World War II Honoree

Harry Lillis 'Bing' Crosby, Jr.

Hometown

Los Angeles, California

Honored By

A Fan

SINGER AND ACTOR. MADE PERSONAL APPEARANCES TO ENTERTAIN AMERICAN TROOPS FIGHTING IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER. LEARNED HOW TO PRONOUNCE GERMAN FROM PHONETIC SCRIPTS, READING PROPAGANDA BROADCASTS INTENDED FOR GERMAN FORCES, GAINING GERMAN FANS. HIS 1942 RECORDING, 'WHITE CHRISTMAS' BECAME THE WARTIME ANTHEM FOR AMERICAN GI'S. PRODUCED A RECORD NUMBER OF V-DISCS; RECORDINGS FOR THE USE OF OVERSEAS AMERICAN MILITARY PERSONNEL. SOLD A RECORD NUMBER OF WAR BONDS. PERSONALLY ANSWERED THOUSANDS OF LETTERS FROM SERVICEMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES. IN A POLL OF U.S. TROOPS CONDUCTED BY YANK MAGAZINE AT THE CLOSE OF THE WAR, HE TOPPED THE LIST AS THE INDIVIDUAL WHO HAD DONE THE MOST FOR GI MORALE.