It's not often that you hear about celebrities who served in the military. After all, many of them have become famous for their acting, singing, or other showbiz activities and are usually too busy to serve. However, there are definitely some stars out there who either served before becoming famous or decided to take a break from their celebrity lives and enlist in the armed forces.
Many famous American military veterans went on to have illustrious careers in the movie entertainment industry. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly actor Clint Eastwood served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and almost perished in a plane crash. The plane landed in the ocean near Fort Ord, CA, but Eastwood was able to swim to safety. Roughly 40 years later, he won his first two Oscars for Unforgiven. Other well-known actors who have served in the military include Paul Newman, Morgan Freeman, and Chuck Norris.Â
Some surprising celebrities who also served include musicians and rock stars, such as Jimi Hendrix and Nate Dogg. Other celebrity vets include actor Tom Selleck, comedian Sinbad, and rapper Ice-T.
Do you think that serving in the military gave these famous people the discipline they needed to succeed in their careers?
Oliver Stone served in Vietnam and made Platoon based on his experiences. He joined the United States Army in 1967, where he volunteered to be sent to fight in Vietnam. During his time there, he earned numerous awards such as the Bronze Star with "V" device for heroism in combat, and the Purple Heart medal. After leaving the military, he went on to pursue a career in filmmaking.
Clint Eastwood served in the US Army from 1951-1953 during the Korean War. He was initially assigned to an artillery unit in California before being sent overseas as a swimming instructor at Fort Ord, on Monterey Bay. He also worked as a lifeguard and boat operator for two years at Fort Ord's beach club, where he earned his nickname "Samson".
Elvis Presley served in the US Army from 1958 to 1960. He was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas and Bad Nauheim, Germany, and achieved the rank of sergeant. During his time in service, he won several awards including a Good Conduct Medal and Marksman-Observer Badge with Rifle Bar. Elvis' military service also provided inspiration for many of his later songs.
Morgan Freeman served in the United States Air Force from 1955 to 1959. During his time there, he worked as an Automatic Tracking Radar Repairman and attained the rank of Airman 1st Class. He was also stationed at several bases during his service, including Misawa Air Base in Japan.
Chuck Norris is a renowned actor and martial artist who served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. During his time in service, he was assigned to Osan Air Base, South Korea. While there, Chuck Norris became an expert at Tang Soo Do (a Korean martial art), which earned him several awards and recognitions for his skills as a fighter pilot.
Pat Sajak, best known for his role on the long-running game show "Wheel of Fortune", served as a disc jockey in Vietnam with the U.S. Army's Armed Forces Radio Service from 1968 to 1970. After being discharged, he went back to college and worked at various radio stations before getting his big break in television!
