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Adrian Cronauer
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{{short description|American radio personality and lawyer (1938–2018)}} {{Use American English|date = September 2019}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2018}} {{Infobox person | name = Adrian Cronauer | image = ADRIAN CRONAUER.jpg | caption = Cronauer in 1999 | birth_name = Adrian Joseph Cronauer | birth_date = {{birth date|1938|09|08}} | birth_place = [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]], U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2018|7|18|1938|9|8}} | death_place = [[Troutville, Virginia]], U.S.<ref name="ACDeath">[https://www.wsls.com/news/virginia/roanoke/real-life-good-morning-vietnam-dj-adrian-cronauer-dies-at-79 Real-life 'Good Morning, Vietnam' DJ Adrian Cronauer dies at 79] accessed July 19, 2018</ref> | resting_place = Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery, [[Dublin, Virginia]], U.S. | occupation = {{hlist|Radio personality|lawyer}} | known_for = ''[[Good Morning, Vietnam]]'' (1987) | alma_mater = [[University of Pittsburgh]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/adrian-cronauer-dj-who-inspired-good-morning-vietnam-dies-at-79/2018/07/19/c46d4852-8b68-11e8-85ae-511bc1146b0b_story.html|title=Adrian Cronauer, DJ who inspired 'Good Morning, Vietnam,' dies at 79|first=Matt|last=Schudel |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=November 12, 2019}}</ref> | spouse = {{marriage|Jeane Steppe|1980|2016|end=her death}}<ref name="Adrian Cronauer is Conference Speaker!"/> | children = 2 | module = {{Infobox military person | embed = yes | allegiance = United States | branch = [[United States Air Force]] | serviceyears = 1963–1967<ref name="auto">[https://airforce.togetherweserved.com/usaf/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=117680 Cronauer, Adrian, Sgt - USAF Veteran] airforce.togetherweserved.com. Retrieved November 12, 2019.</ref> | rank = [[Sergeant#Air Force|Sergeant]]<ref name="auto"/><ref name="va.gov"/><ref name = "BBC"/> | unit = [[American Forces Network#History|Armed Forces Radio and Television Service]] (AFRTS) | battles = [[Vietnam War]] | awards = {{ubl|[[Good Conduct Medal (United States)#Air Force Good Conduct Medal|Air Force Good Conduct Medal]]|[[National Defense Service Medal]]| [[Vietnam Service Medal]] with [[Service star|bronze service star]]| [[Air Force Longevity Service Award]]|{{nowrap|[[Gallantry Cross (Vietnam)#Unit Award|Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Award]]}}| [[Vietnam Campaign Medal]]}} }}}} '''Adrian Joseph Cronauer''' (September 8, 1938 – July 18, 2018) was an American radio personality and [[United States Air Force]] Sergeant,<ref name="auto"/><ref name="va.gov">[https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/50617/veteranoftheday-air-force-sergeant-adrian-cronauer/ #VeteranOfTheDay Air Force Sergeant Adrian Cronauer.] [[United States Department of Veterans Affairs|va.gov]]. Retrieved June 3, 2021.</ref><ref name = "BBC"/> whose experiences as an innovative [[disc jockey]] on [[American Forces Network]] during the [[Vietnam War]] inspired the 1987 film ''[[Good Morning, Vietnam]]'' starring [[Robin Williams]] as Cronauer.<ref name="urgentcomm">{{citation |url=http://urgentcomm.com/mag/radio_real_life_adrian/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509103859/http://urgentcomm.com/mag/radio_real_life_adrian/|date=March 1, 2005|access-date=January 13, 2013|archive-date=May 9, 2012|author=Jim Barthold|publisher=Urgent Communications|title=The real life of Adrian Cronauer}}</ref><ref>[http://www.historynet.com/adrian-cronauer-air-force-radio-announcer-in-vietnam.htm Adrian Cronauer: Air Force Radio Announcer in Vietnam] at [[World History Group|HistoryNet.com]]</ref><ref name=ppghero>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3lMNAAAAIBAJ&pg=6799%2C398600 |work=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] |last=Beman |first=Don |title=Deejay 'hero' |date=January 2, 1988 |page=15}}</ref> ==Early life== Cronauer was born in [[Pittsburgh]], [[Pennsylvania]]. His father was a steelworker, and his mother a teacher.<ref name = "BBC">[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44897634 Obituary: Adrian Cronauer - the real Good Morning, Vietnam DJ.] [[BBC News]]. Published 20 July 2018.</ref> He began his broadcasting career at the age of 12 as a semi-regular guest for a [[Pittsburgh]]-area children's [[wikt:amateur hour|amateur hour]].<ref name="mensa">{{Cite web|url=http://www.mwm.org/faq/famous.