Chris Noel was a mid-’60s starlet who appeared in movies, including “Soldier In the Rain” with Steve McQueen, and “Girl Happy” with Elvis. I think my personal favorite Chris Noel movie was “Get Yourself a College Girl”. Since I was a college boy at the time, that was my main goal in life.

In 1965 Chris visited a VA hospital, which had a profound effect on her priorities. She later auditioned for the Armed Forces Network (AFN) and, putting her film career on hold, started hosting a radio show for the GIs in Vietnam, called “A Date With Chris”. She flew to Vietnam frequently and visited basecamps, fire bases and small unit areas which were too remote, small and risky for the USO shows. There was an article about her in a 1968 edition of “Danger Forward”, the official magazine of the Big Red One. It was simply titled “Chris”. The article stated that “She spent long hours at the hospitals and aid stations, talking with the wounded, autographing their casts and bandages, always inquiring first with a smile of wide-eyed innocence: 'Do you mind if I sign it: With Love?'". Unlike Jane Fonda, Chris went where the troops were and gave them her time and her heart. Although the 1st Infantry Division would have liked to have claimed her as its own, Chris Noel visited units throughout the war zone. Her name still strikes a chord with those of us who served over there. You can view a film of Chris entertaining some troops at the USAF base at Korat, Thailand: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aev6znM9Vns

Just as the soldiers did, Chris came back to a changed America which neither understood nor approved of her service. She suffered from depression and other issues all too familiar to combat veterans.

Chris founded Vetsville Cease Fire House in West Palm Beach, FL. It provides emergency residential lodging, food, clothing and employment opportunities to disabled and homeless veterans in need. They work with community services with a focus on returning these needy veterans to the community as independent residents.

Chris Noel is, and always has been, a very special lady. She deserves to be more than the answer to a film trivia question.


Photo courtesy of "Danger Forward", June 1968.