{"id":13275,"date":"2019-11-19T14:08:17","date_gmt":"2019-11-19T14:08:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/womentales.wpengine.com\/?p=13275"},"modified":"2021-11-29T19:45:57","modified_gmt":"2021-11-29T19:45:57","slug":"who-would-have-thought-these-celebrities-used-to-serve-in-the-army","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/who-would-have-thought-these-celebrities-used-to-serve-in-the-army\/","title":{"rendered":"Who Would Have Thought These Celebrities Used To Serve In The Army?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Have you ever wondered if certain Hollywood actors had any military skills to employ in their action-packed movies? The answer is \u2013 yes, some of them do know the drills, serving their countries in one organization or the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s curious to say but this makes action hero Chuck Norris relate to someone like Gal Gadot in more ways than one!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did you know that Han Solo from Star Wars had his piloting skills channeled by Harrison Ford, who is an aircraft pilot?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some entered service by obligation but others chose to enlist voluntarily. Depending on their home country and organization \u2013whether it\u2019s the US Marine Corps, the British Military or the Israeli Army, their roles and stories to share will surely be new and interesting to read about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s look at these colorful career paths together!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Image Source: Gal Gadot – Pinterest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Mr. T<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Image Source: mentalfloss.com<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A-Team\nactor Lawrence Tureaud, known by most as Mr. T, is known for extravagant style.\nIt\u2019s hard to imagine, but he served in the Military Police Corps \u2013 of course,\nhe sported a much more formal look back then.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\nattended Prairie View A&M University but was expelled after a year. This\ndidn\u2019t stop him from excelling later on as he was promoted to Drill Sergeant of\nhis Corps in the US Army.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So,\nwhere did he attain his tough style, you ask? He used to be a celebrity bouncer\nback in Chicago and he caught the eye of Sylvester Stallone himself, back in\n1982, who cast him for his first movie role in Rocky III.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Morgan Freeman<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Image Source: people.com<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Accomplished senior actor Morgan Freeman began his military career, following a childhood dream of becoming a fighter pilot. He enlisted in 1955 and joined the US Air force, receiving the position of radar technician. He even turned down a scholarship for drama, trying to follow his ideals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As soon as he sat in a plane for the first time, reality hit him and he was quick to change his mind. He followed his instinct and left his position in 1959 \u2013 it took him 20 years of stage acting to finally reach the film industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Drew Carey<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Image Source: Pinterest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Comedian Drew Carey served in the military for 6 years, between 1980 \u2013 1986. Believe it or not, this is where he discovered his knack for comedy! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He started performing in stand-up shows to make some extra money on the side, earning a few bucks per pun at the start. His talent became evident soon and he started receiving his first supporting roles on TV. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carey still reminisces of his service time and still sports his trademark glasses and short haircut back from those days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Gene Wilder<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Gene
Image Source: Wikipedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Late Gene Wilder wasn’t just a legendary comedic actor, he spent 2 years of his life serving his country, too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He entered service by his original name, Jerome Silberman – he trained at Fort Sam Houston, after which he was assigned to the medical corps at Valley Forge Army Hospital in Pennsylvania. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He left the Army in 1958 with an honorable discharge and adopted the stage name, Gene Wilder. His first film debut was the memorable Eugene Grizzard in Bonnie and Clyde<\/em> in 1967.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Willie Nelson<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Image Source: Pinterest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Musician, actor, and activist Willie Nelson spent almost a year in The United States Airforce, drafted when he was just 18 years old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was\ndischarged due to a medical issue, but his short time left such an impact on\nhim that he is now an avid advocate of health care for veterans. Despite still\nbeing busy with his music career, he takes time to promote groups like Operation\nFiring For Effect<\/em> as well!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Bea Arthur<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Image Source: thevintagenews.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

