DO YOU REMEMBER 'MARTHA RAYE'??? It was well recognized that Martha Raye endured less comfort more 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. Somehow I just can't see Brittany Spears, Paris Hilton, or Jessica Simpson doing what this woman and the otherUSO women, including Ann Margaret & Joey Heatherton did for our troops in past wars. 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 subduedmarkings, 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. Hand Salute! A great lady. I did know this about Martha Raye.... thought you might like to read it..... ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Love to all, Hank...
Hi. Yes I can remember her - knew nothing of her ( obviously excellent) history but got an image of her in my mind immediately I saw the name. Had her own style of entertainment also. As you say salute to her and the others.
You might be amazed by how many of the movie stars of that time period worked in dangerous situations for the war effort. Not just the ones who joined the military but women who too.
Hi. I posted earlier I could remember her and naturally since then (as you do) have been thinking about her - little bits came back. She had a real "go for it" in her actions and always had that "I'm loving this" look - sure she was. Something that came back was the name of an old film "Hellzapoppin" and had the thought she was in it - checked and she was - early 40's . Cannot remember it in detail but can recall in todays parlance as it being very "zaney" and funny. I am going to try and find details of it. Edit 16 June.. Found titles of 18 films she was in including Hellzapoppin - there was probably more ??.
Great post Henry. Thanks for putting this information out there. I knew her name, but not what she had done.
