Betty White’s WWII Service with the American Women’s Voluntary Services
Guest Contributor
Before she became a beloved television icon, Betty White’s early life took a remarkable detour from Hollywood to wartime service. In the early 1940s, as the world was plunged into the turmoil of World War II, White set aside her dreams of acting to join the American Women’s Voluntary Services (AWVS). This lesser-known chapter of her life reveals a young woman committed to serving her country, not through combat, but by driving a post exchange supply truck across Los Angeles. Her work with the AWVS is a testament to the many ways women supported the war effort from the home front, and it adds another layer to the legacy of a national treasure.
Betty White was just 19 years old when she joined the AWVS in 1941, shortly before the United States officially entered the war. At the time, the organization had already been modeled after the British Women’s Voluntary Services, which had mobilized women across the United Kingdom to prepare for and respond to wartime needs. In the United States, the AWVS quickly grew in size and scope, boasting more than 18,000 members by the time of the Pearl Harbor attack in December 1941. By 1943, that number had swelled to 350,000 as American women stepped up to fill roles left vacant by men who had gone to war.
White’s assignment was with the motor transport division. She drove a PX (post exchange) truck, delivering essentials like toothpaste, soap, and candy to various military installations in the hills of Hollywood and Santa Monica. In her 1995 memoir, Here We Go Again, she described the experience as “a strange time and out of balance with everything.” Yet she embraced the responsibility, contributing in a way that was both practical and morale-boosting.
Beyond logistics, White also played a role in lifting the spirits of servicemen. She spent evenings at recreation centers and dance halls throughout the San Fernando Valley, socializing, dancing, and playing games with troops preparing for deployment. In a 2010 interview with Cleveland Magazine, she reflected on that period, calling it “the age of innocence.” Her presence, no doubt, provided comfort and companionship to many young soldiers facing uncertain futures.
One of the most tangible remnants of White’s wartime experience is her AWVS shoulder bag, now housed at the National Museum of American History. The bag is more than just a utilitarian item; it is a time capsule of her service. Decorated with 29 military insignia from various branches, the bag reflects the camaraderie she shared with the servicemen she met. Some of the insignia came from allied nations, including a Free France badge, a Soviet Red Army hat badge, and a British Army officer’s rank star. A handwritten note listing the names of those who gave her these mementos adds a personal touch to the historical artifact.
Inside the bag were also practical items like blank V-mail letters, gasoline ration stamps, food tokens, and war savings booklets. These contents paint a vivid picture of daily life for a wartime volunteer. But perhaps the most poignant items were those tied to White’s personal relationships during the war. She had been engaged to Army Captain Paul M. Popple, writing to him frequently before ending the engagement in 1944. The following year, she married another serviceman, pilot Frederick “Dick” Barker, who had completed 50 combat missions and earned 10 Air Medals. Their marriage was short-lived, ending in divorce just five months later. White’s post-war ambitions pulled her back toward entertainment, while Barker preferred a quieter life on an Ohio farm.
White also kept a signed photograph from Captain Wayne L. Daniel, addressed with the words, “Betty — I love you — for always. Wayne.” Though the nature of their relationship remains unclear, the sentiment captured in that message underscores the emotional connections forged during a time of global upheaval. For many servicemen, White was more than a driver or a dance partner — she was a beacon of warmth and normalcy amid the chaos of war.
After the war, Betty White returned to her original path and eventually became a household name through her work on television. Yet her wartime service remained an integral, if understated, part of her story. When she passed away on December 31, 2021, the U.S. Army honored her with a statement recognizing her contributions: “Not only was she an amazing actress, she also served during WWII as a member of the American Women’s Voluntary Services. A true legend on and off the screen.”
White’s experience during World War II highlights the diverse roles women played in supporting the war effort. Her time with the AWVS illustrates how civilians, especially young women, took on responsibilities that were vital to the nation's morale and logistics. I found this detail striking: even in a time of uncertainty and sacrifice, Betty White brought joy and resilience to those around her — qualities that would come to define her public persona for decades to follow.
