It was well recognized that Martha Raye endured more discomfort than any other Vietnam entertainer.
I did not know this, I bet you didn't either. Don't let the sun go down
without reading this about Martha Raye.
The most unforgivable oversight of TV is that her shows were not taped.
I was unaware of her credentials or where she is buried.
Most of the old time entertainers were made of a lot sterner stuff than
today's crop of activist bland whiners.
The following is from an Army Aviator who takes a trip down memory lane:
"It was just before Thanksgiving '67 and we were ferrying dead and wounded from a large GRF west of Pleiku.
We had run out of body bags by noon, so the Hook (CH-47 CHINOOK) was
pretty rough in the back.
All of a sudden, we heard a 'take-charge' woman's voice in the rear.
There was the singer and actress, Martha Raye, with a Special Forces beret and jungle fatigues, with subdued markings, helping the wounded into the Chinook, and carrying the dead aboard. Maggie' had been visiting her Special Forces (SF) 'heroes' out 'west'.
We took off, short of fuel, and headed to the USAF hospital pad at Pleiku.
As we all started unloading our sad pax's, a USAF Captain said to
Martha.... "Ms Raye, with all these dead and wounded to process, there
would not be time for your show!"
To all of our surprise, she pulled on her right collar and said "Captain, see this eagle? I am a full 'Bird' in the US Army Reserve, and on this is a 'Caduceus' which means I am a Nurse, with a surgical specialty.... now, take me to your wounded!"
He said, "Yes ma'am.... follow me."
Several times at the Army Field Hospital in Pleiku, she would 'cover' a
surgical shift, giving a nurse a well-deserved break.
Martha is the only woman buried in the SF (Special Forces) cemetery at
Ft Bragg.
From her memorial.
Birth: Aug. 27, 1916
Butte Silver Bow County
Montana, USA
Death: Oct. 19, 1994
Los Angeles
Los Angeles County
California, USA
Entertainer, Actress. Born Margaret Yvonne Teresa Reed, she joined her parents? vaudeville act at three years old. The singer, dancer, actress, comedienne performed on Broadway, in movies and on television. Beginning in 1942, she entertained American troops through World War II, Korea and Viet Nam. For nine years she made trips to Viet Nam, sometimes staying up to six months at a time and often using her training as a nurse to help with the wounded. She was made an honorary member of the Special Forces units that she often assisted and received her Green Beret and title of Lieutenant Colonel from President Lyndon Johnson. Nicknamed ?Colonel Maggie? by the troops, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest commendation for civilians, in 1993. In honor of her service to the military special exception was made to policy so that she could be buried in the military cemetery at Fort Bragg. (bio by: Melanie)
Family links:
Spouses:
Bud Westmore (1918 - 1973)
David Rose (1910 - 1990)*
*Calculated relationship
Cause of death: Natural causes
Inscription:
CIVILIAN
Burial:
Fort Bragg Main Post Cemetery
Fort Bragg
Cumberland County
North Carolina, USA
Plot: Row 28, Grave 780-B
Maintained by: Find A Grave
Record added: Jan 01, 2001
Find A Grave Memorial# 2334
Hand Salute! A great lady.
I did not know this about Martha Raye....
thought you might like to read it.