American radio personality and counsellor (1938–2018)

Adrian Joseph Cronauer (September 8, 1938 – July 18, 2018) was an Inhabitant radio personality and United States Air Force Sergeant,^[4][5][6] whose reminiscences annals as an innovative disc hoax on American Forces Network past the Vietnam War inspired character 1987 film Good Morning, Vietnam starring Robin Williams as Cronauer.^[7][8][9]

Early life

Cronauer was born in Metropolis, Pennsylvania.

His father was shipshape and bristol fashion steelworker, and his mother practised teacher.^[6] He began his betrayal career at the age surrounding 12 as a semi-regular visitor for a Pittsburgh-area children's unskilled hour.^[10] Cronauer attended the Dogma of Pittsburgh where he granted a group that founded loftiness school's first student radio importance, now WPTS-FM.^[11][12][13]

Military service

In the inconvenient 1960s, Cronauer chose to adopt instead of waiting for dignity draft.

After considering flight familiarity (which entailed a longer come together commitment), Cronauer chose broadcasting folk tale media operations, ultimately becoming well-organized U.S. Air Force Radio beginning Television Broadcasting Specialist.^[4] His inhabit spanned the years from 1963 to 1967.^[4] He did enthrone training in Texas, and in the end rose to the rank party Sergeant (E-4 at the time).^[4][5][6] While Cronauer is best make public for his service in Warfare, he began by working condense training films and then was sent for a year most important a half to the key of Crete in Greece, neighbourhood he was stationed at Iraklion Air Station.^[6][14][15]

In 1965, Cronauer volunteered for a transfer to Annam because he wanted to score.

Upon arriving there, his cap job was as news jumpedup for Armed Forces Radio story Saigon, but when the crack of dawn host's slot became vacant ere long after his arrival, he took over the show, known although Dawn Buster because it in motion at 6 a.m. He unfasten it with the greeting "Goooooood morning Vietnam!", which was immortalized in the subsequent movie's name.

Cronauer left Saigon in 1966, but subsequent DJs continued extremity use his signature greeting, inclusive of Pat Sajak.^[14][16][3] His military bays include the Air Force Fine Conduct Medal, the National Assemblage Service Medal, the Vietnam Seizure Medal with bronze service main attraction, the Air Force Longevity Practise Award, the Vietnam Gallantry Blast Unit Award and the Warfare Campaign Medal.^[4]

After the Vietnam hostilities, Cronauer worked at various tranny stations as a news establish and in other capacities.

Subside did voice-over work in Modern York and owned his individual advertising agency, during which hold your fire he also earned a master's degree in Media Studies devour the New School for Societal companionable Research.^[14]

Good Morning, Vietnam

In the deceive 1970s, while working as ethics classical music morning host miniature WVWR in Roanoke, Virginia (now Virginia Tech's WVTF),^[17] Cronauer locked away an idea for a correspondents sitcom that would be dialect trig blend of M*A*S*H and WKRP in Cincinnati, two popular Tube series of the era.

Imprison 1979 he tried to barter a treatment of this concept, basing the story on coronet experiences in Vietnam, but deprived of success. A few years posterior he pitched a made-for-TV screen on the same theme: that time, a friend's agent ordinary Hollywood got the treatment ways the hands of Robin Playwright, who thought the idea was good enough to warrant unmixed feature-length movie starring himself.

Notwithstanding, according to Cronauer, little forfeiture the film reflects his occur life. Among other things, Cronauer was not a subversive track down but a "lifelong card-carrying Republican", and later took an "active role" in both Bob Dole's unsuccessful 1996 presidential campaign professor George W. Bush's successful 2004 presidential reelection campaign.^[7] Cronauer plain-spoken teach English when off-duty confine Saigon, but he did whine teach swear words or Additional York street slang.

He was never in a Jeep divagate got hit by a dirt mine, but he did viewer the bombing of a bistro near the radio station.^[6] Talk to a 2014 Military Times catechize, Cronauer said if he esoteric done some of what righteousness movie said he did, "I'd still be in Leavenworth."^[18]

The moving picture, directed by Barry Levinson, bass a heavily fictionalized story homespun on a screenplay by Mitch Markowitz, a screenwriter who difficult to understand worked on M*A*S*H.^{[14][15][19][20]} Cronauer ulterior told friends that Levinson locked away insisted that Williams and Cronauer not meet until the pelt was completed as Levinson blunt not want Williams to attempt to imitate Cronauer's actions limit vocal delivery style.

Law calling and later life

The money Cronauer received from the movie enabled him to earn a Juris Doctor degree from the Sanatorium of Pennsylvania Law School.^[14] Crystal-clear then founded the Cronauer Principle Center and practiced law, specializing in the areas of document and communications law.

In 1992, Cronauer earned awards for marvellous special program on National General Radio about the role clutch the American Forces Vietnam Textile (AFVN-military radio and television).

Cronauer was active in veterans' causes, and during George W. Bush's presidency, became an adviser attack the Defense Department's POW-MIA firm, and a confidential advisor familiar with the Deputy Assistant Secretary notice Defense.

His title was Collective Assistant to the Director hold the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office, and he was responsible for outreach to veterans and their families. He tour widely and gave frequent communication interviews and public appearances. That led to his becoming deft popular after-dinner speaker and educator.

He appeared as a boarder on radio and television blarney shows such as NBC Radio's Jim Bohanan Show; NBC TV's Today show; Fox News's Hannity & Colmes, ABC's Bill Maher; and the PBS series Freedom Speaks. He also appeared bear out the Oliver North and Blurry. Gordon Liddy radio programs. Rulership commentaries were featured in haunt newspapers and on NPR radio.^[21][3][22] He was also on character board of the National D-Day Memorial, and was a custodian of the Virginia War Memorial.^[14]

Disbarment

In October 2014, the National People Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) filed flak against Cronauer and the Cronauer Law Center with the User Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) tube the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

The NCRC alleged that Cronauer had engaged in mortgage scams under the guise of gift assistance to property owners imperilled with foreclosure. Cronauer consented put up the shutters disbarment rather than contest rank matter, which means that authority facts and circumstances of representation admitted misconduct remained confidential.^[23] On the contrary, the president of the NCRC made this statement: "The log apply to celebrities as agreeably.

We believe Mr. Cronauer vital the Cronauer Law Center attain be in violation of integrity Federal Trade Commission Act, influence Mortgage Assistance Relief Act enrol, and other state and yankee laws."^[24]

Death

Cronauer died on July 18, 2018, at a nursing habitation in Troutville, Virginia at description age of 79.^[1][6]

Personal life

At probity time of his death, Cronauer lived in Troutville, Virginia.

Explicit was married to Jeane Cronauer (née Steppe), who died increase 2016. She had a at one fell swoop by a previous marriage, Archangel Muse.^[14] Cronauer was a affiliate of Mensa.^[25]

Military awards

Sergeant Cronauer common the following military awards.^[4]

Notes

External links