Clothing
Jewelry +
Home +
Pottery 
Art +
Paper +
Music +
Toys +
Sports +
Ads +
Eras +
PREV
NEXT
Posted 13 months, 19 days ago
AR8Jason
(1386 items)
Martha Raye (AKA "Big Mouth") entertainer visiting troops in Vietnam aboard the USS Repose AH-16
Photo by Navy Veteran (deceased) Charles Williams
I am photographing photos from Charles' collection in order to make it available on a DVD. Charles retired from the Navy and never married. The only one in his family left that knew him well is his sister. She has graciously shared his photos at veterans events for other vets to see and remember.
This is being done so Charles and his service is not forgotten. Also this is being done to honor those that served and especially those that have served with Charles. By doing so the intent is to protect the collection and make it available for others to remember.
His photos tell a story rarely told for Vietnam. He has recorded Vietnam from a Navy perspective. He has recorded Vietnam not from a warriors perspective, but from a healers perspective. He has recorded military service in Vietnam in a way rarely portrayed today and in a largely unreported area, service to the civilian population. He has photographed the birth of a Vietnamese child, and he has photographed a child who was first born on the ship, and then was returned when old enough to fix his hare-lip deformity. There are many shipboard shots of the civilians serviced.
There is a good number of the "Whose Who" of the American "Brass" coming out to pay a visit to the American heroes recovering in racks of the hospital ship. Purple hearts and Silver Stars alike are presented.
As military collectors, we like the emblems of service and the medals. In his photos Charles has photographed some of the heroes that earned them.
To me, Martha Raye is a hero that never got a war medal. The vets with whom I have discussed these photos, and were in Vietnam, all say she was there for them, not for her career. She was given the high honor to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery, but instead chose to be buried in the Special Forces Cemetery at Ft Bragg, North Carolina.
In Memory of Charles H. Williams, Navy Vet.
In Memory of Martha Raye, and her service in Vietnam, to our brothers, fathers, uncles and grandfathers. And to the women that served along side them as well.
In Memory to my Uncles Gary Mackey USArmy and Mike McClaren USNavy, Vietnam vets.
On November 2, 1993, Martha Raye was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, by President Bill Clinton, for her service to her country. The citation reads:
"A talented performer whose career spans the better part of a century, Martha Raye has delighted audiences and uplifted spirits around the globe. She brought her tremendous comedic and musical skills to her work in film, stage, and television, helping to shape American entertainment. the great courage, kindness, and patriotism she showed in her many tours during World War II, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam Conflict earned her the nickname "Colonel Maggie." The American people honor Martha Raye, a woman who has tirelessly used her gifts to benefit the lives of her fellow Americans."
FROM WIKI ..
God Bless the USO !
Amen
... and the people that gave of their time .... Bob Hope, and the MANY OTHER talented people (and beauties) that lifted the spirits of our troops and that of our allies.
Thank you ... Savoychina1, marcobabe13 & officialfuel for loving this.
Thank you to Chrisnp, ThriftStoreAddict and mark.