The Graybeards - KWVA - Korean War Veterans Association

D.C. Affairs
Blair Cross, National Director
for D.C. Affairs
To Fellow Korean War Veterans:
As we strive to have a National
Chanter issued to the Korean War
Veterans Association, I am finding out
more and more that our major stumbling
block is the fact that #HR1671 is co-sponsored
by only 35-members of the House.
In order to force the House Bill out of
the sub-committee and put on the floor,
we need the support of 218-members.
You will find below a suggested form letter
that seeks the support of the members
of Congress from your District. As stated,
it is only a suggested format and I urge
each of you to contact your representative
and have him/her sign on. It is also suggested
that they do so on their
Congressional letterhead. Please don’t
delay, as we reed to have these in hand by
October 30, 2000. Remember - this is an
election year.
Have them address the letter to:
Congressman Steny H. Hoyer, 1705
LHOB, Washington, DC 20515: and send
or fax it to me and I will accumulate the
responses.
Blair E. Cross
904-B Martell Ct
Bel Air, MD 21014
Phone or Fax 410-893-8145
USO Korea 1953 – 1954
The Bell Sisters
Kay (L) and
Cynthia Strother
(Bell Sisters).
If you were stationed in
Korea, Japan or the
Pacific Islands during
the Christmas time of
1953 and 1954, you may
have had a chance to see
the Bell Sisters (Cynthia
and Kay Strother, 17 and
13) perform with the
USO. Now, with a new
web site to their career at
“http://www.bellsisters.com/” you can
hear and see them again.
The Bell Sisters were discovered on
October 31, 1951, singing “Bermuda”
on a Los Angeles television program
called “Peter Potter’s Search for a
Song.” Their subsequent rise to “fame”
was immediate; the song, which
Cynthia had written, was picked up that
night by a music publisher who was one
of the judges of the evening’s amateur
compositions.
Within a week, the young duo cut a
demo of the song in Hollywood for
Henri Rene, orchestra leader and the
West Coast A & R man for RCA
Records. At this session, Mr. Rene liked
the girls’ self-arranged vocal harmonies
so much, he decided they should record
the song for RCA themselves.
Because several other artists (including
Brenda Lee, Dinah Shore and Ray
Anthony) were also recording the song,
the girls hurried once again into the studio
and on Nov. 11 recorded
“Bermuda” (with a new arrangement by
Henri Rene). The Bells’ recording of
“Bermuda” was rushed through the
RCA pressing plant in just a few days
(instead of the usual several weeks). By
March of 1952, “Bermuda” had reached
#7 on the Billboard charts and eventually
sold well over 1,000,000 copies.
Cynthia and Kay, adopting their
mother’s maiden name of Bell for their
act, enjoyed a rollercoaster ride of success,
releasing eleven records (22
songs) for RCA and hitting the charts
again with “Wheel of Fortune” (up to
#10) and “Hambone” (recorded with
Phil Harris and charting as high as
#19). They appeared on many popular
radio and television programs, includ-
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear Congressman Hoyer,
In support of the over 6-million
military personnel who have served
this Country in the Korean War, and
those men and women who are still
serving in harm’s way, I would be
honored to add my name as a sponsor
and urge passage of #HR1671, granting
a National Charter to the Korean
War Veterans Association Inc.
In as much as this Charter is long
overdue, I request consideration and
acknowledgement.
Respectfully yours,
(Signed by Member of Congress)
The photo above depicts, from left to right: Roscoe Ates, a comedian and comic-relief, “sidekick” actor who
had supporting roles in numerous motion pictures in the 30s and 40s. Cynthia (Bell) Strother, the older of
the two sisters; Kay (Bell) Strother. Dick Contino, an accordian-playing entertainer who had achieved
some fame in the early 50s. Guitar-player: Unknown. Photo was taken in the Imperial Hotel, Tokyo, in
December 1953, after the troupe landed from the U.S. They were en route to Korea. Photo by Frank Praytor
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