During World War II, future-president Richard Nixon served as a Navy supply officer ("sort of a Sergeant Bilko character," as one biographer described him). Nixon set up a hamburger stand called Nick's - the only such concession in the South Pacific - to dispense free burgers and Australian beer to flight crews.

Despite his low army salary, Nixon found the post remarkably lucrative. He was so successful at poker that he came home from the war with $10,000 (in 1945 currency).

Anecdotage.Com - Thousands of true funny stories about famous people. Anecdotes from Gates to Yeats

__________________