American actress and comedian Bea Arthur served 30 months in the United States Marine Corps Women’s Reserve during World War II she worked as a truck driver and typist until her honorable discharge with the rank of Staff Sergeant. She kept this information to herself and it was only revealed after The Golden Girls<\/em> actress passed away in 2009.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She was inspired by her time with the military to first study as a medical technician, but later in 1947, she enrolled in the School of Drama at The New School<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Charles Bronson<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Image Source: tadpgs.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Hollywood tough-guy Charles Bronson was as impressive in his Army career as he was on screen. American-Lithuanian Charles Buchinksy – his original family name – had an extremely hard childhood, having to work from an early age to help support his family of 14 siblings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He ended up completing his high school education, after which he was drafted into the Army. He was part of the 760th Flexible Gunnery Training Squadron as well as the 39th Bombardment Group, piloting a B-29 bomber. He flew on 25 missions and was awarded a Purple Heart, leaving the military for good in 1946.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Dan Blocker<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Image Source: readicon.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Dan Blocker\u2019s past is historical in terms of his military contribution as well as his role as Hoss Cartwright in TV show Bonanza<\/em>. He attended Texas Military Institue as a boy and later on earned a master\u2019s degree in the dramatic arts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He entered service in 1951 during the Korean War. He served in multiple divisions during his short time in the military until August 1952 and was awarded the Purple Heart medal for receiving wounds in combat. But that’s not all: he also received 6 additional medals on top of that, including the National Defense Service Medal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Clint Eastwood<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Image Source: criminalelement.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

American actor and director Clint Eastwood, who has a career spanning almost seven decades, has a terrifying military story to share.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was drafted into the Army during the Korean War but ended up serving as a swimming instructor at Fort Ord, leading a relatively calm life there and making a living on the side as a bouncer at local clubs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One time, though, when he was en route aboard a Navy plane to Seattle to visit his family, the plane had to make an emergency water landing off the coast of San Francisco. Eastwood and the pilot had to swim more than 3 kilometers to get to the shore, in shark-infested waters!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Mickey Rooney<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Mickey
Image Source: Wikipedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As you can tell from this picture, Mickey Rooney was a comedian at heart which he made use of while in the Army, too. He wanted to be drafted but ended up discharged due to medical issues. He volunteered anyway and was assigned to the Armed Forces Radio – which was an excellent opportunity for him to lift the spirits of fellow soldiers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It ended up working out so well that he was requested in Europe for the same reason and in 1944 he entered service that lasted 21 months. He received the Bronze Star Medal for his service during World War II. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Chuck Norris<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Chuck
Image Source: @officialchucknorrispage \/ Facebook <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Who is the least surprising celebrity from this list to have a military background? Chuck Norris, certainly. Martial artist and Texas Ranger actor Norris was an Air Policeman during his time of service in South Korea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He eventually returned to the US and served at March Air Force Base until 1962, when he was discharged. He brought his passion for Korean martial arts with him, too, which was a foundation for his future career. He was extremely proficient at Tae Kwan Do – he ended up being the first westerner to reach an eighth-degree Black Belt in this martial art form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Rob Riggle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Rob
Image Source: @RobRiggle \/ Facebook <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Robb Riggle, most known for his comedic roles in movies like The Hangover<\/em> and 21 Jump Street<\/em> served a whopping 23 years in the military.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He enlisted in 1990 and mostly spent his time with the United States Marine Corps, visiting countries such as Liberia, Kosovo, and Afghanistan. Originally he wanted to become a pilot but stopped pursuing that for his shot at becoming a comedian at a later time. One of his most rewarding experiences with the Marines was working on clearing debris at ground zero following the 9\/11 attacks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Johnny Cash<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Johnny
Image Source: Imgur<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

