'Good Morning, Vietnam!': Remembering the late radio DJ Adrian Cronauer's Air Force days

Adrian Cronauer

Cronauer spoke with former As It Happens host Michael Enright in 1987

CBC Radio · July 20

Adrian Cronauer, the former United States Air Force radio DJ stationed in Vietnam, died on Wednesday. He was 79.

The broadcaster was the loose inspiration for Robin Williams' Academy Award nominated performance in the 1987 film Good Morning, Vietnam!

Cronauer volunteered to go to Vietnam just before war efforts in the country escalated. In 1987, he told then-As It Happens  host Michael Enright that Vietnam wasn't "much of a dangerous place" when he first signed up.

Then, when it was too late to change assignments, the Vietcong blew up the radio station in Saigon.

Robin Williams as Adrian Cronauer, began each broadcast with 'Good Morning Vietnam'

Additional story and audio at: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-thursday-edition-1.4753213/good-morning-vietnam-remembering-the-late-radio-dj-adrian-cronauer-s-air-force-days-1.4753216
(CBC Radio/Kim A Elliott/Twitter)
(Adrian Cronauer photo/American Spectator)