Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Martha Raye

I did not remember this about her.





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 other USO women 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 taken 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 subdued markings, 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.

Indeed, thank you for posting.

Interesting, thanks.

My mom was a US Navy nurse during WWII and had a very warm spot for Martha Raye.

Great performer.

We need more Martha’s!

Wow.

I didn’t know this!

Next we'll learn that Julia Child invented shark repellent for the OSS

She did??

Thanks for reminding us. A class act.

Thanks for posting.

This is only partially true. Her military rank was honorary as it was for many USO performers. She was affectionately regarded as an honorary Army Ana Marine Corp Officer. It is true she was/is buried at Fort Bragg but it took a special congressional/DOD authorization.

Thanks for posting that Cliff.... I'll admit recalling hearing that, a long time ago...but it was long forgotten.

A new found respect for her tonight....

I still believe that the youth of today, are born with the same deep within them...
but being raised in a liberal society like ours, they are taught NOT to rise to the occasion...

liberalism kills people's independence and will to achieve and accomplish to their full potential.

thank you Martha, where ever you may be now...

Awesome post man thanks for this what an amazing woman. Very cool.

A captain early in my career was Army Special Forces stationed in Vietnam with the Mountegards. Twice, Martha showed up in the supply chopper and chatted with his team in the field. It was only a couple of minutes total but it gave them all a morale boost. He did not have a bad word for her and I don't think I would want to speak ill of Martha in his presence.

It wasn't just her, as most of the big name Hollywood stars entertained the troops during WW2 and even into Vietnam. Bob Hope was the best known, and I've seen some old film clips where he was putting on a show while Jap snipers were still shooting.

Today's Hollywood stars would be more likely to entertain ISIS and the Taliban.

Thanks for posting. She came from a time when Hollywood had Americans. Now there's a few there but the majority are Commies.

God Bless Martha Raye, a great American.

Excellent post about a fine human being.

I missed meeting her by a week. I got an early exit from Ban Me Thuot due to the wind-down. Much later, I learned that Martha Raye showed up there the following week, arriving in a gun truck. She was indeed a special friend to Special Forces and would travel to the tiniest, least secure places just to be with "her boys." A very special woman, and a genuine angel.