Heritage Auctions is selling pieces from the collection of pop singer Connie Francis, the wildly popular recording artist of the 1950s and 1960s.

She continues to perform today, well into her late 70s.

Connie Francis wore this jacket in Vietnam in 1967 

Among the highlights of the sale is a bomber jacket she wore while entertaining American troops in Vietnam in 1967.

It’s covered with patches gifted to her by soldiers at the various military bases she visited during the tour.

Francis explains in a letter of provenance: "I was one of the first female performers to travel to Vietnam on my own to entertain the troops there.

“I organized my own itinerary and paid my own way because it was very important to me to help keep morale up for our fighting soldiers.

“I wore this jacket the whole time I was there so it's very sentimental to me. My experience singing for our boys in Vietnam profoundly changed me for the rest of my life."

The jacket is offered with an opening bid of $5,000.  

There’s also a love letter sent from Francis’ early collaborator (and fellow singer) Bobby Darin in 1956.

Darin started his career as a songwriter for Francis in 1956. The two had a brief relationship that was cut short by Francis’ father – who pulled a gun on Darin when he discovered they planned to elope.

This letter reads: “all I've got to say is I'm M-I-S-E-R-A-B-L-E, so damned unhappy & miserable without you, that I feel the lump inside like the one you get when you're going to cry...

“Maybe I'm coming on too strong but, well I never wrote anyone any kind of 'love letter' (don't believe in it) but I can't help writing you like this because it's the way I feel”.

The auction will take place on October 1 in Dallas. 

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