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060901052240/http://www.mwm.org/faq/famous.html|url-status=dead|title=Famous and Prominent Mensans|archive-date=September 1, 2006|access-date=November 12, 2019}}</ref> Cronauer attended the University of Pittsburgh where he led a group that founded the school's first student radio station, now [[WPTS-FM]].<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/pageviewer-idx?xc=1;didno=31735066059324;cc=pittmiscpubs;idno=31735066059324;seq=0018|title=Pitt's New Radio Station|journal=Skyscraper Engineer|date=January 1959|volume=8|number=3|pages=16–17|publisher=Schools of Engineering and Mines, University of Pittsburgh|access-date=May 26, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://wptsradio.org/about/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816073814/https://wptsradio.org/about/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=August 16, 2017|title=About - WPTS Radio|work=[[WPTS-FM|WPTS Radio]] |access-date=July 19, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.225.pitt.edu/story/gooooood-morning-pitt|title=Gooooood Morning, Pitt! {{!}} 225 Years {{!}} University of Pittsburgh|last=Webteam|first=University of Pittsburgh University Marketing Communications|website=www.225.pitt.edu|language=en|access-date=July 19, 2018}}</ref> ==Military service== In the early 1960s, Cronauer chose to enlist instead of waiting for the draft. After considering flight training (which entailed a longer service commitment), Cronauer chose broadcasting and media operations, ultimately becoming a [[U.S. Air Force]] Radio and Television Broadcasting Specialist.<ref name="auto"/> His service spanned the years from 1963 to 1967.<ref name="auto"/> He did his training in Texas, and eventually rose to the rank of [[Sergeant#United States|Sergeant (E-4 at the time)]].<ref name="auto"/><ref name="va.gov"/><ref name = "BBC"/> While Cronauer is best known for his service in [[Vietnam]], he began by working on training films and then was sent for a year and a half to the island of [[Crete]] in [[Greece]], where he was stationed at [[Iraklion Air Station]].<ref name="BBC" /><ref name="NYT">[https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/19/obituaries/adrian-cronauer-good-morning-vietnam-dj-dies-at-79.html Neil Genzlinger, “Adrian Cronauer, ‘Good Morning, Vietnam’ D.J., Dies at 79]”, ''[[The New York Times]]'', July 19, 2018.</ref><ref name="historynet.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.historynet.com/adrian-cronauer-air-force-radio-announcer-in-vietnam.htm|title=Adrian Cronauer: Air Force Radio Announcer in Vietnam {{!}} HistoryNet|website=[[World History Group|www.historynet.com]]|date=June 12, 2006 |language=en-US|access-date=July 19, 2018}}</ref> In 1965, Cronauer volunteered for a transfer to Vietnam because he wanted to travel. Upon arriving there, his first job was as news director for Armed Forces Radio in [[Saigon]], but when the morning host's slot became vacant shortly after his arrival, he took over the show, known as ''Dawn Buster'' because it started at 6 a.m. He opened it with the greeting "Goooooood morning Vietnam!", which was immortalized in the subsequent movie's title. Cronauer left Saigon in 1966, but subsequent DJs continued to use his signature greeting, including [[Pat Sajak]].<ref name="NYT" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uso.org/stories/283-wheel-of-fortune-host-pat-sajak-recounts-his-days-as-an-army-dj |title='Wheel of Fortune' Host Pat Sajak Recounts His Days as an Army DJ |first=Pat |last=Sajak |website= USO.org |date=June 7, 2014 |access-date=February 8, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Adrian Cronauer is Conference Speaker!">{{cite journal |title=Adrian Cronauer is Conference Speaker! |journal=Film & History: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Film and Television Studies |date=2004 |volume=34 |issue=1 |pages=10–11 |id={{Project MUSE|170446}} |doi=10.1353/flm.2004.0012 |doi-access=free }}</ref> His military awards include the [[Good Conduct Medal (United States)#Air Force Good Conduct Medal|Air Force Good Conduct Medal]], the [[National Defense Service Medal]], the [[Vietnam Service Medal]] with [[Service star|bronze service star]], the [[Air Force Longevity Service Award]], the [[Gallantry Cross (Vietnam)#Unit Award|Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Award]] and the [[Vietnam Campaign Medal]].<ref name="auto" /> After the Vietnam war, Cronauer worked at various radio stations as a news anchor and in other capacities. He did voice-over work in New York and owned his own advertising agency, during which time he also earned a master's degree in [[Media Studies]] from the [[New School for Social Research]].