Image:USOShow1968.jpg

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Description

Joey Bishop, Terrie and Jennie Frankel (Doublemint Twins), Sig Sakowitz, Tony Diamond, Sara Sue, Tippi Hedren and Mel Bishop pose for this shot after performing for servicemen in Saigon, Vietnam.

Details

During November and December the Sig Sakowitz troop from Chicago performed over 36 shows all over South Vietnam, including: Danang, Pleiku, Cam Ran Bay, Phu Bai, Phu Loy, Hue, Dalat, Tan Sun Nhut Airbase and many locations including the boonies where servicemen normally did not get to see USO shows like Bob Hope. The troop was delivered by Jeep, C-130s, helicopters, etc. to remote locations because they did not need electricity to perform. The waiting soldiers were grateful to have a taste of home and often offered all they could - the patches they wore on their uniforms called "flashes." Among the songs performed were: When the Saints Go Marching In, folk songs and popular songs of the era. Servicemen would be invited onto the stage to dance with and be sung to by Sara Sue of Chicago's Gaslight Club. Comedian Tony Diamond, a Vet who knew first hand the thrill a USO show could bring to GIs, kept the laughter coming. Sig Sakowitz, dressed in Polish attire, sang polkas. Joey Bishop of Rat Pack fame, lightened everyone's spirits with his deadpan style of Las Vegas comedy. Tippi Hedron, a personality and actress, famous for starring in Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" signed autographs. Mel Bishop was a friend of Joey's. The troop had a GS15 Rating, which likened them to Colonels, so they were well protected and had an escort officer and armed servicemen to assure their safety wherever they were taken. Martha Raye stayed with the troop at their hotel in Saigon. She had been performing for servicemen with the United Service Organization since WWII.

Source

Wikimedia Commons File: USO Vietnam 1968 Troop - Jennie Frankel, Tony Diamond, Sara Sue, Sig Sakowitz, Joey Bishop, Tippi Hedren, Mel Bishop, Jennie Frankel.jpg, retrieved 24 Nov 2018.

License

This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. The person who associated a work with this deed (originated by Terrie Frankel under the username of TwinsofSedona) has dedicated the work to the public domain by waiving all of his or her rights to the work worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law. You can copy, modify, distribute and perform the work, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

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• (del) (cur) 19:32, 24 November 2018 . . BobC (Talk | contribs) . . 1390×924 (1,040,372 bytes) (== Description == Joey Bishop, Terrie and Jennie Frankel (Doublemint Twins), Sig Sakowitz, Tony Diamond, Sara Sue, Tippi Hedren and Mel Bishop pose for this shot after performing for servicemen )

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