[..]
'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 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." [
...
Full]
To be quite fair about it, her rank and SF titles were honorary, but well-deserved.
ReplyDeleteShe did enjoy, however, a reputation of being generally disliked by many of her Hollywood peers, so there's that.
ReplyDeleteI am retired Army Special Forces, Colonel Maggie is legendary in our circles. She gave up lots of her civilian career to be with SF units in Vietnam.
She supposedly held a Commission in the U.S. Army Reserves as a Nurse. She was the only "Honorary Green Beret" and designated a LTC by President Johnson.
She served lots of time in the field with Special Forces usually at FOB's and spent much time tending too and caring for wounded soldiers and earned the respect of anyone who had contact with her.
I am also a member of the "Special Forces Association" which has Chapters worldwide. One of those Chapters are named in Honor of Colonel Maggie.
The Martha Raye Chapter XXVII is located in St. Louis, Missouri.
Here is their website: www.stlouisgreenberets.com
This Honor is usually reserved for Medal of Honor Winners. Which should tell you the high regard "WE" hold Colonel Maggie in.
Geo
De Oppresso Liber
Thank you...I was not aware....now I am
ReplyDelete