A Singing Soldier

In the 1954 film White Christmas, Bing Crosby plays a WWII veteran who often breaks into song when expressing affection for his beloved general, ushering chestnuts like “What Can You Do With a General?” and “We'll Follow the Old Man” into the great American songbook.

Gen. Martin Dempsey, of Army Training and Doctrine Command, is himself hard man to follow -- when he sings, that is.

Dempsey, the administration's pick to be the next Army chief of staff, apparently likes to cut loose from time to time and sing the standards. In fact, there's video proof: The general can be seen on YouTube belting out a rendition of “New York, New York.”

His performance in the clip draws thunderous applause from a room full listeners and positive comments on the site.

“The coolest general in the U.S. Army,” one comment reads. “I remember him singing at the 1st Armored Division's Christmas Formals in Germany -- great voice."

“What a wasted talent,” according to a second commenter. “During my college time I worked as a waitress at the International Congress Center in Berlin and we had the 'Winter Formal Ball' of the Army. Those guys were a little bit stiff, but this buddy rocks.”

As of today, Dempsey's crooning clip has been viewed more than 1,600 times.