American singer, songwriter and actor Johnny Cash, nicknamed “The Man In Black” for his stage outfits had a successful military career, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cash enlisted in 1950 – after completing his basic training, he was assigned to the 12th Radio Squadron Mobile of the US Air Force in Germany. He was a Morse code operator tasked to intercept Soviet transmissions, which meant that he might have been the first person to hear about Stalin’s death. During his time in Germany, he formed his first band. He was honorably discharged as a staff sergeant in 1954.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Prince Harry<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Prince
Image Source: Wikipedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Prince Harry, the late Princess Diana’s younger son, is a respectable member of the British Army and not just because of his royal blood. He completed his studies at the Sandhurst British Royal Military Academy in 2006.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was trained as a helicopter pilot, serving in Afghanistan in this role and he continued to expand his military knowledge with multiple nations’ Special Forces units. He left the Army in 2015 to start to plan for his family life. His passion and enthusiasm for the military are hereditary it seems – even her grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II herself was part of the British Army at some point!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Hugh Hefner<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Image Source: Pinterest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Hugh Hefner, creator of Playboy<\/em> magazine discovered his talent for journalism at an unconventional place – the military!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He enlisted after finishing his high school studies and attained the position of infantry clerk. He served for two years, drawing cartoons for military newspapers. Five years later, he founded Playboy<\/em> magazine. Business-savvy and highly intelligent Hefner – with an IQ well above 150 – had big plans from the start and made it work in the end!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Fred Durst<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Image Source: Pinterest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Limp Bizkit’s leading man, Fred Durst, is not evidently a military man at first sight – but he used to be one, up until his 20th birthday. He served in the US Navy for two years before starting his successful rap-rock band. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was discharged due to sports injury, but subsequently, he also met his first wife, Rachel Tergesen. They had daughter Adriana in 1990.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Sean Connery<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Sean
Image Source: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Scottish actor Sean Connery, the first to portray the legendary James Bond<\/em> did his part for his country in terms of military service, and he would have done more if it weren’t for serious health concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He served for 3 years and was honorably discharged because of a stomach ulcer. This didn’t stop him from first becoming a participant in the 1950’s Mr. Universe competition and later pursuing an extremely successful acting career!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Arnold Schwarzenegger<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Arnold
Image Source: @arnold \/ Facebook <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Actor-turned-politician Arnold Schwarzenegger used to appear as the buff, military guy in most of his roles – and he has history to back it up in real life. He served the obligatory one year in the Austrian military that was required of all men during that time, in 1965.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was already interested in bodybuilding at this time, so he was absent at some point during his basic training – which resulted in a week spent in military prison for him. This didn’t tarnish his memories of that time, though, as in 2018 he ended up buying his old tank and had it shipped to the US!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Mel Brooks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Mel
Image Source: @MelBrooks \/ Twitter <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Comedy legend Melvin Kaminsky a.k.a. Mel Brooks participated in World War II. He served as a combat engineer in the 1104 Engineer Combat Battalion, diffusing landmines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He partially based his comedy off of all the negative things he experienced in life and tried to make light of it, he even participated in organizing shows for captured American and German soldiers. After the war, he worked at nightclubs as a musician and one night he performed instead of the resident stand up comedian – that’s when his real career started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Gal Gadot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Image Source: Reddit<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Israeli Wonder Woman<\/em> and mother of two Gal Gadot enlisted for her 2 years of obligatory service with Israeli Defence Forces in 2004. She was a combat instructor and instead of finding it challenging, she is grateful for the military experience, as it prepared her for her acting career. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She received her first role in Fast & Furious<\/em> in 2009 as Gisele Yashar, which was partially down to her military experience. She even performed her own stuntwork in the film – truly this boosted her forward until she took her rightful place in the DC Universe!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Jimi Hendrix<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Image Source: thevintagenews.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Guitar magician Jimi Hendrix was not really famous for his combat expertise – but he did serve in the Army, albeit not voluntarily! He had a run-in with the law because of a stolen car and he could choose between a prison sentence or military drafting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He chose the latter and was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division in Kentucky but, unsurprisingly, he proved to be unsuitable for the job. He was rebellious and constantly preoccupied with honing his guitar skills, and he ended up getting discharged after one year instead of the sentenced three, to his benefit. Military’s loss but rock music’s gain, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Tom Selleck<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Tom
Image Source: Imgur<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Hardworking actor Tom Selleck’s career took off in the 1980s with the role of Thomas Magnum, but he has military history to share way before that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Selleck was part of the California National Guard between 1967-1973 and rose to the rank of sergeant in the infantry. He is proud to call himself a veteran, volunteering as a spokesperson for the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Fund. He started a family when he finished his service and slowly, but surely rose to fame with the hit series, Magnum<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Alan Alda<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Alan
Image Source: Alan Alda with his father – Wikipedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Alan Alda, born Alphonso D’Abruzzo in New York was destined for show business through his parents – his father was an actor himself and his mother was a showgirl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After his high school studies, he was drafted into the Army during the Korean War between 1950 and 1953. He completed his obligatory six-month service and went on to pursue his acting career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Leonard Nimoy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Image Source: Twitter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Everyone’s beloved Starfleet officer, Captain Spock had combat experience on Earth, too. Actor Leonard Nimoy enlisted in the US Army Reserves at the beginning of the 50s and ended up attaining the rank of sergeant by the time of his discharge in 1955.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spent most of his Army days in Georgia at Fort McPherson and passed the time by writing and acting out screenplays for his fellow soldiers. He was in charge of a platoon that included a fellow aspiring actor whom he ended up encouraging to follow his goals. This military career served him well in his upcoming TV roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Paul Newman<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Paul
Image source: Wikipedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

