
      • First Aid
    • Tactical & LE
    • Military Lifestyle
    • Pop Culture
      • People
      • Rides
      • History
  • News
    • New Products & Industry News
    • Gun Facts & Laws
    • Police News
    • Military News
    • Politics
  • VIDEOS

© 2023 Athlon Outdoors - Premium Firearm product and industry news, reviews and magazines" .