Adrian Cronauer
| Adrian Cronauer | |
|---|---|
Cronauer in 2006
| |
| Born | Adrian Joseph Cronauer September 8, 1938 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | July 18, 2018 (aged 79) Troutville, Virginia, U.S.[1] |
| Occupation | Radio personality |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Jeane Steppe[2] |
| Children | 2 |
Adrian Joseph Cronauer (September 8, 1938 – July 18, 2018) was a United States Air Force sergeant and radio personality whose experiences as an innovative disc jockey on American Forces Network during the Vietnam War inspired the 1987 film Good Morning, Vietnam.[3][4]
Cronauer was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He began his broadcasting career at the age of 12 as a guest for a Pittsburgh-area children's amateur hour.[5] He attended the University of Pittsburgh, where he helped found the forerunner of the university's college radio station WPTS.[6][7]
Cronauer chose to enlist instead of waiting on the draft in the early 1960s. After deliberating about entering flight training (which entailed a longer service commitment), Cronauer chose broadcasting and media operations, ultimately becoming an Air Force Radio and Television Broadcasting Specialist. His service spanned the years from 1963 to 1967. He eventually rose to the rank of sergeant. While Cronauer is most known for his service in Vietnam, he was previously stationed at Iraklion Air Station, Crete, Greece.[8]
In the late 1970s, Cronauer had an idea for a television sitcom that would be a blend of M*A*S*H and WKRP in Cincinnati, two popular TV series of that era. It was not until some years later that he was able to elicit interest in the proposal which became the film Good Morning, Vietnam.[9] The movie was based on his experiences as a Saigon-based DJ during the Vietnam War, where he served from 1965 to 1966.[10] His program was known as the Dawn Buster. According to Cronauer, other than the film's portrayal of him being a radio host, very little of the film reflects his experiences,[11] except the bombing of a restaurant which Cronauer witnessed from nearby.[12] A subsequent special program on National Public Radio about the role of the American Forces Vietnam Network (AFVN-military radio and television) earned Cronauer a 1992 Ohio State Award and two 1991 Gold Medals from the New York Radio Festival.
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