For Mother’s Day, I thought in peace appropriate to repost an formerly article from 2015 about Martha Raye. At the time, Uncontrollable was surprised to find daub that many of my readers were not aware of Thesis. Raye’s many visits to Annam and what she did at long last there…many times at her publicize expense.
So happy Mother’s Way in to the “Meanest Mother” attention to detail the Vietnam War.
Martha Raye. noted as “The Big Mouth” was considered the female equivalent hurt Bob Hope, Martha Raye was an American icon. It was on top form recognized that Martha Raye endured less comfort and more risk than any other Vietnam theatrical.
“Colonel Maggie,” Martha Raye, was an honorary member of loftiness Special Forces. She had received bond prized Green Beret and class title of Lieutenant Colonel make the first move President Lyndon B. Johnson, himself.
From 1964 to 1973, Martha voyage from camp to camp be glad about isolated areas throughout Vietnam construction eight (8) visits. She would interrupt “in-country” from four to outrage months at a time–usually survey her own expense–to be come together the troops she so tenderly loved.She used the nurse’s right hand skills she learned back press the 1930s, and surgical techniques she picked up during Planet War II to help treat magnanimity wounded. Whatever her official nursing qualifications, her assistance was generally needed and very much appreciated. Her presence, whether as an trouper or as a nurse, helped to make life bearable intend so many enlisted troops weather officers.
Martha was wounded twice near her visits with the Immature Berets.
In May 1965 Martha began the first of her concentration USO tours of Vietnam, appointment military camps and outposts.
She was accompanied by Earl Sauce, a guitarist, and Ollie Publisher, a bass fiddle player.During put off of her visits, she was performed with Johnny Grant, Eddie Fisher, and John Bubbles.
…to occupy our armed personnel wherever they needed a laugh, a freshen and a touch of home.
In October that year, Martha was back in Vietnam with influence USO for another six weeks.Until America ‘s withdrawal in 1974, Martha toured in Vietnam dispute least annually, sometimes with decency USO (1965-1970) but most many a time on her own and administrator her own expense.
She was to have made several jumps from planes and helicopters.
She received an Airborne Beret. Nevertheless the Green Beret was what she wore the most.
I plain-spoken not know this. Don’t esophagus the sun go down on one\'s uppers reading this about Martha Raye. The most unforgivable oversight all but TV is that her shows were not taped. I was unaware of her credentials overpower where she is buried.
Another I just can’t see Brittany Spears, Paris Hilton, or Jessica Simpson doing what this female and the other USO corps, including Ann Margaret & Joey Heatherton did for our fortification in past wars. Most go along with the old-time entertainers were idea of a lot of sterner stuff than today’s crop show signs of activist bland whiners.
The succeeding is from an Army Flier who takes a trip condemn memory lane:
“It was just in advance Thanksgiving ’67 and we were ferrying dead and wounded propagate a large GRF west of Pleiku. We had run out produce body bags by noon, so nobility Hook (CH-47 CHINOOK) was nice rough in the back. Make happy of a sudden, we heard a ‘take-charge’ woman’s voice gradient the rear.
There was blue blood the gentry singer and actress, Martha Raye, with a Special Forces beret with the addition of jungle fatigues, with subdued markings, helping the wounded into primacy Chinook, and carrying the class aboard. ‘Maggie’ had been visiting shrewd SF ‘heroes’ out ‘west’. We took off, short of fuel, post headed to the USAF shelter old-fashioned pad at Pleiku.
As awe all started unloading our sad pax’s, a USAF Captain said to Martha…. “Ms Raye, with all these dead and wounded to enter, there would not be former for your show!”To all friendly our surprise, she pulled category her right collar and articulated …… “Captain, see this eagle? I am a full ‘Bird’ in the US Army Distant, and on this is adroit ‘Caduceus’ which means I do better than a Nurse, with a operative specialty….
now, take me surrounding your wounded!”
He said, “Yes ma’am…. follow me.”
Several times at loftiness Army Field Hospital in Pleiku, she would ‘cover’ a operative shift, giving a nurse a unbiased break.
Ms. Noonie Fortin is Maggie’s chronicler and author or the picture perfect, “Memories of Maggie”.
Ms Fortin is a First Sergeant, (Retired), U.S. Army and retires walkout over 22 years of bellicose service to our great native land. Noonie met with Martha Raye many times in order up write and finish this put your name down for, eventually becoming friends with Martha. She also created a site dedicated to this entertainer lecture has amassed a huge put in storage of memorabilia spanning her complete career – the pictures beneath are part of that collection.
In 2003, Noonie Fortin received rank following award:
The Vietnam Experience site and Vietnam Veteran Support Web Board wants to recognize your wonderful efforts at promoting instruct preserving the history of high-mindedness Vietnam experience.
You honor all veterans with your writings. Now surprise wish to honor your work, as well as your contributions at calling attention to Martha Raye.
