Vietnam Veteran Adrian Cronauer Passed Away

'Good Morning, Vietnam' DJ and Air Force veteran Adrian Cronauer dies at 79
By STARS AND STRIPES
Published: July 19, 2018

“If I did half the things he did in that movie, I’d still be in Leavenworth and not England,” Cronauer told Stars and Stripes during a stop at RAF Mildenhall in 2004.

Adrian Cronauer is a U.S. Air Force veteran and radio personality whose experiences as a disc jockey during the Vietnam War inspired the 1987 Robin Williams film "Good Morning, Vietnam." Cronauer passed away on July 18, 2018. He was 79.

Many things in Robin Williams' portrayal of DJ Adrian Cronauer in "Good Morning, Vietnam" weren't really based on Cronauer. But that drawn-out "goooooood morning, Vietnam" was all Cronauer.

Cronauer, the Air Force veteran played by Robin Williams in the 1987 movie, died Wednesday. He was 79.

The 1987 movie, which Cronauer co-wrote, was loosely based on his life as an Armed Forces Network disc jockey for a year in Vietnam. But, as he said, it is a movie and Williams’ frenzied performance was not him.
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Iraq Veteran and Member of ISIS Bond Over Robin Williams?

An American veteran and a jihadi bond over Robin Williams
PRI's The World
Producer Christopher Woolf
August 19, 2014

Who would have thought that Islamic militants might also enjoy Robin Williams movies?

The death of the actor and comedian last week provoked an outpouring of sympathy from across the world. That included activists with ISIS, the militant group that has proclaimed an Islamic caliphate in northern Iraq and Syria.

Alex Horton found that out when he went to tweet his his own fond memories of William. Horton, currently a journalist and blogger on national security issues, served as an infantryman in the US Army.

During his tour in Iraq in 2006 and 2007, some of the insurgents he fought were much like ISIS.

But Horton still engaged some of the activists when they posted their admiration of Robin Williams on Twitter. He ended up having a long conversation, both on- and off-line, with one Islamist in particular: a 19-year-old guy called Abdullah.
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Robin Williams USO Tours Now News?

How is it that all of a sudden, the press is interested in Robin Williams going all over the world to spend time entertaining our troops? Why didn't they care before this?

Comedian Robin Williams greets soldiers stationed in Ramadi, Iraq prior to a USO show at the base. Dec. 19, 2007. Williams was joined by award winning recording artist Kid Rock, Miss USA Rachel Smith, comedian Lewis Black and seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong on the 15-stop, seven-country tour thanking the forward deployed troops for their sacrifice and service. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley

Robin Williams' USO tours made him a familiar face to military crowds
LA Times
By CHRISTIE D'ZURILLA
August 12, 2014

Robin Williams earned his first Oscar nomination playing U.S. Air Force Sgt. Adrian Cronauer in 1987's "Good Morning, Vietnam" -- but his real-life relationship with the military in the form of USO shows didn't get rolling until 2002.

Williams, who died Monday of an apparent suicide at age 63, went on his first tour that year to perform for troops in Afghanistan and Turkey, according to the USO.

His passport would eventually include stamps from doing shows in Bahrain, Djibouti, Germany, Iraq, Italy, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Qatar, Spain and the United Arab Emirates, the Military Times reported. There were visits in the United States as well.

One particularly noteworthy moment on the USO stage happened at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, in December 2007, the year after Williams got out of rehab. He was joking about rehab being a good thing -- "Because I was violating my standards faster than I could lower them" -- when all of a sudden the entire audience turned its back on him as a horn played.

"I'm not gonna forget that. I've never had an entire audience just go 'forget you'" he said, turning his back momentarily to the crowd. "I was also wondering what's coming from that way. When an entire group of military people turns that ... way."

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For some memorable moments with Robin Williams showing up for the troops go here.
Military Community Mourns Loss of Robin Williams

Military Community Mourns Loss of Robin Williams

USO on Robin Williams' Death: 'He Will Be Sorely Missed'
NBC News

Oscar-winning actor and comedian Robin Williams, 63, who died Monday in California, was also known for his work with the United Service Organization, a nonprofit that works to lift the spirits of U.S. troops. In this role, Williams performed for American troops stationed in Afghanistan, Iraq and, in one of his most memorable appearances, in Kuwait.

