My Father's War Diary - Entertaining the Allied Invasion Forces with Dinah Shore, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby etc

My Father, Ticker Freeman, was a composer, Musical Director and Accompanist to Dinah Shore and several other famous singers throughout his life. He was also part of a group of US entertainers invited and hosted by General Omar N. Bradley to entertain the Allied Forces in Europe during the fighting which followed the D-Day invasion.

Although he told me many fascinating stories about this episode of his life when I was growing up, including being in London during the 'buzz bombing', being in the midst of the war with the Allied troops, Dinah, Bing, Frank etc - including times when they were trapped behind enemy lines - I never really appreciated what actually took place and what he experienced until after he died (in 1986). My brothers & I then discovered a diary he had kept during this time (supported by a number of photos of those present at the time) and it truly was amazing reading - it transported me right into the middle of the whole 'adventure' and I felt like I was right there with him.

I am not sure whether this is the sort of story that this site was intended for, since my Father although given an honorary rank of Captain in the US Army never actually fought, his contribution was to support the fighting forces along with the other entertainers.

Hence, since it will take me many hours to enter the diary here, I will wait to see if there is enough interest before I undertake this!

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