Christmas is usually the happiest time of the year. The gifts, the time with family, the communion of it all, it's an incredibly special time. However, not everyone is so blessed in that way, particularly military troops. For Bing Crosby, it was hard for him to spread that Christmas cheer for them.
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Recently, Crosby's nephew Howard spoke with Fox News for an interview. There, he recalls a candid conversation with his uncle where the iconic singer reveals a difficult experience in his career. "I asked Uncle Bing one time, 'What was the single most difficult thing you ever had to do in your career?' Howard explains. "We were out playing golf one day, and I didn't know what he was going to say. I didn't know if he was going to say, 'Well, it was, you know, learning lines for the movies or working with a difficult director.'"
However, the answer Bing gives is actually much more heartbreaking than what Howard was imagining. "He didn't have to think about it at all. He said, 'Well, 1944, we were over with the USO troupe.' And he said, 'We gave an open-air concert for 15,000 GIs and British Tommies in an open-air field in France,'" Crosby's nephew says.
Bing Crosby Struggles Singing 'White Christmas' for Troops in France
Generally, Bing loves performing for troops back then, according to Howard. Moreover, Crosby would say it's his responsibility, his patriotic duty to please those who serve the country. However, singing "White Christmas" for 15,000 troops before heading into the Battle of the Bulge was a tall task for the singer. It grew even more difficult when he saw all of them weeping.
Still, the chief of staff of the Army at the time General George C. Marshall encourages Bing in this sad time. Additionally, he insists that Crosby stay behind as an entertainer and to help his country through other means. "'Look, Bing, we don't need you in the front lines. We need you raising money for the war effort.' So, I think he looked at it as a patriotic duty, and I think he also felt like a special kinship with the boys that we're serving," Howard recalls.
