World War II Honoree

Maxene Angelyn Andrews

Hometown

Mound, Minnesota

Honored By

Friends of American Heroes

DURING WWII, ALONG WITH HER TWO SISTERS, THEY ENTERTAINED THE ALLIED FORCES EXTENSIVELY IN AMERICA, AFRICA AND ITALY, VISITING ARMY, NAVY, MARINE AND COAST GUARD BASES, WAR ZONES, HOSPITALS, AND MUNITIONS FACTORIES. THEY ENCOURAGED U.S. CITIZENS TO PURCHASE WAR BONDS WITH THEIR RENDITION OF IRVING BERLIN'S SONG 'ANY BONDS TODAY'?. THEY ALSO HELPED ACTRESS, BETTE DAVIS, AND ACTOR, JOHN GARFIELD, FOUND CALIFORNIA'S FAMOUS HOLLYWOOD CANTEEN, A WELCOME RETREAT FOR SERVICEMEN WHERE THE TRIO OFTEN PERFORMED, VOLUNTEERING THEIR PERSONAL TIME TO SING AND DANCE FOR THE SOLDIERS, SAILORS AND MARINES (THEY DID THE SAME AT NEW YORK CITY'S STAGE DOOR CANTEEN DURING THE WAR). WHILE TOURING, THEY OFTEN TREATED THREE RANDOM SERVICEMEN TO DINNER WHEN THEY WERE DINING OUT. THEY RECORDED A SERIES OF VICTORY DISCS (V-DISCS) FOR DISTRIBUTION TO ALLIED FIGHTING FORCES ONLY, AGAIN VOLUNTEERING THEIR TIME FOR STUDIO SESSIONS FOR THE MUSIC BRANCH, SPECIAL SERVICE DIVISION OF THE ARMY SERVICE FORCES, AND THEY WERE DUBBED THE 'SWEETHEARTS OF THE ARMED FORCES RADIO SERVICE' FOR THEIR MANY APPEARANCES ON SHOWS LIKE 'COMMAND PERFORMANCE', 'MAIL CALL', AND 'G.I. JOURNAL'.