Tony Bennett, the renowned singer who passed away at the age of 96, had a profound impact on millions of people with his music. However, in a 2011 interview with Howard Stern, Bennett revealed that he himself had been deeply impacted by an experience early in his life.
During World War II, Bennett served in the infantry and played a role in liberating a concentration camp. This experience had a lasting effect on him and transformed him into a pacifist. In the interview, he expressed his strong dislike for war, emphasizing that life is a precious gift that should be enjoyed to the fullest.
Recalling his time in the war, Bennett spoke about the fear that both sides felt. He stressed that nobody wanted to harm anyone else, but the destructive power of weapons overwhelmed everyone involved.
Bennett also shared a personal story about his encounter with bigotry during his military service. He had developed a close friendship with a fellow soldier who was Black, and they even celebrated Thanksgiving together. However, a captain who held racist views disapproved of their friendship and punished Bennett by assigning him the gruesome task of relocating the bodies of deceased American soldiers.
This harrowing experience had a profound impact on Bennett, ultimately eradicating any traces of bigotry from his life. He conveyed his belief that bigotry towards others is one of the most ignorant things that can occur.
To gain insight into Bennett’s World War II experiences and his transformative perspective, you can listen to the full interview in the video provided.