American actor Paul Newman served in the Us Navy during World War II and had his eyes set on becoming a pilot, which was barred due to his colorblindness. He ended up getting training to become a radioman and rear gunner and in 1944, he was sent to Hawaii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was in the thick of the action when he was assigned to an aircraft carrier before the Battle of Okinawa. During the campaign, he and his pilot were misplaced at some point which was fateful as most of his unit aboard the carrier ended up getting killed by a kamikaze attack. He was discharged in 1946, with multiple military honors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Humphrey Bogart<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Humphrey
Image Source: Wikipedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Actor and Navy veteran Humphrey Bogart wasn’t keen on studying during his young years, so he decided to enlist instead of completing his college education. He found his success in the US Navy – he was labeled an exemplary sailor, responsible for ferrying troops back and forth between Europe and the US.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was stationed on the USS Leviathan, eventually transferring to USS Santa Olivia a year later – but he ended up missing the ship at one point. He had to turn himself in to avoid being labeled a deserter, serving 3 days in solitary confinement instead. He was still honorably discharged later that year and started pursuing his acting career in 1922.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MC Hammer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"MC
Image Source: @MCHammer \/ Twitter <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

MC Hammer – real name Stanley Kirk Burrel chose the Navy instead of a college education. He was a 3rd class petty officer and an aviation storekeeper for 3 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MC stands for “master of ceremonies” in his name, which he was, back in the navy days as well – entertaining his fellow military men with his rapping and dancing skills. Maybe this is where he got his inspiration for his unforgettable parachute pants!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Ernest Hemingway<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Ernest
Image Source: Wikipedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

American journalist Ernest Hemingway had a tough persona. The Nobel prize-winning author wrote multiple novels based on his military experiences<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He first enlisted during World War I after completing his high school education and went on to become an ambulance driver on the Italian front. He was seriously wounded in 1918 and was discharged, but this didn’t deter him from documenting the Spanish Civil War later on, as a journalist. He based two of his novels on his military experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

James Stewart<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"James
Image Source: Wikipedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

