Armed Forces Radio And Television Service

On Sept. 30 the astronauts received their wake-up call "Good Morning Discovery!" from Robin Williams doing a reprise of his "Good Morning Vietnam," a movie about Armed Forces Radio and Television Service. What was not said was that as of that date the Administration chopped the worldwide AFRTS broadcasts formerly heard 24 hours a day. Not even a peep on the morning of Oct. 1. What cynicism! JAMES V. MINK Los Angeles

John Steadman, 83, gravelly voiced character actor who was a longtime editor for the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service. He began his career as a radio announcer in his native Greenville, S.C., and joined the armed forces operation in the 1950s. His movie credits include "Bedknobs and Broomsticks," "Chattanooga Choo Choo" and several Burt Reynolds films including "The Longest Yard," "Gator" and "White Lightning."

American troops in Saudi Arabia soon may have at least one comfort of home--television. Plans are being laid to bring news, sports and entertainment shows to troops taking part in Operation Desert Shield, and the U.S. military is ironing out final details with Saudi authorities, said Lt. Col. David MacNamee of the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service. The programming will be an extension of the non-commercial TV already broadcast to U.S.

Operation Support: Calling all entertainers interested in showing support for U.S. troops and their families. Ads scheduled for today's Daily Variety and The Hollywood Reporter seek talent for Operation Support 2, a show to be held Feb. 23 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The revue will be taped and shown to troops in the Gulf; tickets for the live show will be available through TicketMaster.

The National Assn. of Broadcasters at its annual meeting announced a campaign to send radio receivers and batteries to American troops serving in the Persian Gulf. Westinghouse Broadcasting Co.'s Group W Radio division will lead a fund-raising campaign and the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service will distribute the radios and batteries, the association said.