Another perk of being a military police officer was escorting visiting dignitaries. James Callahan protected visiting generals and celebrities during his time in Korea.
The two standout guard assignments — Marilyn Monroe and Bob Hope.
“She was a beautiful woman,” he said. “I had to use every MP I had to guard the stage when she went on. There were two or three battalions there, probably over 10,000 men. They all tried to get as close as they could to her, and it was our job to keep them away.”
As much as he enjoyed Monroe’s visit, Callahan said Hope was the real highlight.
“He was tremendous, especially when you consider that he was a civilian. He did so much for the military men, and we really appreciated it,” Callahan said. “He had this way of talking to you like he’d known you for years. He was known to everybody, and he was a friend of everybody.”
Former drill sergeant James Callahan of Arkansas speaking to the Baxter Bulletin in 2004
