Dennis Day's Naval Service

[Michael]

We all know Dennis was in the Navy during the war ... but I have been wondering if anyone knows such details as what ship he served on? Did he see any actual combat? and things of that nature

[Roman]

I've read that Dennis was a junior officer in the Navy, rising to the rank of lieutenant jg (which corresponds to, I believe, a captain in the other services). I've also read that he sang with one of the navy bands that was composed of members of a prominent big band of the day (I don't recall which band that was). On one of the shows that Jack did on an aircraft carrier soon after Dennis had returned, Dennis made a mention of having served on that carrier (which elicited a loud cheer from the audience).

Whether Dennis saw combat during the war, I don't know. The fact that he was an officer was, I think, somewhat unusual for entertainers who served (although by no means uncommon). But I haven't read that he was involved in combat missions like James Stewart, Robert Montgomery, and Clark Gable.