A Soldier's Story: Private Irving Berlin

Private Irving Berlin, A Soldier's Story

Private Irving Berlin - Born May 11, 1888 - Died September 22, 1989

Private Irving Berlin, born Israel Beilin, was proof that patriotism can take the form of a song.

Born in Imperial Russia on May 11, 1888, Berlin’s family fled violent anti-Jewish pogroms in 1893 and immigrated to New York City, settling on the Lower East Side. His father, a cantor, died when Irving was just eight years old, and the boy quickly joined the city’s bustling streets, selling newspapers and singing to earn a few pennies to help his mother and siblings survive.

By fourteen, Berlin had left home entirely, supporting himself as a singing waiter and self-taught pianist in the saloons of New York’s Bowery. He had no formal training; he couldn’t even read or write music, but he had a keen ear for melody and an instinct for what would move people. By his twenties, he was performing and writing songs full-time, and in 1911, his composition “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” turned him into one of the biggest names in Tin Pan Alley.

Then came World War I.
In 1917, despite being thirty years old and already a wealthy songwriter, Berlin chose to enlist in the US Army. He was assigned to the 152nd Depot Brigade at Camp Upton in Yaphank, New York. There, Berlin’s duties went far beyond drills and guard shifts. The Army recognized his unique talents and assigned him to write music and produce shows to boost morale.

In 1918, he wrote and staged the camp’s all-soldier musical, “Yip! Yip! Yaphank!", a witty and heartfelt production that featured real troops singing and dancing about Army life. It introduced the song “Oh! How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning,” which became an instant favorite among soldiers and audiences alike. Proceeds from the show benefited the Army Emergency Relief Fund, and Berlin donated every cent.

When the war ended, Berlin returned to civilian life, but his heart remained deeply tied to his adopted country. He continued to write songs that captured the American spirit, including “Blue Skies,” “Puttin' on the Ritz,” “Easter Parade,” and “White Christmas.” In 1921, with producer Sam Harris, he opened The Music Box Theatre on Broadway, where his revues and collaborations became New York traditions.

As another global conflict loomed, Berlin again answered the call. During World War II, he volunteered his talents to the war effort, writing songs that encouraged unity and sacrifice. His most famous contribution was the stage show “This Is the Army” (1942),  a revival of his earlier Army revue. Berlin toured with the cast for nearly four years, performing across the United States and overseas to raise morale and funds for the Army Emergency Relief Fund. He refused payment for the production and even covered many of his own travel expenses, believing that serving through music was its own reward.

The show introduced audiences to “This Is the Army, Mr. Jones” and “I Left My Heart at the Stage Door Canteen,” and it reintroduced an older piece that had taken on new meaning, “God Bless America.” Originally written during WWI, Berlin had set it aside until the eve of the Second World War. When singer Kate Smith performed it in 1938, the song instantly became a national treasure, often described as America’s “second national anthem.” Berlin donated all proceeds from the song to the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America, ensuring it would continue to serve the country he so loved.

Irving Berlin lived to be 101 years old, passing peacefully in his sleep on September 22, 1989, and rests at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York. He left behind more than 1,500 songs, including the scores for Annie Get Your Gun, White Christmas, and There’s No Business Like Show Business.

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a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia. 

In addition to her travel writings at www.takethebackroads.com, you can also read her book reviews at www.riteoffancy.com and US military biographies at www.everydaypatriot.com

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