James Stewart was an accomplished actor by the time he was drafted into the US Armed Forces in 1941. He already had his private and commercial pilot license, and he ended up serving his country by training pilots, up until the point of his first successful combat mission in 1944, after which he was promoted to the rank of major.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He ended up serving for 27 years in total, eventually earning the title of brigadier general, the highest military accomplishment of any celebrity to this day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Kirk Douglas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Kirk
Image Source: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Kirk Douglas – one of the last living actors of the Golden Age of Hollywood put his acting career on hold to serve in the military.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He enlisted in 1941 shortly after the beginning of World War II and he became part of the US Navy. He was a communications officer aboard the PC-1139 submarine chaser. He served until 1944 and was discharged due to sustained injuries. He resumed his career without interruption upon traveling home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Jamie Farr<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Image Source: Pinterest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Alan Alda’s fellow MASH<\/em> actor Jamie Farr also had a record of military service behind him. He attended his basic training in Fort ord, California and he was deployed with the 6th Infantry Division in Korea and Japan, later on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was acting as military personnel in shows before his actual drafting, and continued to do so after his service, even going as far as wearing his actual dog tag from the Army at times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Robert Duvall<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Robert
Image Source: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Robert Duvall is an accomplished actor and director whose career spans more than six decades, but he also came from a prestigious military background – his father was a Rear Admiral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He served in the US Army for only a brief period, though. After the Korean war, between 1953-54 he was stationed at Fort Gordon in Georgia – during this time he acted in an amateur production of comedy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Kurt Vonnegut<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Kurt
Image Source: Wikipedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Iconic Slaughterhouse 5<\/em> writer, Kurt Vonnegut’s experiences are based on real-life events. He enlisted in 1943 after graduating from Cornell University and participated in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As it turns out, he was taken as a prisoner of war, much like his character in the novel mentioned above in 1944. He saw the horrors of this conflict first hand as he was in Dresden, Germany upon an allied bombardment – he had to participate in clearing the rubble and corpses following the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Carl Reiner<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Carl
Image Source: @CarlReinerPage \/ Facebook <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Revered comedian and screenwriter Carl Reiner developed his affinity for acting during his respectable military career. He was drafted in 1943 and served during World War II.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally he had the position of radio operator, but after an illness, he was trained as a French interpreter – this is how he got the first taste of directing as he had the chance to put on a Moli\u00e8re play at this time. After working in Hawaii as a telephone operator, he was transferred to Special Services and performed around the pacific theater for his fellow troops until 1946.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Ice-T<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Image Source: militarymachine.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Tracy Marrow – known as Ice-T by most, was motivated to enlist when his girlfriend revealed that they were expecting their first child. He stayed with the military for four years and he was a member of the 25th infantry division.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was based in Hawaii, serving as a squad leader at Schofield Barracks between 1979 and 1983, and he used this time financially stabilize himself. This paid off, as he went on to purchase one of the most successful hip-hop careers of all time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Bob Hope<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Bob
Image Source: Wikipedia<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Stand-up comedian Bob Hope already had a successful entertainment career when he joined the United Service Organizations (USO) during World War II. This organization is responsible for entertaining members of the military and Hope was one of the most active members, leading 57 tours in total.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His services spanned the duration of six wars. Bob Hope was awarded honorary veteran membership by President Bill Clinton in 1997 for his services. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Jackie Robinson<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Jackie
Image Source: Wikipedia<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

African- American professional athlete Jackie Robinson was a Major League Baseball player. He was also an activist, trying to end racial segregation during his time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He entered service in 1942 and was directed to a segregated cavalry unit in Kansas. He had many hardships trying to advance the rank in his military career, eventually standing up for himself and his fellow black soldiers. In 1944, in an incident that ended with him court-martialed, he refused to move to the back of a military bus as part of a segregation protocol. Thankfully, most of the charges were reduced against him in the end and he was able to leave with an honorable discharge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Ronald Reagan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Ronald
Image Source: Wikipedia<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of the United States, had a respectable military service behind him by the time he was elected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He enlisted in the Army Enlisted Reserve in 1937, he was appointed Second Lieutenant in the Officers Reserve Corps of the Cavalry later on. In 1942 he was ordered on active duty but due to his poor eyesight, he was classified as limited service. He served with the Army Air Force and he served until his reserve commission automatically terminated in 1953. Later on, he assumed the position of Commander-in-Chief when he became President in 1981.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Marvin Gaye<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Marvin
Image Source: Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

