Performing the hit song “White Christmas” to World War II troops stationed in France in 1944 was the late entertainer Bing Crosby’s most challenging career moment, according to his nephew.
“[Bing Crosby] said: ‘We gave an open-air concert for 15,000 GIs and British Tommies in an open-air field in France. ... We had a lot of laughs and the boys were having a wonderful time, great fun.’ But he said at the end of the show, ‘I had to sing “White Christmas.” And I had to get through the song with 15,000 guys in tears and not break up myself.’”
Also known as the Ardennes Offensive, the Battle of the Bulge began in the winter on Dec. 16, 1944, after German troops attacked the European Allied forces in Belgium, Luxembourg, and France. The battle ended on Jan. 16, 1945, in which some 19,000 American soldiers lost their lives.
Bing Crosby was a recording artist who died in 1977 at 73 years of age while playing golf. In addition to “White Christmas,” his hit songs included “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,“ ”Now You Has Jazz“ with Louis Armstrong, and ”Swinging on a Star.”
“His difficulty in performing the song reflected his genuine compassion and the emotional toll of witnessing their vulnerability firsthand,” Army veteran Michelle Mackel told The Epoch Times on Dec. 23. “For a performer, knowing the impact of your words in such a context can be overwhelming.”
Howard Crosby said that when he asked his uncle about his most difficult career moment, he said, “Well, 1944, we were over with the USO [United Services Organizations] troupe.”
Dinah Shore and the Andrews Sisters were also USO performers in the show. The USO is a private, nonprofit organization that provides support to the Armed Forces troops and their families.
“The song White Christmas brought the troops back home for a few minutes with their loved ones,” Austin-based musician, singer, and songwriter Timothy Abbott told The Epoch Times on Dec. 24.
Howard Crosby recalled that his uncle told a nervous Berlin, “Don’t worry about [White Christmas], Irving, that song is going to do just fine.” The songwriter died in 1989 at 101 years old.
Crosby was also an actor who starred in movies such as “The Road to Hong Kong,” “Holiday Inn,” “Stagecoach,“ ”High Society,” and “High Time.” However, his nephew said Crosby was patriotic and very humble.
For example, he refused to wear a toupee while performing for the troops.
“He hated that thing,“ Howard Crosby told Fox News. ”He called it a scalp doily and he never wore it unless he absolutely had to. But he said, ‘If I’m entertaining troops, I’m not going to wear anything phony like a toupee. Forget it.’”
“[Bing] went onstage without a toupee for the troops, but he also insisted that the front rows at those shows were reserved for the enlisted men,” Howard Crosby said of his uncle. “No officers or higher-ups sitting in the front rows. Those were all for the guys on the front lines. And a lot of those boys died the next week in the Battle of the Bulge.”
Crosby said his uncle tried to enlist but was rejected due to his age. Army Chief of Staff Gen. George C. Marshall told Bing Crosby he was needed to raise money for the war effort, not to fight on the front lines, Howard Crosby said.
“If singers and actors want to support people, especially those serving their country or going through tough times, you have to show up authentically,” Mackel said.
“It’s not about the spotlight or looking perfect—it’s about being there, showing respect, and reminding people they’re not alone. That’s what Bing did.”
Howard Crosby did not respond to requests for comment by publication time.
“Entertainers of the past were classy and made less money,” Abbott said. “There wasn’t a social media empire like we have today. They had a Hollywood code they had to follow that was set forth by the studio head.”