The USO expressed its condolences in a Facebook post Monday night, echoing the grief felt by many upon hearing the news of Williams' tragic death: " He will always be a part of our USO family and will be sorely missed," the statement read.

Williams died in his residence in Tiburon, California, in an apparent suicide, according to the Marin County Sheriff's Office.
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Robin Williams as troops "Retreat" at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait
2007



Robin Williams was a staple of USO tours overseas and in U.S.
Marine Corps Times
Aug. 12, 2014

Comedian Robin Williams was a regular on USO tours, performing for more 89,400 service members in the U.S. and overseas before his death on Monday, said USO spokeswoman Oname Thompson.

Williams was one of the first entertainers to go on a USO tour to Southwest Asia in 2002 and ultimately performed for U.S. troops in Afghanistan, Bahrain, Djibouti, Germany, Iraq, Italy, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Qatar, Spain, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and the U.S., Thompson said in an email to Military Times.

During his six USO tours and entertainment tours, Williams visited wounded warriors, performed at the 2008 USO Gala and traveled with four Joint Chiefs of Staff chairmen on USO holiday tours, Thompson said. His last USO tour was in December 2010.
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2003
Robin Williams in Mosul, Iraq *USO Tour* Dec 2003
AFN Robin Williams On Tour USO Armed Forces Entertainment Afghanistan and Europe 2002

Mar 1, 2014
Produced and broadcast on the American Forces Network Europe, this is an exclusive half hour interview program with comedian and actor Robin Williams during his first USO tour for the troops serving in the Middle East and Europe. This interview with AFN Europe's Kane Farabaugh, and camera operators Russell Zill, Steve German, and Dan Millbauer, occurred at Rhein Main Air Base in Frankfurt, Germany in 2002 at the end of his USO tour.

2002
2004

"Special Forces, heavily armed Amish"

Aug 11, 2014

Robin Williams' USO routine in Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan in December 2004.

Was deployed there 2004 - 2005 with 2-25 Aviation (25th Infantry Division) out of Hawaii.

Robin Williams Died at 63

Robin Williams dead at 63
Entertainment Inside Movies
By Nicole Sperling
Aug 11, 2014

Oscar winner and comedian Robin Williams died this morning at 63. While his publicist wouldn’t confirm that his death was a suicide, a rep did issue this statement. “Robin Williams passed away this morning. He has been battling severe depression of late. This is a tragic and sudden loss. The family respectfully asks for their privacy as they grieve during this very difficult time.”

Williams, who won an Oscar for his supporting role in Good Will Hunting, will reprise his role as Theodore Roosevelt in the third installment of Night at the Museum this December. He had recently signed on to reprise his beloved role as Mrs. Doubtfire in a sequel to be directed by Chris Columbus, and was last seen opposite Annette Bening in the indie film The Face of Love. His sitcom The Crazy Ones premiered on CBS last fall, but was not picked up for a second season. read more here

Remembering Robin, Good Morning Vietnam, Rest in Peace Robin

Stars standing up for wounded veterans

Jon Stewart, Ricky Gervais and More Crack Jokes for Veterans
By Jennifer Abbey
ABC News
Nov 9, 2012

A slew of stars came out for a good cause last night: New York’s Stand Up for Heroes Benefit.

Jon Stewart, Ricky Gervais, and Robin Williams cracked jokes to honor military veterans. Bruce Springsteen and John Mayer provided a musical interlude between the laughs. The event, which benefited the Bob Woodruff Foundation, raised money to support veterans and their families.

Stewart wasted no time skewering the presidential election during his time on stage, saying, “Poor Mitt Romney, how do you mess that up?”

He continued, “You have a president who is $16 trillion in debt with 80-percent unemployment,” and took a jab at the similarity between President Obama and Osama Bin Ladens’ names.
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'Standing Up for Heros' Benefit Raises Money for Wounded Veterans Bob Woodruff has latest on veterans' fundraiser held at Empire State Building. 11/08/2012