Blog post submitted by Marilyn Turkovich for VOICESEDUCATION.ORG
This story, author unknown, was written by a Viet Nam veteran’s wife. Born in Sweden but adopted by America, Ann Margaret is regarded as a consummate entertainer. One of the world’s most glamorous and versatile superstars, she has twice been nominated for an Academy Award, won five Golden Globe Awards, and received five Emmy nominations. She draws sell-out crowds in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Radio City Music Hall and is a three-time winner of the “Female Star of the Year” award given by the United Motion Picture Association.
Ann Margaret’s book and films in which she started can be found by clicking here.
Richard, (my husband), never really talked a lot about his time in Viet Nam other than he had been shot by a sniper. However, he had a rather grainy, 8 x 10 black and white photo he had taken at a USO show of Ann Margaret with Bob Hope in the background that was one of his treasures.
A few years ago, Ann Margaret was doing a book signing at a local bookstore. Richard wanted to see if he could get her to sign the treasured photo so he arrived at the bookstore at 12 o’clock for the 7:30 signing. When I got there after work, the line went all the way around the bookstore, circled the parking lot and disappeared behind a parking garage. Before her appearance, bookstore employees announced that she would sign only her book and no memorabilia would be permitted. Richard was disappointed, but wanted to show her the photo and let her know how much those shows meant to lonely GI’s so far from home.
Ann Margaret came out looking as beautiful as ever and, as second in line, it was soon Richard’s turn. He presented the book for her signature and then took out the photo. When he did, there were many shouts from the employees that she would not sign it. Richard said, “I understand. I just wanted her to see it.” She took one look at the photo, tears welled up in her eyesand she said, “This is one of my gentlemen from Viet Nam and I most certainly will sign his photo. I know what these men did for their country and I always have time for ‘my gentlemen.'” With that, she pulled Richard across the table and planted a big kiss on him. She then made quite a to-do about the bravery of the young men she met over the years, how much she admired them, and how much she appreciated them. There weren’t too many dry eyes among those close enough to hear. She then posedf or pictures and acted as if he was the only one there.
Later at dinner, Richard was very quiet. When I asked if he’dlike to talk about it, my big strong husband broke down in tears.” That’s the first time anyone ever thanked me for my time in the Army,” he said. That night was a turning point for him. He walked a little straighter and, for the first time in years, was proud to have been a Vet. I’ll never forget Ann Margaret for her graciousness and how much that small act of kindness meant to my husband. I now make it a point to say “Thank you” to every person I come across who served in our Armed Forces. Freedom does not comec heap and I am grateful for all those who have served their country. If you’d like to pass on this story, feel free to do so. Perhaps it will help others to become aware of how important it is to acknowledge the contribution our service people make.
Cathy
chulai1968
Truth Prevailing
Publius Huldah
Freedom Rider
radioroger2015
revaustinmiles
I’ve heard this story before and it’s nice to hear it again. Both Bob Hope and Ann Margaret gave of their time and talents to help raise the spirits of soldiers during war-time. And, travelling to those areas weren’t without its risks to those associated with the USO shows. Bob Hope entertained in the USO from WWII through Vietnam. He and Ann Margaret are true patriots.
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AMEN to that, both deserve our gratitude, but from what I understand, Bob’s gravesite isn’t even cared for…sigh
Apparently not true, it’s someone else I was thinking of: Here’s Bob’s gravesite:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7716821
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I was not prepared for the reaction of Ms. Margaret considering the miserable state of affairs in this country I was once so proud of. Images from 50 years ago of another smiling female “Superstar” with her worthless butt planted in the seat of a North Vietnamese antiaircraft gun in Saigon while my friends and classmates were going home in boxes or crippled… (all were scarred for life)…were dancing in my mind.
What a wonderful and uplifting story for a jaded old vet to read on a Sunday afternoon. May God bless Ann Margaret and all true Americans as our nation falls before Satan’s one world government in preparation for Antichrist to take his short-lived seat of global power as it is prophesied in our Holy Scriptures.
Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus!… Amen.
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Correction… I meant Ho Chi Min City.. Not Saigon. Gittin old is a B***h!
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FR …. Actually, I think the traitor bitch was photographed outside Hanoi. The former capitol of RVN (Saigon) is now called Ho Chi Minh City (renamed after it fell to the commies in 1975), but she was photographed in North Vietnam. But I know what you mean.
As for Ann Margret, this article simply articulates one more reason for one of her ‘gentlemen’ to love her right back. She is a Class Act in a world with all too few of them. I just watched her in an older film on TCM (“The Train Robbers”) with Duke Wayne recently. Of course, she was (and still is) stunningly beautiful, but I was struck by how physically small she appeared.
In my heart, though, she’s bigger than life.
As an aside, when I served in RVN, I attended (along with a few thousand of my closest friends) the Bob Hope Christmas Show, and it featured the beautiful Raquel Welch and a very cute dancer (with a great set of legs) named Elaine Dunn. That was his ‘formula’ that he perfected back in WWII. “Give the boys what they want to see”…. and years later it still worked.
(In WWII, he called his troup, “Hope’s Travelling Gypsies”, consisting of himself, singer Frances Langford, dancer Patti Thomas, and guitarist Tony Romano. Les Brown’s orchestra joined them later on).
So many years later ….. it makes me feel lilke that old man in the story about the Raisin Bread.
(It seems that there was a small country store, and the owner’s beautiful daughter worked there. She had a habit of wearing a very short skirt while on the job, and the ‘local boys’ would all come in and figure out a way to get her to have to climb a ladder to reach things on the top shelf. Naturally,, when she was at the top of the ladder they would all ‘sneak a peak’ up her skirt. On the day in question, the owner had placed all the loaves of raisin bread on the top shelf. So, the boys, each in turn, asked her to get a loaf. This way, they got an eyeful several times. After several trips up the ladder, during which time an oldtimer had joined the group and enjoyed the view, she looked down at them and said to the old guy, “Well, I suppose yours is ‘raisin’, too.” To which he replied, “Nope, but it’s twitchin’ a mite!”
Ann Margret….. yep, she still merits a ‘twitch’ or two. God Bless Her.
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I HADN’T seen this story before,but Ann Margaret’s reputation had preceded her;I’ve heard for years how kind she was to Veterans,and it’s obvious she loves EVERY Veteran like Family. I ask-Could THIS be a case of “What comes around GOES around”? She’s given her best to every Veteran she meets,and God has blessed her with enduring beauty and health. How wonderful is THAT?
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Amen, and you know she’s taken care of a sick husband for years. Hope lived to be 100, I adored him and Bing Crosby as well, but Annie Margaret is a super lady…just super.
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If America just had about 100,000 Ann Margarets and 100,000 John Waynes,I can guarantee you it wouldn’t be nearly as F-U’ed.
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And you know we sure could use some of those in congress
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CZ - I’m glad you mentioned her caring for her husband (actor Roger Moore, of “77 Sunset Strip”. I believe he has some form of crippling disease) for so many years. All too many women (and men, too) would simply ‘bail’ on their afflicted spouse. In today’s society, we all seem to be ‘disposable’…. with exceptions. Thank God for the exceptional spouses who live up to their marriage vows (my wife and I took OUR vows to God, not to the State).
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The same went for the husband of former mouseketeer, Annette Funicello, He took care of her until the end, she had MS I believe
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