Remembering Entertainer Martha Raye WW II, Korea, Vietnam: 1916-1994

Once I asked my brother , a Vietnam helicopter pilot if he ever was able to attend a Bob Hope performance in Vietnam. He hesitated and said no, not where I was. He said the entertainer he knew who entertained the troops was Martha Raye who performed in WW II, Korea and several tours in Vietnam to Special Forces Rangers. He said she had a weekly TV show in the 50s that lasted for one hour weekly. The word came down she wanted to entertain Army Rangers. My brother volunteered to fly her to isolated posts. It was voluntary as there was no guarantee if the flight went down priority would be given to on -going operations. He would fly her to a mountain top and entertain 12 Special Force Rangers for 45 minutes, left them in stiches so they never forgot her. There were no cameras or TV special appearances back in the USA.

Martha Raye was an actress. Martha Raye performed on Broadway, in movies and on television. Beginning in 1942, she entertained American troops through World War II, Korea and Vietnam. For nine years she made trips to Vietnam, 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.