Buck Benny and the Buck Private

Stars, big and little, toured military camps stateside, appeared at bond and war stamp drives in Canada and the U.S., and performed in sometimes horrible conditions to boost the morale of troops overseas during World War Two.

One was Jack Benny.

Jack went beyond all of what you’ve read. He wrote and even called families of service members once he got home to tell them their boy was okay. This was revealed in his autobiography (co-written with his daughter). But it was a story told at the time as well, as you can see by the newspaper column below published November 28, 1943.

This Story Concerns 2 Swell Guys
By DOROTHY MANNERS
Special to THE DETROIT TIMES
HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 27.
THIS is about two swell guys—Jack Benny and Pvt. Billy Van Grove Jr.
Jack, you already know and perhaps it is as well if you accept this as an introduction to Pvt. Van Grove, before we start reading his mail.
He is 22 years old and the son of the William Van Groves of Los Angeles. Billy has been in the service about a year and is based in Central Africa with the air forces. Lately, Billy has been writing letters home, most of them about Jack Benny, and here is what he has to say:
‘What Excitement!’
“Sunday, July 27.
“The story that’s going around is that Jack Benny arrives soon to put on a show for us. What excitement! I doubt if I’ll get close enough to him to ask a favor—but if I do, ma, I’m going to give him a note to you.’
“I feel almost like I know Jack Benny, because both of us are from Los Angeles and when you are miles and miles from home that makes you feel close to a guy.”
“Tuesday, July 29.
“First, let me tell you that if some one calls you and says he is Jack Benny, don’t act too surprised because it will really be—Jack Benny. I did get close to him and we got talking long enough for him to take down your number and to promise to call you.
“Of course, I feel pretty good about that, but I noticed he took down quite a few numbers. That was yesterday, the day, Jack, Winnie Shaw, Larry Adler (who is just about the best harmonica player in the world) and Anna Lee put on their show for us. It lasted two hours and Benny really outdid himself. How the GIs loved it. We talked all through the night about it and this morning the fellows can talk about nothing else.
“Today Jack ate dinner with us in the enlisted men’s mess hall and he was even funnier, being himself, than he was in the show. He used the regulation mess kit to eat out of, and afterward, he went outside to wash his equipment in the trough provided for that purpose.
“He made quite a ceremony out of getting all the food out of the cracks and crevices of the kit and kept kidding: ‘I’d never eat if I had to do this every day.’
“Guess you don't think this is funny but then you and dad have never eaten out of a GI mess kit.
“If you see any of the neighbors and folks I know I wish you would tell them about Benny and how much his visit here meant. And there are thousands and thousands of guys who feel just the way I do—and right now, thanks to Jack, I’m feeling mighty good.”