CELEBRITIES WHO RISKED THEIR LIVES SERVING IN THE MILITARY

ELVIS PRESLEY

Shortly after Elvis Presley was hailed as the King of Rock

and Roll, he was inducted into the Fort Chaffee U.S. Army

as a private and was assigned near Ford Smith in

Arkansas. After his basic training at Fort Hood, he became

part of the 3rd Armoured Division in Friedberg, Germany

and was paid ordinary wages. He donated most of his

earnings to charity.

TONY BENNETT

Italian American singer Anthony Dominick Benedetto,

more popularly known as Tony Bennett, was drafted into

the United States Army during World War II and

underwent special training at Fort Dix and Fort Robinson

to be promoted as an infantry rifleman. Sometime in

1945, he was also assigned as a replacement to the

255th Infantry Regiment of the 63rd Infantry Division.

ALAN ALDA

Born on January 28, 1936, American actor and director

Alan Alda finished his studies in Paris and was an active

Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) member.

Shortly after he graduated college, he decided to join

the US Army Reserve and underwent basic training

as a gunnery officer within a period of six months.

He also served for a year at Fort Benning in Georgia.

CHARLTON HESTON

Film, theatre and television actor Charlton Heston has

always been a political activist. In 1944, he enlisted in

the United States Army Air Forces and became a radio

operator and an aerial gunner at B-25 Mitchell, which

was then stationed around the Alaskan Aleutian Islands

with the Eleventh Air Force. He served the military for

two years and became a Staff Sergeant before he rose

to fame as an actor.

TOM SELLECK

Best known for his private investigator role in the

television series Magnum P.I., Tom Selleck was once

part of the 160th Infantry Regiment of the

California Army National Guard where he served as

a soldier. In the course of his stay in the military,

his unit was stationed in Los Angeles in order to

control the historical six-day L.A. riot known

as Watts Riots.

ERNEST BORGNINE

Italian immigrant and multi-awarded actor Ernest Borgnine

joined the United States Navy sometime in 1935,

shortly after he graduated high school from

James Hill House High School in Connecticut.

After he was discharged in 1941, he enlisted again

to serve the military, particularly the United States Navy.

Following the bombing of Pearl Harbour, he was

promoted as the gunner’s mate 1st class rank

and held several other positions.

SIDNEY POITIER

Sir Sidney Poitier is a Bahamian-American actor who

was named as one of the Greatest Male Stars of All Time

in 1999. At age 15, he moved to New York City and

worked as a dishwasher and waiter. His desire to serve

the United States Army during his late adolescence

came after reading a newspaper and learning about

the need for more military volunteers in the United States.

STEVE MCQUEEN

Born Terence Stephen McQueen, Steve McQueen is an

American actor best known for his role in The King of Cool.

In 1947, he joined the United States Marine Corps where

he was immediately promoted as Private First Class.

He was also assigned to serve an armoured unit but

was demoted because of his rebellious behaviour.

After 41 days in military prison, he was assigned as

the security honour guard of the private yacht of

President Harry Truman.

CLARK GABLE

American actor William Clark Gable joined the U.S.

Army Air Corps in 1942 as a gunner on an aircrew,

following the death of his wife. He underwent several

trainings and entered the USAAF OCS Class 42-E

months after, where he was commissioned as

2nd Lieutenant. In 1943, he also headed a six-man

team at RAF Polebrook 351st in the United Kingdom.