Martha & Me

By gracefully50

Hi everyone!

It’s only been two days since we returned from our vacation, and I already need another one!  Not complaining… I promise. 🙂

These photos are from a few weeks ago (pre-tan) that I didn’t care for enough to use, but since I don’t have time for new photos until this weekend…here goes.

~~~~~

I came across this story of Martha Raye and thought it worth sharing.  For my younger readers, you may not know who she is, but her story is inspiring.

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.

Martha is the only woman buried in the SF (Special Forces) cemetery at Ft Bragg.

 A salute to you!  A great lady!

~~~~

I would like to apologize to those of you who saw the google/yahoo/youtube t-shirt on my last post.  I did NOT know what it meant until tonight when hubby & son enlightened me.  I told ya I was slow on jokes and such!

Thanks for visiting, and I appreciate your comments!

Jacket & skirt: Ralph Lauren    Shoes: Saks      Bag & Sunnies: Chanel

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46 thoughts on “Martha & Me”

  7. First, I love the outfit – love how you belted it to create a peplum top! Your hair looks so pretty up! And drool worthy reissue!! 🙂

    Thanks for sharing the story about Martha Raye!

    xo, sam

  11. Chic!!! Wow, I did not know that about Martha. THAT is character. Todays stars, always on the band wagon about this or that, usually political, but not about to get their hands dirty actually SERVING other Americans. So many stars from that era were service members of some sort. Times have changed. Thanks for sharing, I can use this for a teaching moment!

  12. That is a very chic and smart looking ensemble…I love it. Interesting information about Martha too. ~~Bliss

  14. I’ll bet you ARE missing the beach! Maybe take advantage of the weather and do a rain shoot, I’ll bet you have fabulous rain gear!!
    Thanks for the great story about Martha Raye, I always loved her. And you look beautiful, by the way!

    Have a great one and stay dry!
    🙂
    elisa

    • Yes, I am missing the beach, the sun, the fresh oysters, walk on the beach, the sunrise/sunset…but, I’m sleeping better in my bed. 🙂
      I don’t have any fashionable rain gear…just an umbrella. I don’t even own rain boots. At least this rain is washing the pollen away.

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