American singer and songwriter Marvin Gaye had only a brief encounter with military life. He dropped out of high school and enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1957, as a basic airman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He quickly found out – as well as his superiors, that he had no place in the Army, having found menial tasks difficult to perform. He was discharged after a mere 8 months and started focusing on his music career immediately afterward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Bob Barker<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Bob
Image Source: Imgur<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Retired TV show host Bob Barker served as a fighter pilot for the Navy during World War II. The outbreaking conflict interrupted his high school studies and despite joining the Army, he never got to participate because the war ended before he was assigned to an active squadron. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He is most well-known for his hosting of “The Price is Right” from 1972 to 2007, one of the longest-running game shows in American television history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Joe DiMaggio<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Joe
Image Source: Wikipedia<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Baseball star and athlete Joe DiMaggio left his money and fame behind for a short while to enlist in the US Army during World War II, enlisting in 1943.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His purpose in the Army was to uplift the morale by doing what he was the best at – playing baseball. He was assigned to Special Services and was stationed at both California\u2019s Santa Ana Air Base and Hawaii. He ended up rising to the rank of Sergeant during his time and he ended up serving until 1945, discharged because of medical issues. He continued playing professional baseball where he left off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Sammy Davis Jr.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Sammy
Image Source: Wikipedia<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sammy Davis Jr. was sheltered from how hard life was for people of color back in the day by his family. He had an extremely tough time because of this when he was drafted into the US Army at the age of 18 in 1943.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He endured constant abuse from his fellow troops just because of his skin color and was eventually pulled out and reassigned to Special Services. This helped uplift his spirit, as he performed for even those who previously assaulted him. He kept a positive way of thinking and led a stellar career afterward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Mike Farrell<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Mike
Image Source: Mike Farrell in MASH<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

American actor and activist Mike Farrell who played Captain Hunnicutt in the TV series MASH<\/em> was a member of the US Marine Corps and served in Okinawa, Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He ended up writing and co-directing, as well as acting in the popular war comedy-drama series, and although there aren’t a lot of details about his military life, he surely profited from his experience in his acting career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

J.R.R. Tolkien<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"J.R.R.
Image Source: Wikipedia<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Renowned fantasy writer J.R.R. Tolkien had an extensive military background, enduring World War I. He entered service in 1915 after completing his studies and he trained in Staffordshire for a year before having to part from his family in 1916 on a call to France.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He ended up spending most of his Army days in the country working as a signals officer and later commanding newly enlisted men. He caught trench fever in October 1916 and he was invalided back to England. This probably saved his life, as shortly after most of his battalion was wiped out by a German artillery shell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Elvis Presley<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Elvis
Image Source: Wikipedia<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

King of Rock and Roll Elvis Presley was drafted when he was at the height of his career. He ended up meeting his future wife, Priscilla Beaulieu on his deployment to Germany as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He entered service in 1958, training at Fort Hood and later that year he was assigned to the 3rd Armored Division in Germany. He rose to the rank of sergeant by the year of his discharge in 1960. He was offered entry to the Special Services unit multiple times, but he refused, wanting to be treated like a normal soldier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

J.D. Salinger<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"J.D.
Image Source: pbs.org<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

J.D. Salinger, one of the most memorable American writers, participated in World War II as an infantry soldier. He was present at three battles in total, including the fateful D-Day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During his campaign into Germany, he met Ernest Hemingway, who influenced him greatly later on. Salinger was assigned to a counter-intelligence unit because of his proficiency in the French and German languages – he interrogated prisoners of war. His wartime experiences scarred him emotionally and he never really recovered from the experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Don Knotts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Don
Image Source: Don Knotts in “The Andy Griffith Show”<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