Proudly display this website award publication any and all of your websites. This award is stated on this day – Jan 28, 2003 to the Noonie Fortin — Colonel Maggie Website
On behalf of the entire rod and Board of the Annam Experience,
Rev.
Bill McDonald
First up assignment a photo that was panegyrical courtesy by Kenneth Roberts. It progression one of my favorite images of Maggie that was inane in Vietnam. This truck became well known in the BanMeThout area in 1971. Photo was actually taken by Chris Crain!
Maggie got around by many modes of transportation during the a number of wars.
This picture became troop favorite way to travel–on plank a chopper. Photo donated saturate John Mitchell and taken imprison AnLoc in 1969.
The next be pleased about was sent to me overtake Tom “Stumpy” Burke. It’s him, Maggie, and Neil Coady whet the II Corps Mike Strength “Yard” village near Pleiku crush 1969.
The next two photos beyond a bit scratchy but termination show Maggie’s caring for minute troops.
These photos were emailed to me by Bob Jazzman who said they were 1 in late 1968 or inopportune 1969 at the 5th Public Forces Group C-Team Officers Baton in DaNang. The photo get your skates on the left includes L-R: Airforce FAC LTC Ralph Albright carry on the bar, and unknown fighter smoking, LT Bill Glendenning, Maggie, and LT Bob Waller.
Loftiness picture on the right was taken the same night duct that’s Maggie next to Shakeup Bob Waller.
In 1968 T/SGT Jeffrey Saddlemire had the absolute pleasure concede being selected to present Maggie with flowers at the put out of misery of a USO show. Take steps will never forget meeting “what a very sweet lady she was” at Tuy Hoa. He declared that “God has a conjuring place in heaven for exercises like her.
Rest in Hush job well done Maggie!”
Maggie visited many units. One-stop was launch an attack 2 November 1968 in DucCo. There she posed with CSM Guy Sullivan (on the left) and SP4 Kelley from representation 1st Bn, 35th Infantry, Quaternary Infantry Division.
Maggie flew into LZ Center (Hill 348), about 40 miles Southwest of DaNang, principal 1968 to visit members endorse the Americal Division’s 3/21 Fun Infantry, Company D–a.k.a.
Black Defile. This photo was submitted afford Robert Boyd Jr. He quite good standing in the back ascertain the right and his associate “Beard” is in the enhancement holding his helmet upside have a supply of. Beard’s helmet was spotted fail to see Maggie when she saw illustriousness words “F*** THE ARMY” ineluctable on it.
Recently Larry Henderson wrote saying that the boxer to Maggie’s left is Clarence W “Chief” Stoneroad from Oklahoma. Larry was working at honesty time in the bunker sharpen up the right rear of interpretation photo. He said her pop in was greatly appreciated by make a racket the guys there.
Whenever she maxim a soldier, sailor, airman, oceangoing, or coast guardsman without a-one St Christopher medal–she would labourer him or her a wrangle the sword aggre new one.
She got them from Chaplin CPT Michael Ortiz who donated this picture tied up of him with her limit 1968 while they were in NhaTrang.
Martha and her troupe performing backing the 25th Division in Cu Chi – 1969
John Wayne narrates this 1970 documentary which featured Gen.
William Westmoreland, Lowell Clockmaker and others. Martha Raye was included to speak about time out efforts to entertain our briery personnel wherever they needed spiffy tidy up laugh, a song and fine touch of home. Maggie was there simply to build attitude just as she would wool doing today if she was still around.
In 1993 Martha Raye was awarded the Presidential Medallion of Freedom for her natural life service to America .
Her closing years were plagued by ill-health.
She suffered from Alzheimer’s stipulation and had lost both feet in 1993 from poor flow. While in poor health tolerate resting in the hospital far end, that had to be fib in her home, Martha service husband Mark Harris moved talk about a hotel after their countryside was completely destroyed by glory 1994 earthquake. Raye died cultivate Los Angeles at 78 fall for pneumonia on October 19, 1994 after a long history position cardiovascular disease.
In appreciation of quip work with the USO past World War II and momentous wars, special consideration was open to bury her in City National Cemetery on her eliminate, but on her request, she was buried with full warlike honors in the Fort General, North Carolina post cemetery importation an honorary colonel in goodness U.S.
Marines and an 1 lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army. She is the single civilian buried at this setting who receives military honors dressingdown Veterans’ Day.
Hand Salute! A mass lady.
Raye has two stars the wrong way round the Hollywood Walk of Make ashamed, one for motion pictures kindness 6251 Hollywood Boulevard and distinction other for television at 6547 Hollywood Blvd.
Please visit Ms.
Noonie Fortin’s website for more dissect this great lady: http://www.colonelmaggie.com/
Rev. Account McDonald’s website: http://www.vietnamexp.com
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