In December of 1983, Bob Hope and his troupe visited the USS Guam, LPH-9 in the western Med steaming off the coast of Beirut, Lebanon. He was on board from 22 to 26 December and due to operational committments could not be flown off after the show. He was invited one evening to dine in the Chiefs Mess and during that evening we learned that in all his years of doing USO tours, he had been named to many honorary positions, but all of them were officer status. Chief Petty Officer, United States Navy, is a very special enlisted rate, and the Enlisted Men of Guam decided to bestow upon Mr. Hope the Rate of "Honorary Chief Petty Officer".

This was accomplished on Christmas eve 1983, with the ships company in attendance, at a special unschedualed show. Letters were sent to the Command Master Chief, sixth fleet and forwarded to the "Master Chief of the Navy" in Washington, D.C. On January 24, 1984, I received a letter from the Master Chief of the Navy, approving our actions, and also extending to Mr. Hope a letter, Welcomming him to the great CPO community. At the time I was the Command Master Chief of the Guam and have all the original letters to document this highlight of my career. It was espically meaningful to me to pin the CPO anchors on Mr. Hope as I was an infant when he made his first USO tour. The associated letters are also a proud part of the USS Guam Association's history of their proud ship. I also have offical Navy photos (Black and White) and personal color photos of this event.