Tribute To Martha "Maggie" Raye
From "Doc" Dentice - Vietnam Medic
Tribute To Martha "Maggie" Raye
From "Doc" Dentice - Vietnam Medic
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Martha Raye now
singing on this site
Turn Up The
Volumn
WWII - Korea
- Vietnam
Maggie 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. Becauseof 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". 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. On November 2, 1993, Martha Raye was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, by President Bill Clinton, for her service to her country. 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. Martha has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
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Pictures & Info between the cammoflage
bars
Courtesy of "Noonie Fortin" for her friend
Doc Dentice
For his Martha Raye(Maggie) Tribute Page
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 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.
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Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release November 2, 1993 The President today awarded the
Presidential Medal of Freedom,the highest civilian award of our
"A talented performer whose career spans the better part of a century,
Martha Raye has delighted audiences and uplifted spirits around the globe.
In making the award, the President
expressed his concern about Ms. Raye's health, and
Arrangements for the presentation of the medal to Ms. Raye have not yet been completed. The medal shown below is identical
to the one that was presented to
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Courtesy of Mary Ellen McKeny - Doughnut Dollie
- Vietnam
Nov 66 - Oct 67; Danang / An Khe and Cu Chi
COLONEL
MAGGIE-WHO WAS SHE?
BORN IN
A BUTTE,MONTANA CHARITY WARD..
ON STAGE
AT THREE..
ACCOMPLISHED
ACTRESS OF STAGE & SCREEN..
JAZZ SINGER
& COMEDIENNE..
WIFE..OF
SEVEN
MOTHER
OF ONE..
SHE WORE
A GREEN BERET..
SHE DONNED
FATIGUES & COMBAT BOOTS
ASSISTED
MEDICAL PERSONNEL..
MOTHER-SISTER-AUNT
TO 1000'S OF TROOPS..
BLACKLISTED
TWICE IN HOLLYWOOD..
ADORED
BY MEN & WOMEN IN THE MILITARY..
TWO EMMY
NOMINATIONS.. - AN OSCAR..
A PRESIDENTIAL
MEDAL OF FREEDOM..
CARRIED
TO HER FINAL RESTING PLACE
BY MEMBERS
OF THE SPECIAL FORCES...
BURIED
AT FT.BRAGG,NORTH CAROLINA
1916-1994
HOLLYWOOD RECOGNIZED
HER FOR HER BIG MOUTH
THE TROOPS LOVED HER
FOR HER BIG HEART!
PERMISSION TO USE THIS PHOTO GRANTED
TO "DOC"BY NOONIE FORTIN!
PHOTO BY TONY PETRELLO IN 1964...copyright@
"Colonel Maggie," Martha
Raye, was an honorary member of the Special Forces.
She had received her
prized Green Beret and the title of Lieutenant Colonel from President Lyndon
B. Johnson, himself.
In 1993 Martha Raye was
awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her lifetime service to America
.
When she died a special
exception to policy was made so that she could be buried in the military
cemetery at Fort Bragg , North Carolina .
From 1964 to 1973, Martha
traveled from camp to camp in isolated areas throughout Vietnam making
eight (8) visits.
She would stay "in-country"
from four to six months at a time--usually at her own expense--to be with
the troops she so dearly loved.
She used the nurse's
aide skills she learned back in the 1930s, and surgical techniques she
picked up during World War II
to help treat the wounded.
Whatever her official nursing qualifications, her assistance was often
needed and very much appreciated.
Her presence, whether
as entertainer or as a nurse, helped to make life bearable for so many
enlisted troops and officers.
Martha was wounded twice
during her visits with the Green Berets.
In May 1965 Martha began
the first of her eight USO tours of Vietnam, visiting military camps and
outposts.
She was accompanied by
Earl Colbert, a guitarist, and Ollie Harris, a bass fiddle player.
During one of her visits,
she was performed with Johnny Grant, Eddie Fisher, and John Bubbles.
In October that year,
Martha was back in Vietnam with the USO for another six weeks.
Until America 's withdrawal
in 1974, Martha toured in Vietnam at least annually, sometimes with the
USO (1965-1970) but most often on her own and at her own expense.
http://www.medhunters.com/articles/colonelMaggie.html
Martha Raye (left) and
two members of her troupe perform at the 25th Inf. Div's Lightning Bowl.
More than 4,000 enthusiastic
troopers were on hand
to watch the outdoor presentation of "Hello Dolly. Nov 1967
http://www.25thida.com/TLN/tln2-45.htm
MEMORIES OF MAGGIE BY AUTHOR NOONIE FORTIN
NOONIE WILL MAKE PRESENTATIONS TO YOUR
CLASSROOMS/LIBRARIES/BANQUETS/CLUBS ETC.
CALL 1-800-864-1648
PHOTO BY DAVID GIFFEN
PHOTO BY HOWARD SHERPE
Thank you "DOC" for the Ms.M.Raye tribute, it is excellent.
When we visit our son at FT.Bragg we will pay our respects
to a wonderful hero, Ms Raye.
God Bless and please Thank all the great
Vets for our freedom.
Sincerely, Rusty Kanokogi.
Lt. Colonel Martha " Maggie " Raye Jungle Jacket And Green Beret
Magazine.
Standard fourth model rip-stop jungle jacket.
Has officers metal Nurse and Lt Col pinned to the collars.
On the button flap is a set of SVN Army Lt Colonels rank blossoms.
On the left sleeve is a standard issue subdued 25th division patch
and on the right is a Special Forces shoulder patch.
In the pocket is a standard issue small size baseball hat with a
Lt Col rank pin affixed to it.
In the other pocket is a issue of Green Beret magazine dated February
1968 that was mailed to her from a Lt. in the 5th Group Information Office.
Great piece that came directly out of her estate.
WELL KNOWN ENTERTAINER - Martha Raye (left) and two members of her
troupe perform at the the 25th Inf. Div's Lightning Bowl in CuChi Vietnam
1967
More than 4,000 enthusiastic troopers were on hand to watch the outdoor
presentation of "Hello Dolly."
E-mail
Doc
All Sites Below Created By "Jeff Doc Dentice"
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