American comedian and actor Don Knotts served in the US Army from 1943 to 1946, attaining the rank of Corporal. He provided entertainment for fellow troops in the Pacific Theater in form of variety show “Stars and Gripes”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following the termination of his military service, Knotts was awarded 6 medals in total, including the World War II Victory Medal. He got married shortly afterward and thanks to his connections in the Special Services department, he started his steady climb to fame in the entertainment business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Harrison Ford<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Image Source: sharpmagazine.com<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Legendary actor Harrison Ford’s name is recognized everywhere around the world. He didn’t make it into this list because of his military history, much rather his volunteer work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ford has had a passion for aviation and has been flying for decades. He is a spokesman of the Young Eagles<\/em> program hosted by the Experimental Aircraft Association and an honorary board member of the humanitarian aviation organization Wings of Hope<\/em>. He has also lead rescue missions on his own accord for stranded hikers multiple times – wouldn’t it be impressive to say you were saved by Han Solo himself?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Jesse Ventura<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Jesse
Image Source: Jesse Ventura in the movie “Predator”<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Multifaceted American celebrity Jesse Ventura is a real-life Navy SEAL. He finished his high school studies in 1969 and enlisted straight away, becoming part of the Underwater Demolition Team of the United States Navy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although he never participated in the actual Vietnam War, he received the Vietnam Service Medal nonetheless. He made use of his combat training and took up professional wrestling later on. He tried his hand in acting as well, eventually ending up in politics as the 38th Governor of Minnesota between 1999 and 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Johnny Carson<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Image Source: Pinterest<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Tonight Show<\/em> host Johnny Carson started serving in the U.S. Navy in 1943, stationed aboard the USS Pennsylvania. He hoped to train as a pilot but became a midshipman instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He managed to evade the thick of war but saw death face-to-face when his warship was torpedoed and he was in charge of the removal of casualties. He later served as a communications officer and maintained that the highlight of his time with the military was performing a magic trick for James Forrestal, secretary of the Navy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Pat Sajak<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Image Source: admin.ninjajournalist.com<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Famous TV show host Pat Sajak was drafted in 1968, during the Vietnam War. He was lucky enough to avoid the frontlines and worked on Armed Forces Radio. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sajak held his position for 18 months and got discharged in 1970. He muses about his Army days frequently, remembering the time he made a bit of a mess of an important transmission, namely Nixon’s greetings. In his Wheel of Fortune show, he cherishes the weeks when he can feature military personnel the most, he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

John Dillinger<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"John
Image Source: Wikipedia<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

John Dillinger was an infamous mobster after the time of his service, having evaded the police on multiple occasions and leading a criminal life in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was a rebellious person right from the start and to avoid a prison sentence for theft, he decided to enlist in the United States Navy around 1922. He was a Petty officer and Machinery Repairman assigned to the battleship USS Utah. He deserted after a few months of service and was dishonorably discharged. He resumed his criminal activities shortly after and was shot and killed in 1934.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Buster Keaton<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Buster
Image Source: Wikipedia<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Joseph Frank “Buster” Keaton was one of the leading actors in his era of cinematography. He served in the Us Army and was famous for his many antics during that time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was drafted into service in 1917 and became part of the 40th Infantry Division, eventually embarking on the ship HMS Otranto to England and then France. He developed hearing problems during his time there, eventually ending up deaf in one ear. He was continuously performing during his Army days, repeating some acts in the film The Hollywood Revue of 1929<\/em> that features the classical song Singing in the Rain<\/em>.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Steve McQueen<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Steve
Image Source: Imgur<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

