the movie starts on christmas eve, 1944, somewhere in europe. it is world war ii. crosby and kaye play two u.s. army soldiers. crosby plays captain bob wallace and kaye plays private first class phil davis. bob is a broadway entertainer, phil wants to be a professional entertainer. they perform "white christmas". their commanding officer, major general thomas f. waverly is being relieved of his command. he arrives for the end of the show and says goodbye.