Martha Raye……..sings “SILENT NIGHT”
This is an outtake from the 1944 20th Century Fox movie “FOUR JILLS IN A JEEP,” adapted from Carole Landis’ book about the real-life journey by Landis, Raye, Mitzi Mayfair and Kay Francis to entertain U.S. troops overseas in WWII.
Martha Raye also went to entertain the troops during the Vietnam War.
Here’s a version I found that mixes in footage from Band of Brothers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMAAHRt73S4
Those of US that have spent Christmas away from home in war and peace – past and present – understand that our Christmastime reflections are a gift from God and our patriots that make this all possible! “Sleep in heavenly peace…”
Stille Nacht… Holy night … All is calm … All is bright… And tonight, 231 years ago, General George Washington and his Continental Army rowed across the frozen Delaware River to gain a victory over the Red Coats & Hessians in Trenton, NJ. Frohe Weihnachten und Prost!
How touching WT, the perfect video clip for the occaision. Two of my favorite entertainers , Colonel Maggie and Sergeant Bilko.
Unless you have spent a Christmas away in a battlezone it’s hard for the average person to grasp the significance. I have spent 9 or 10 Christmases away from home and several in transit, the toughest one being in the RVN away from my wife and daughter. These entertainers forfeit their family Christmas together and more to boost our morale.
My hero. For nine years Martha “Colonel Maggie” Raye went to Viet Nam, sometimes staying as long as six months. Martha who was also a trained RN before going into the entertainment field, went to entertain and visit a very small Special Forces camp. The story told is that she and some clarinet player, had gone to the camp to entertain, but while they were there the NVA attacked the camp. Mortar rounds and small arms fire were incoming. It appeared that there was a full-scale assault on the base camp and it was uncertain if the camp would be able to hold off the assault. The camp medic was hit, and so with her being a nurse, she took over and began to assist with the treatment of the wounded who kept pouring into the aid station. She kept refusing any and all rescue missions. She spent hours putting her skills as a nurse, to use treating patients and even assisting with surgery. She was in the operating room for 13 hours; she then went through the aid station talking with the wounded and making sure that they were okay. It was said that she worked without sleep or rest, until all the wounded were either treated, or evacuated out on a Huey. She did not leave that camp until she was satisfied that all wounded were taken care of.
Miss Raye once said: “They ask so little and give so much. The least we can do back home here is give them love, the respect and dignity they, our flag and our country deserve.”
Another who has spent more than one Christmas away from home in honor of the troops is our host. Thank you for each of the four years you went there WT, and all you have done and are doing, you have our undying gratitude.
Love and Peace to you and yours
Merry Christmas Everyone
Merry Christmas to Team Theodore!
May all your dreams come true!
What a wonderful video! Martha Raye was very special.
I’m so very fortunate to have my Baby Girl Soldier home for Christmas this year. And my prayers and thoughts are always with those not so fortunate to have their soldiers home.
And a big thank you to those (that would be you too, WT) who went far away to be with our troops!!
I was at an American helicopter base in Soc Trang, RVN in Oct 68 when Martha Raye put on a show. There was a large operation the next day with our helicopters inserting ARVN troops in a major operation. The ARVNs were inserted right on top of a large VC unit and a major battle ensued. There were hundreds killed on both sides. The casualties included 7 or 8 US KIA and dozens wounded, mostly helicopter crewmen.
Martha Raye assisited the overworked surgeon and medics in the small base dispensary. She had some experience and medical training in WWII. Reportedly she gave a pint of blood and worked 24 hrs straight through on the wounded until they could be evacuated to a larger hospital.
Decades later Martha Raye was awarded a medal for her efforts that day. A few years after that day at Soc Trang I joined Special Forces. In SF Martha Raye was a legend, for her support, dedication, sacrifice and for her drinking ability and dirty jokes. She was made a member of Special Forces and was authorised to wear the Green Beret.
Martha Raye, “Colonel Maggie”, was ostracized by Hollywood for her active support of the Vietnam War and it’s American warriors.
She is buried at Ft Bragg, North Carolina.
Hi Chrissie… you’re so very much appreciated by those of us of the past and those from today’s military. I was at the Bob Hope show in both Long Binh and Cu Chi in 1967 as part of the dustoff crew in case something happened. Thanks for the memories and thank you for caring so much. And most of all, thank you for providing such a wonderful morale booster then and now!! You’re an angel.
Captain Dave
Chrissie, may you and Nick have a wonderful Christmas and thank you for being our friend.
Hi, Chrissie. I hope that you and Nick and “the kids” have a wonderful Christmas and a blessed Yule!
Gregor
God bless everyone of you here, and a special prayer for all of our troops.
Merry Christmas everyone and ‘God Bless us everyone.’
Billy, thank you, that video link you shared in your commment is awesome.
Darth, thank you for sharing about General George Washington.
Jack….”Miss Raye once said: “They ask so little and give so much. The least we can do back home here is give them love, the respect and dignity they, our flag and our country deserve.”……she is so right in what she said.
She is a hero to me, I admired her so much. She knew what the cost of freedom was 24/7 like I wish with all my heart that all America’s citizens would realize. Many do, more then don’t really, I believe that in my heart.
Thank you so much Jack for sharing this about Martha Raye, what an awesome person she was.
Hi Linda, thank you. Thank you my dear friend. ((((hug))))
Yankeemom, oh wow she is home for Christmas I am thrilled and soooooooo happy for all of you. This is exciting news! God bless you and your daughter.
Tom, thank you so much for sharing about Soc Trang and Special Forces and Martha Raye. She was an angel on this earth, and I love hearing about her.
Captain Dave, it is so good to see you. Merry Christmas! You are my favorite Dustoff pilot!!!!
Cuchieddie, hi and thank you so much. May you have a wonderful New Year and Holiday season.
Gregor, thank you. Merry Christmas to you Gregor!!!
Yes our ‘kids’, our kitty and dog will get their presents from Santa on Chritmas morning. giggle It is fun to watch them play like they do.
Mark thank you and God bless you and your loved ones this Christmas and in the New Year.