Dedicated To Vets
A quarter century after Saigon fell, the war in Vietnam still grips the memories of many who fought there. For some, the years have not been kind. The government estimates a quarter of a million Americans who were once soldiers are now homeless.
CBS News Anchor Dan Rather reports on a woman who knew soldiers then and who devotes her life to them still.
Chris Noel has made it her American dream to put a roof over every homeless Vietnam veteran's head.
"It's an absolute disgrace that in this country heroes who have served in war have to live under bridges, under trees,...any spot that they can find," says Noel.
She wanted to do something for homeless veterans, she says. "So I just did it; I went out and rented a place and said, 'This is a home for homeless veterans!'"
Noel runs her three Florida shelters like a military barracks. And there is no drinking, drugs or smoking.
"Oh, I am a drill sergeant," says Noel.
For the vets who live there, Noel is not just a stranger with a big heart; she is also a big part of their past.
Recalls one homeless vet, "I had met her in the Vietnam War as part of the USO tours."
In the mid-1960s, Noel was a rising Hollywood starlet.
"I was in the beach movies, motorcycle movies," says Noel.
It was a glamorous life far away from the war raging in Vietnam but when the Pentagon asked her to go to entertain the troops, she jumped at the chance.
"I had a dream. I wanted to go to Vietnam and make a difference," she says.
Noel embarked on a four-year tour of duty to boost GI morale.
First she had a radio show on Armed Forces Radio. "Welcome, fellas. I'm Chris Noel, and I'll be around for the next hour," she would say.
Then she performed live all over the battle-scarred country.
Noel just did whatever she could to cheer up the soldiers, and sometimes that meant risking her life, she says.
"I was caught in sniper fire; I went down in a helicopter. I had fear, but no, I had a job to do," says Noel.
Now almost 30 years later, Noel still has a job to do and is still in the spotlight - but before a new audience.
But one thing remains the same: Vietnam vets are still Noel's biggest fans.
"I can't say enough about what she's doing; she's dedicated her life to helping veterans," says one vet.
Says Noel: "I just feel like I've been blessed in my life, being a movie star, a singer. I believe that my life experiences have led me in this direction."
Click here to go to Chris Noel's Web site.
Copyright 2009 CBS. All rights reserved. CBS News Anchor Dan Rather reports on a woman who knew soldiers then and who devotes her life to them still.
Chris Noel has made it her American dream to put a roof over every homeless Vietnam veteran's head.
"It's an absolute disgrace that in this country heroes who have served in war have to live under bridges, under trees,...any spot that they can find," says Noel.
She wanted to do something for homeless veterans, she says. "So I just did it; I went out and rented a place and said, 'This is a home for homeless veterans!'"
Noel runs her three Florida shelters like a military barracks. And there is no drinking, drugs or smoking.
"Oh, I am a drill sergeant," says Noel.
For the vets who live there, Noel is not just a stranger with a big heart; she is also a big part of their past.
Recalls one homeless vet, "I had met her in the Vietnam War as part of the USO tours."
In the mid-1960s, Noel was a rising Hollywood starlet.
"I was in the beach movies, motorcycle movies," says Noel.
It was a glamorous life far away from the war raging in Vietnam but when the Pentagon asked her to go to entertain the troops, she jumped at the chance.
"I had a dream. I wanted to go to Vietnam and make a difference," she says.
Noel embarked on a four-year tour of duty to boost GI morale.
First she had a radio show on Armed Forces Radio. "Welcome, fellas. I'm Chris Noel, and I'll be around for the next hour," she would say.
Then she performed live all over the battle-scarred country.
Noel just did whatever she could to cheer up the soldiers, and sometimes that meant risking her life, she says.
"I was caught in sniper fire; I went down in a helicopter. I had fear, but no, I had a job to do," says Noel.
Now almost 30 years later, Noel still has a job to do and is still in the spotlight - but before a new audience.
But one thing remains the same: Vietnam vets are still Noel's biggest fans.
"I can't say enough about what she's doing; she's dedicated her life to helping veterans," says one vet.
Says Noel: "I just feel like I've been blessed in my life, being a movie star, a singer. I believe that my life experiences have led me in this direction."
Click here to go to Chris Noel's Web site.