American actor Steve McQueen, “The King of Cool”, was drafted into the US Army and served in the Marine Corps. He had a tumultuous military career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Initially, he was rebellious, going AWOL at some point and he was demoted to private multiple times. Later on, he embraced the disciplinary life requested of him and ended up saving the lives of five fellow soldiers on an Arctic mission. He was even assigned to the honor guard for protecting US President Harry Truman at one point. McQueen was honorably discharged in 1950.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Pat Tillman<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Pat Tillman was a professional football player with a promising athlete’s career in front of him. He was inspired to enlist because of the 9\/11 attacks – he even turned down a hefty contract offer from the Arizona Cardinals before starting his service in 2002.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He and his brother Kevin started their military training together, with both of them attending the Ranger Indoctrination Program. They were assigned to Fort Lewis, Washington and were later deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tragically, Pat Tillman was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan, 2004. He was awarded the Purple Heart medal and the rank of Corporal, posthumously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pat
Image Source: Wikipedia<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Yogi Berra<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Famous baseball player Lawrence Peter “Yogi” Berra was no exception when it comes to military service for his country. The Yankees player enlisted in 1943 and took part in the landing of Normandy as a gunner’s mate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He worked on a rocket launching boat and served during D-Day, too. At one point while the boat was ordered to shoot down incoming enemy aircraft, they accidentally shot down a friendly plane but managed to save its pilot. Yogi Berra was awarded a Purple Heart medal for his actions in World War II.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Yogi
Image Source: Wikipedia<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Fred Willard<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Actor, comedian, and writer Fred Willard is famous for his improvisation comedy. He played multiple military roles during his career and he has the experience to back that up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He graduated from the Kentucky Military Institute in 1951 and participated in the Vietnam War in the 1960s. He went on to have a widely successful career, he is best known for his roles in the films This Is Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman<\/em>, and For Your Consideration<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Image Source: IMDB<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Harvey Keitel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Pulp Fiction<\/em> actor Harvey Keitel dropped out of high school to join the Marines in 1956. He states that being part of the military was a spiritual experience for him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was only 17 at the time of entering service and he was discharged after 3 years. Keitel served in Lebanon during an important operation for which we earned a fire team leader medal. When he left the military, he started working as a court stenographer and shortly after he joined New York’s Actors Studio, beginning to land roles in theaters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Image Source: Pinterest<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

James Earl Jones<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

American actor and voice of Lion King<\/em>‘s Mufasa, James Earl Jones rose to fame after he quit his military service. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was on duty during the time of the Korean War, between 1953 and 1955. Jones expected to see active duty but instead, he was tasked to construct a cold-weather training station in Colorado. He attained the rank of first lieutenant before leaving and he was thinking about a chance to return in case his acting career didn’t work out. Thankfully it did in the end and he never had to return to service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"James
Image Source: Depositphotos<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

John Coltrane<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Jazz saxophonist John Coltrane was trying to avoid the Army so he enlisted in the Navy instead, on the day that the first atomic bomb was dropped on Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was trained at Sampson Naval Training Station before being shipped to Pearl Harbor. By the time he got to Hawaii, the Navy was already reducing its personnel, so he had plenty of time to develop his musical skills with the base swing band, Melody Masters. By the time he was discharged, he already assumed leadership of the group – his first informal session being recorded on July 13, 1946.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"John
Image Source: Wikipedia<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Don Rickles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The king of insult comedy, Don Rickles was a World War II veteran. After finishing high school, Rickles enlisted in the US Navy and was stationed aboard USS Cyrene<\/em> as a seaman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He served between 1944-1946 and was honorably discharged. He went on to study he studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and he had a fruitful and memorable comedy career. He was active in the stand-up comedy scene up until his death in 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Don
Image Source: Wikipedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Adam Driver<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Star Wars<\/em> saga’s new supervillain, Adam Driver’s military history began with the tragedy of the 9\/11 terrorist attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He decided to enlist, joined the US Marine Corps and became an 81mm mortarman. He served for almost 3 years before getting discharged because of a medical issue – shortly before his unit was supposed to deploy to Iraq. He praises his military experience for giving him clarity and purpose, even after he quit his service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Image Source: Pinterest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Owen Wilson<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You wouldn’t have expected relaxed and whimsical Owen Wilson to participate in anything military-related – but he did! He attended one of the strictest and most illustrious military schools in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He did very well as a cadet in New Mexico Military Institute but decided against pursuing a military career afterward – he learned athletics, endurance, and discipline there. Later on, he went on to obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree in English at the University of Texas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Image Source: snakkle.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Have you ever wondered if certain Hollywood actors had any military skills to employ in their action-packed movies? The answer is \u2013 yes, some of them do know the drills, serving their countries in one organization or the other. It\u2019s curious to say but this makes action hero Chuck Norris relate to someone like Gal […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":13898,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13275"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13275"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13275\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97340,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13275\/revisions\/97340"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13898"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13275"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13275"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13275"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}