I did not know this about Martha Ray...

[PCBeachBum]

It was well recognized that Martha Raye endured less comfort and more danger than any other Vietnam entertainer.



Read this great story!
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.

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 of a lot sterner stuff than today's crop of
activists 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 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 Mouth' 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.
Martha is the only woman buried in the SF (Special Forces) cemetery at Ft Bragg.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg...334&PIpi=81207
image002 675.jpg
Hand Salute! A great lady..
I did not know this about Martha Ray....
thought you might like to read it.

[GloryRyders]

A true American hero!

[wyliec]

Thank you for this post. Never had heard anything about that.

[Bob Denman]

God bless her!
Although I would think that he already has... several times!

[ARtraveler]

[boborgera]

I caught one of her shows at Dragon Mt, Pleiku, In 66.

[Oldmanzues]

I might not agree with the more then part, but she did a lot and most will will be forgotten. The true stories are dying with us old vets. Many show people came with inches of being killed or wounded.

One story, The Bob Hope troop was told it would be very danerous to take a road trip into a area. Did they want to back off ? their answer was, are you driving or are we ? Area to hot to land choppers. I drove a gun truck escort and yes, we came under fire.
All of those show people deserve thanks.
People are doing the same now, but the media seems to ignore that part.
I will add my "Welcome Home" to those who came home alive and to the ones who came home in a tin Box. Some are still coming home.
All gave some, Some gave all is still true today. PGR escort Friday and tommorow.
Oldmanzuse.
TET 68 and more