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This video recalls actress/singer/comedienne Martha Raye and her support of our troops in Vietnam. Martha Raye entertained troops, nursed wounded, and provid...
Thank you, my friend SSG Jeffrey Leake for honoring USAR Army Colonel Martha Raye who was a nurse in addition to American comic actress and singer.
Images:
1. Honorary LTC Martha Raye and SF troops, South Viet Nam, 1968.
2. Honorary LTC Martha 'Maggie' Raye.
3. 12 January 1966 Honorary LTC Martha Raye and CPT Daniel Marvin in Camp Dan Nam.
Martha Raye Receives the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award: 1969 Oscars
As recognition of her efforts on behalf of U.S. service members, Martha Raye was given several honorary military designations, including the honorary ranks of lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army and colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps (leading to her being dubbed “Colonel Maggie” by troops in Vietnam).
Martha Raye In Vietnam
This video recalls actress/singer/comedienne Martha Raye and her support of our troops in Vietnam. Martha Raye entertained troops, nursed wounded, and provided a touch of home to soldiers in isolated camps throughout Vietnam for most of the duration of the war. She is buried among her beloved soldiers at Fort Bragg, NC, and reportedly is the only civilian buried there who receives military honors each Veterans Day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRClGI4rByU
"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 SF (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 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 'Smart Ass' USAF Captain said to Martha....
"Ms Ray, 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.'
During the Vietnam War, she was made an honorary Green Beret because she visited United States Army Special Forces in Vietnam, and she helped out when things got bad in Special Forces A-Camps. Because of those actions, she came to be known affectionately by the Green Berets as "Colonel Maggie." She continued her relationship with the Green Berets for the rest of her life. She built a guest house for Green Berets on the grounds of her home in Los Angeles and made many trips to Fort Bragg and other Special Forces Posts throughout her life. In 1988, the Special Forces Association Convention held in Fayetteville, NC carried the theme of "Honoring COL Maggie".
On November 2, 1993, Martha Raye was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, by President Bill Clinton, for her service to her country.
Maggie died of pneumonia on October 19, 1994, after a long history of cardiovascular disease. Martha Raye was 78 years of age, and residing in Los Angeles at the time of her death.
The patriotism she showed in her tours during World War II, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam Conflict earned her the nickname "Colonel Maggie."
Because of her work with the USO during World War II and subsequent wars, special consideration was given to bury her in Arlington National Cemetery upon her death. At her request, she was ultimately buried with full military honors in Fort Bragg, North Carolina."
FYI CPT Barbara Smith COL Mikel J. Burroughs SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSG Leo Bell Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4"SSgt Robert Marx TSgt Joe C. SP5 Mark Kuzinski LTC Stephen C. LTC Thomas Tennant MAJ Ken Landgren CW5 (Join to see) SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT 1stSgt Eugene Harless SFC William Farrell
Images:
1. Honorary LTC Martha Raye and SF troops, South Viet Nam, 1968.
2. Honorary LTC Martha 'Maggie' Raye.
3. 12 January 1966 Honorary LTC Martha Raye and CPT Daniel Marvin in Camp Dan Nam.
Martha Raye Receives the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award: 1969 Oscars
As recognition of her efforts on behalf of U.S. service members, Martha Raye was given several honorary military designations, including the honorary ranks of lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army and colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps (leading to her being dubbed “Colonel Maggie” by troops in Vietnam).
Martha Raye In Vietnam
This video recalls actress/singer/comedienne Martha Raye and her support of our troops in Vietnam. Martha Raye entertained troops, nursed wounded, and provided a touch of home to soldiers in isolated camps throughout Vietnam for most of the duration of the war. She is buried among her beloved soldiers at Fort Bragg, NC, and reportedly is the only civilian buried there who receives military honors each Veterans Day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRClGI4rByU
"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 SF (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 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 'Smart Ass' USAF Captain said to Martha....
"Ms Ray, 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.'
During the Vietnam War, she was made an honorary Green Beret because she visited United States Army Special Forces in Vietnam, and she helped out when things got bad in Special Forces A-Camps. Because of those actions, she came to be known affectionately by the Green Berets as "Colonel Maggie." She continued her relationship with the Green Berets for the rest of her life. She built a guest house for Green Berets on the grounds of her home in Los Angeles and made many trips to Fort Bragg and other Special Forces Posts throughout her life. In 1988, the Special Forces Association Convention held in Fayetteville, NC carried the theme of "Honoring COL Maggie".
On November 2, 1993, Martha Raye was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, by President Bill Clinton, for her service to her country.
Maggie died of pneumonia on October 19, 1994, after a long history of cardiovascular disease. Martha Raye was 78 years of age, and residing in Los Angeles at the time of her death.
The patriotism she showed in her tours during World War II, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam Conflict earned her the nickname "Colonel Maggie."
Because of her work with the USO during World War II and subsequent wars, special consideration was given to bury her in Arlington National Cemetery upon her death. At her request, she was ultimately buried with full military honors in Fort Bragg, North Carolina."
FYI CPT Barbara Smith COL Mikel J. Burroughs SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSG Leo Bell Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4"SSgt Robert Marx TSgt Joe C. SP5 Mark Kuzinski LTC Stephen C. LTC Thomas Tennant MAJ Ken Landgren CW5 (Join to see) SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT 1stSgt Eugene Harless SFC William Farrell
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