Around 16 million Americans answered the call of duty during World War II. Among these brave souls were people from all walks of life. Sadly, for many, WWII would be the end of their stories, even if it wasn't the end of their legacies. But for others, following the war, life would go on. For one son of Italian immigrants, this would mean 20 Grammys, two Emmys, and a career spanning decades to multiple other accolades and plenty of fame. Young Tony Bennett helped defend Europe, free prisoners at a concentration camp, and serve America years before he became a global crooner known around the world. Read next:Famous Veterans: You’ll Never Believe These Celebrities Actually Served

Young Tony Bennett's Life: Was Tony Bennett in the Military?

Yes, young Tony Bennett served as a Soldier in the U.S. Army during World War II. His military career came about after being drafted in 1944 after turning 18 years old. As part of the 63rd Infantry Division, Tony Bennett's military service would begin in 1945 following the large casualties suffered at the Battle of the Bulge. In his autobiography The Good Life, Bennett spoke of his time serving, referring to his time as a "(front-row) seat in hell.” Tony Bennett's younger days would find the future jazz singer digging into foxholes on frozen battlefields while dodging fire from German 88-millimeter flak guns. Bennett was a part of the assault on the Siegfried Line, which would mean a five-day battle breaching defenses east of Saarbrucken. A young Tony Bennett was a part of various other military exploits in WWII throughout Germany. This includes liberating prisoners of the Kaufering Concentration Camp, which was the largest subcamp of Dachau. No concentration camp offered any sort of humanity or amenity, but Dachau is known for its cruel place in history. Over 10,000 prisoners at Kaufering were forced there before American Forces arrived, with most of them forced to leave before U.S. Forces arrived. Sadly, many that did not leave were killed. By the time the U.S. arrived at the camp, the bodies of at least 500 people were found on the ground. This was a last-ditch effort by the Nazis to inflict their reign of terror. Days later, Nazi Germany would fall, and that part of the war would be over.

Occupied Germany Birthed a Jazz Legend

In Tony Bennett's younger days, he would find himself as part of a U.S. occupying force stationed in Mannheim, Germany. It’s here where he would begin singing with the 314th Army Special Services Band under the name Joe Bari. This new moniker wasn’t a stylistic choice or artistic statement but rather a necessity. While in Mannheim, Bennett ran across his friend Frank Smith, with whom he had Thanksgiving dinner. This dinner would lead to Bennett being demoted. Enjoying a meal isn’t high on the list of war crimes. In fact, we're not sure if it’s on there at all. However, at this time, the Army was segregated, and Bennett was white, while Smith was Black. Once Bennett’s meal was discovered by an Army captain, he was demoted and put on Graves Registration Service duty. These events didn’t stop Tony. Instead, he performed under the stage name Joe Bari to disguise himself and follow his passion. A week later, the young Tony Bennett was taken off of his demotion and sent to an orchestra. Not long after, he was back home. Using his GI Bill, Bennett went to the American Theater Wing to study bel canto singing. The name Joe Bari stayed with him, and before too long, “Bari” was singing in nightclubs throughout New York City. Pearl Bailey, the African-American Broadway superstar, attended one of his shows and was impressed with what she heard. Bailey ended up inviting Tony to join her at the Greenwich Village Inn and open for her set. This would change the trajectory of Bennett’s career and life forever. While playing the show, Bob Hope, a British comedian and singer, was a member of the audience and also enjoyed his music, inviting him to play a show with him in Hollywood. The only problem? Hope didn’t like the name. Obviously, the path to stardom was a bit different for the Veteran-turned-singer, but with his talent, some unique meetings, and a name change, Bennett was able to captivate audiences everywhere and rack up impressive awards along the way.

What’s Tony Bennett’s Real Name?

Tony Bennett’s real name is Anthony Dominick Benedetto, but that’s not how the world would come to know him. The reason? Well, it’s the same reason Joe Bari never made it to Bob Hope’s Hollywood show. “Bob Hope came down to check out my act. He liked my singing so much that after the show he came back to see me in my dressing room and said, ‘Come on kid, you’re going to come to the Paramount and sing with me.’ But first, he told me he didn’t care for my stage name (Joe Bari) and asked me what my real name was. I told him, ‘My name is Anthony Dominick Benedetto,’ and he said, ‘We’ll call you Tony Bennett.’ And that’s how it happened. A new Americanized name—the start of a wonderful career and a glorious adventure that has continued for over 60 years,” said Bennett. It’s easy to paint a picture of Soldiers or troops in general as being more or less the same, but the truth is, they're just like this country. An amazing hodgepodge mix of all of us defending freedom for everyone. Young Tony Bennett grew up to be an international superstar, but first, he was a hero. Suggested read:The Surprising Story of Bob Ross’s Military Career

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