Well, I just learned something today..

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i had no idea

At the time the rumor was it was supposed to be based on Pat Sajak.

How could you not know that, when even in 1987, everyone knew that? Yes, before the internet. YOU have no excuse..

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It is based on the name of a real person; but not really based upon a true story.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrian_Cronauer#Good_Morning,_Vietnam

However, according to Cronauer, little of the film reflects his real life. Among other things, Cronauer was not a subversive person but a "lifelong card-carrying Republican", and later took an "active role" in both Bob Dole's unsuccessful 1996 presidential campaign and George W. Bush's successful 2004 presidential reelection campaign. Cronauer did teach English when off-duty in Saigon, but he did not teach swear words or New York street slang. He was never in a Jeep that got hit by a land mine, but he did witness the bombing of a restaurant near the radio station. In a 2014 Military Times interview, Cronauer said if he had done some of what the movie said he did, "I'd still be in Leavenworth."

According to the real Cronauer the film is only 45% accurate and if he tried half the stuff Williams did in the film he would have been sent to military prison.

The real Cronauer did do the Good Morning Vietnam intro though to his own radio show.