<ref name = "NYT"/> ==''Good Morning, Vietnam''== In the late 1970s, while working as the classical music morning host at WVWR in [[Roanoke, Virginia]] (now Virginia Tech's [[WVTF]]),<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.roanoke.com/webmin/features/cronauer-in-the-country/article_d239ad5b-3f28-5917-b028-2e3c155f4a64.html|title=Cronauer in the country|last=Times|first=Ralph Berrier Jr. {{!}} The Roanoke|work=[[The Roanoke Times]]|access-date=July 19, 2018|language=en}}</ref> Cronauer had an idea for a television sitcom that would be a blend of ''[[M*A*S*H (TV series)|M*A*S*H]]'' and ''[[WKRP in Cincinnati]]'', two popular TV series of the era. In 1979 he tried to sell a treatment of this idea, basing the story on his experiences in Vietnam, but without success. A few years later he pitched a made-for-TV movie on the same theme: this time, a friend's agent in Hollywood got the treatment into the hands of [[Robin Williams]], who thought the idea was good enough to warrant a feature-length movie starring himself. However, according to Cronauer, little of the film reflects his real life. Among other things, Cronauer was not a subversive person but a "lifelong card-carrying [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]", and later took an "active role" in both [[Bob Dole]]'s unsuccessful [[Bob Dole 1996 presidential campaign|1996 presidential campaign]] and [[George W. Bush]]'s successful [[George W. Bush 2004 presidential campaign|2004 presidential reelection campaign]].<ref name="urgentcomm"/> Cronauer did teach English when off-duty in Saigon, but he did not teach swear words or New York street slang. He was never in a Jeep that got hit by a land mine, but he did witness the bombing of a restaurant near the radio station.<ref name = "BBC"/> In a 2014 ''[[Military Times]]'' interview, Cronauer said if he had done some of what the movie said he did, "I'd still be in [[United States Disciplinary Barracks|Leavenworth]]."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://decoy.tvpassport.com/q_a/q-was-adrian-cronauer-whom-good-morning-vietnam-was-based-really-sent-home-early-vietnam-movie-p?subid=national-00001|title=Hollywood Q&A|last=Thomlison|first=Adam|work=[[Winston-Salem Journal]]|via=TV Media|date=July 10, 2021|page=32}}</ref> The movie, directed by [[Barry Levinson]], told a heavily fictionalized story based on a screenplay by [[Mitch Markowitz]], a screenwriter who had worked on ''M*A*S*H''.<ref name = "NYT"/><ref name="historynet.com"/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2014/08/12/good-morning-vietnam-airman-reacts-robin-williams-death/13954271/|title=Real-life 'Vietnam' DJ recalls Williams' portrayal|work=[[USA Today]]|access-date=July 19, 2018|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1988/01/19/good-morning-to-the-real-adrian-cronauer/|title=Good Morning To The Real Adrian Cronauer|work=[[Chicago Tribune|tribunedigital-chicagotribune]]|access-date=July 19, 2018|language=en}}</ref> Cronauer later told friends that Levinson had insisted that Williams and Cronauer not meet until the film was completed as Levinson did not want Williams to try to imitate Cronauer's actions and vocal delivery style. ==Law career and later life== The money Cronauer received from the movie enabled him to earn a [[Juris Doctor]] degree from the [[University of Pennsylvania Law School]].<ref name = "NYT"/> He then founded the Cronauer Law Center and practiced law, specializing in the areas of information and communications law. In 1992, Cronauer earned awards for a special program on [[National Public Radio]] about the role of the [[American Forces Network#Vietnam War|American Forces Vietnam Network]] (AFVN-military radio and television). Cronauer was active in veterans' causes, and during George W. Bush's presidency, became an adviser to the [[Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency|Defense Department's POW-MIA office]], and a confidential advisor to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense. His title was Special Assistant to the Director of the [[Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office]], and he was responsible for outreach to veterans and their families. He traveled widely and gave frequent media interviews and public appearances. This led to his becoming a popular after-dinner speaker and lecturer. He appeared as a guest on radio and television talk 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 on the [[Oliver North]] and [[G. Gordon Liddy]] radio programs. His commentaries were featured in many newspapers and on NPR radio.<ref name="powmia">{{cite web|url=https://www.403wg.afrc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/192814/good-morning-vietnams-adrian-cronauer-speaks-to-reservists/|title="Good Morning, Vietnam's" Adrian Cronauer speaks to reservists|date=April 11, 2008|publisher=[[United States Air Force]]|access-date=June 28, 2009}}</ref><ref name="Adrian Cronauer is Conference Speaker!" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=43633|title=Defense.gov News Article: 'Mr. Good Morning, Vietnam' Working to Recover Remains|website=[[United States Department of Defense|archive.defense.gov]]|language=en|access-date=July 19, 2018|archive-date=September 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930021250/http://archive.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=43633|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was also on the board of the National D-Day Memorial, and was a trustee of the Virginia War Memorial.<ref name="NYT" /> ===Disbarment=== In October 2014, the [[National Community Reinvestment Coalition]] (NCRC) filed complaints against Cronauer and the Cronauer Law Center with the [[Consumer Financial Protection Bureau]] (CFPB) and the [[Federal Trade Commission]] (FTC). The NCRC alleged that Cronauer had engaged in mortgage scams under the guise of offering assistance to property owners threatened with foreclosure. Cronauer consented to [[disbarment]] rather than contest the matter, which means that the facts and circumstances of the admitted misconduct remained confidential.<ref>District of Columbia Court of Appeals Board on Professional Responsibility, complaint dated September 29, 2014 in the Matter of Adrian Cronauer: Board Docket No. 14-BD-075, Bar Docket No. 2013-D224. – District of Columbia Court of Appeals, Order No.14-BS-1101, in re Adrian Cronauer: Board Docket No.14-BD-075, Bar Registration No. 427503.</ref> However, the president of the NCRC made this statement: "The rules apply to celebrities as well. We believe Mr. Cronauer and the Cronauer Law Center to be in violation of the Federal Trade Commission Act, the Mortgage Assistance Relief Act rules, and other state and federal laws."<ref>[http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2014/10/good-evening-vietnam.html Profile], lawprofessors.typepad.com, October 2014; accessed January 4, 2016.</ref> ===Death=== [[File:Adrian Cronauer grave.jpg|thumb|right|Cronauer's grave, SW Virginia Veterans Cemetery, [[Dublin, Virginia]]]] Cronauer died on July 18, 2018, at a nursing home in [[Troutville, Virginia]] at the age of 79.<ref name="ACDeath" /><ref name = "BBC"/> ==Personal life== At the time of his death, Cronauer lived in [[Troutville, Virginia]]. He had been married to Jeane Cronauer (née Steppe) until her death in 2016. She had had a son by a previous marriage, Michael Muse.<ref name = "NYT"/> Cronauer was a member of [[Mensa International|Mensa]].<ref>[https://www.mensa.org/prominent-mensans Prominent Mensans] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526131230/https://www.mensa.org/prominent-mensans |date=May 26, 2019 }}, [[Mensa International|mensa.org]]; accessed January 4, 2016.</ref> ==Military awards== Sergeant Cronauer received the following military awards.<ref name="auto"/> {| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Air Force Good Conduct ribbon|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|name=National Defense Service Medal ribbon|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|name=Vietnam Service Medal ribbon|width=106}} |- |{{ribbon devices|number=|type=oak|name=Air Force Longevity Service ribbon|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Vietnam-gallantry-cross-unit-3d.png|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg|width=106}} |} {| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |- !1st Row |[[Good Conduct Medal (United States)#Air Force Good Conduct Medal|Air Force Good Conduct Medal]] |[[National Defense Service Medal]] |[[Vietnam Service Medal]]<br>with [[Service star|bronze service star]] |- !2nd Row |[[Air Force Longevity Service Award]] |[[Gallantry Cross (Vietnam)#Unit Award|Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Award]] |[[Vietnam Campaign Medal]] |} ==Notes== {{Reflist}} == External links == * {{imdb name|188686}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Cronauer, Adrian}} [[Category:1938 births]] [[Category:2018 deaths]] [[Category:American Forces Network]] [[Category:United States Air Force personnel of the Vietnam War]] [[Category:American radio DJs]] [[Category:Disbarred American lawyers]] [[Category:Lawyers from Pittsburgh]] [[Category:Lawyers from Washington, D.C.]] [[Category:Mensans]] [[Category:Military personnel from Pittsburgh]] [[Category:The New School alumni]] [[Category:Pennsylvania Republicans]] [[Category:Radio personalities from Pittsburgh]] [[Category:United States Air Force airmen]] [[Category:University of Pennsylvania Law School alumni]] [[Category:University of Pittsburgh alumni]] [[Category:20th-century American lawyers]]
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