WOW, what a terrific woman!!! I had no idea but really liked her in her movies. A great comic!!
Remember Martha Raye?
51248451.jpg
The most unforgivable oversight of TV is that her shows were not taped.
This is a great story about a great woman. 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 other USO women, including Ann Margaret & Joey Heatherton) did for our troops in past
wars. Most of the old time entertainers were made out of a lot sterner stuff than today's crop of activists and 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 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 mam....
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.
51704973.jpg
Hand Salute! A great lady..
I did not know this about Martha Ray....thought you might like to read it.
Hell of a woman thanks for sharing đź‘Ť
ECarl
Loc: STURGIS, Michigan
I will admit, I did not enjoy Martha Raye as an entertainer - Tv comedy with Milton Berle. But I gotta have a TON of respect for what she did “out West”!!
As well I completely agree with your statement re. Today’s crop of activists and whiners, over paid ignorant brats!
Ecarl
Kerry Hansen wrote:
WOW, what a terrific woman!!! I had no idea but really liked her in her movies. A great comic!!
Remember Martha Raye?
51248451.jpg
The most unforgivable oversight of TV is that her shows were not taped.
This is a great story about a great woman. 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 other USO women, including Ann Margaret & Joey Heatherton) did for our troops in past
wars. Most of the old time entertainers were made out of a lot sterner stuff than today's crop of activists and 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 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 mam....
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.
51704973.jpg
Hand Salute! A great lady..
I did not know this about Martha Ray....thought you might like to read it.
WOW, what a terrific woman!!! I had no idea but re... (
show quote)
Thanks Kerry, I never knew that about her. Another example of :They don't make (or raise) them like they used to!
WOW! I never knew that about her. What an amazing woman.
Well, there have always been those that have the philosophy of "Getter Done" and those that want to sit around, analyze, and discuss all the ways it "can't be done". Here was an example of the first case. Just Sayin...RJS
Able Man
Loc: North Coast (Cleveland, Ohio)
Well, Mr. Hansen; ya got me to "dabbin' at tears" over here...
Huntm22
Loc: Northern Utah. - West Haven
Learn something new every day. Thx Kerry.
Can’t say that I was a fan...until now.
Well, being a surgeon's specialist and bird colonel would get most people's attention. Just Sayin...RJS
Really nice to hear! Good work!
Great story Kerry. Back when entertainers were people not pre madonas.
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