Biografia

Martha Raye, the only woman buried in the Special Forces cemetery at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Raye joined the USO soon after the US entered WWII. During WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, she traveled extensively to entertain our troops, despite her extreme fear of flying. In 1966 she went to Vietnam to entertain two platoons of airmen, both were called out on a mission. She held the show there till they returned. She often served as a nurse on these trips.

Had so little formal schooling, her scripts had to be read to her.

Raye was named an honorary member of the Special Forces units that she often assisted and received her Green Beret and the title of Lieutenant Colonel from President Bill Clinton. For her services in entertaining the troops she was allowed burial in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Following the demise of her TV variety show, the breakup of her fifth marriage, and a series of other personal problems, she attempted suicide with sleeping pills on August 14, 1956. After her recovery she always wore a St. Christopher's medal, a St. Genesius medal and a Star of David given to her by wellwishers. At the end of her TV programs she also would say "Good night, Sisters," a reference to The Sisters of St. Francis Hospital in Miami where she recovered.

Born backstage at a local vaudeville theatre in Butte, Montana, where her song-and-dance parents, Maybelle Hazel (Hooper) and Peter Reed, Jr., were performing. Two days after Martha was born, her mother was back doing the act.

I didn't have to work till I was three. But after that, I never stopped.

Few people actually know me or take me seriously. I thought success in show business was the answer to everything. It isn't. I don't know what is.

"Only cowards give up the search for happiness because they're afraid of getting hurt.

My career is my whole life. I'll always work.

I must have been hypnotized by the spotlight. I never realized I was being culturally deprived, that I was having a lousy upbringing. We were too busy making a living to worry about stuff like that.