Wynn Murray Rau Military Wife & Actress |
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LANDERS By Ann Landers
(c) 2000, Creators Syndicate Inc. Monday , August 7, 2000 Dear Ann: You recently printed a letter from a World
War II vet who asked about Wynn Murray, a young singer with a USO troupe
who entertained soldiers on Morotai in 1944. She performed in a downpour
while lightning streaked across the sky. He said she
Thank you for printing that letter, Ann. Wynn
Murray was my sister. Shortly after Wynn performed for those troops, she
was hit with shrapnel in New Guinea, for which she received the Purple
Heart. She was lucky. Two young chorus girls from the
In 1957, Wynn died at the age of 35 from a
heart attack. She is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Please tell
the man who wrote how much our family appreciated his kind words about
my sister. Her daughters were very young when Wynn died, and
-- Ann Henning in Carbondale, Pa.
From Aptos, Calif.: I met Wynn in 1951 at Fort Knox, Ky., where her husband was an instructor. Wynn was a warmhearted, beautiful woman whom I admired. I also dated Wynn's younger sister, Ann Marie. Unfortunately, our romance came to an end because her parents disapproved. I lost touch with them in 1955. Long Island, N.Y.: I was on the island of Morotai when Wynn Murray entertained the troops. She was beautiful, and had the voice of an angel. She really knocked herself out, doing at least eight encores. What a great babe! Antioch, Calif.: After Wynn Murray sang that night, her jeep never showed up. Luckily, I saw her running in the rain, and offered her a ride back to her tent. Niles, Ill.: I am a musician and worked with Wynn Murray on the Olsen and Johnson show, "Sons O' Fun." She was a terrific gal and very talented. Santa Barbara, Calif.: In 1937, Wynn and I worked together in her first musical on Broadway, "Babes in Arms," which had a very successful run. She was truly gifted, and some reviewers called her "a young Kate Smith." Philadelphia: When I was a teenager, Wynn Murray
lived two houses from me in Mayfield, Pa. As a child, she treated me like
a big sister, and always wanted me to take her places. She would be 79
years old now.
Wynn Murray was well-known on the Broadway musical stage from the mid-1930s until she retired to raise a family. I was a close friend of Wynn and her husband from 1953 until her death at Fort Meade, Md. After her death, I lost track of the family. If any of them contact you, Ann, I would love to get in touch. Lt. Col. David M. GinsbergGermantown, Tenn.
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