Adrian Joseph Cronauer, DJ Robin Williams played in 'Good Morning Vietnam,' dies

[sandensea]

Source: Newsweek

Adrian Joseph Cronauer, the U.S. war veteran portrayed by Robin Williams in the 1987 hit movie Good Morning, Vietnam, died on Wednesday aged 79, an obituary has confirmed.

Cronauer, a former U.S. Air Force sergeant, co-authored the original story for the well-regarded comedy-drama, which was set in 1965 Saigon. It detailed the story of a radio DJ whose antics with news reading, humor and rock and roll angered his military bosses, but was loved by troops.

Over the course of his life, his military achievements were vast.

“Cronauer served as a confidential advisor to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD) from 2001 through 2009,” the obituary stated. “He represented the POW/MIA Office at meetings within the Office of the Secretary of Defense and at various outside functions including liaison with the leadership of veteran’s service organizations as well as family and activist groups," it continued.

“He had lead responsibility for DPMO’s dealings with international organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Tripartite Commission.

“For his efforts, he holds the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service.”

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/adrian-joseph-cronauer-dj-robin-williams-played-in-good-morning-vietnam-dies/ar-AAAilV8

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Adrian Cronauer (1938-2018) and Robin Williams after the 1987 release of Good Morning, Vietnam.

[Mr.Bill]

1. I'm not sure if it's true,

but I heard somewhere that the guy Cronauer replaced when he went to Vietnam was Pat Sajak.

[sandensea]

2. Could be.

Sajak always was a right-wing shill. The kind that thought we could have if won "if only them hippies hadn't protested so much."

[Mr.Bill]

4. A little google search tells me I was incorrect.

Sajak held a job as a DJ on Armed Forces Radio in Vietnam, but it was a few years after Cronauer left the position.

[obamanut2012]

8. Cronauer was also right wing, and was disbarred

for fraudulent actions against consumers.

I've never understood why people on the left lauded him so much.

[sandensea]

9. +1

I doubt most of us would have heard of him had it not been for Robin Williams - a protrayal Cronauer himself, ironically, said bore little resemblance to his experience (or at least, how he remembered it).

Nevertheless, as well known as he was I thought his passing was worth mentioning. One of our fellow DU posters (DFW) apparently knew him personally: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100210899189

[wasupaloopa]

3. Makes me sad. I listened to the AFRS in Saigon

in 1967-68.

We mostly watched TV when we could.

I will never forget turning on the TV and seeing Marines fighting the VC at the American Embasy in Saigon. That was the start of Tet.

[sandensea]

5. What memories. Thank you for sharing.

And as objectionable as the Vietnam War is to me, I'd like to thank you for your service.

To put on the uniform, and to be there at that time, that's bravery.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

6. "GOOOOOOOOD Morning, Vietnam!"

" Hey this is not a test. This is rock n' roll! I'm going to rock you from the Delta to the DMZ!"

R.I. P Mr. Cronauer. You brought humanity with your choice of music to a region that that was losing its.

[BumRushDaShow]

7. I heard a clip from an interview with him on my local news radio station

and he chuckled at how many "liberties" the film took with its portrayal of him. In fact he said (paraphrase) if he did half the things shown he'd been booted.

R.I.P.

[Recursion]

10. I met him once. Kind of a jackass, but a GREAT speaker and performer

He was obsessed in the late 90s with making it illegal to set the American flag on fire.

Don't really care for his politics, but I honor his service in the Air Force and his amazing speaking abilities.