After a short press conference arranged by Parker, which also involved Presley walking up and down the plank of the USSGeneral George M. Randall eight times for cameras, the ship set sail and Presley would spend the rest of his service overseas. In 1948, Elvis and his parents moved to Memphis, Tennessee where he attended Humes High School. His two-year stint took him overseas, and he served in West Germany from October 1, 1958 until March 2, 1960 as a member of the 1st . He left active duty at Fort Dix, New Jersey, on March 5, 1960, and received his discharge from the Army Reserve on March 23, 1964. Having a successful career in the military is a major accomplishment. Below are nine quick facts about Presleys time in the Army. It is now available for streaming exclusively on HBO Max beginning September 2. After some early dabblingas a blues singer, Elvis had hooked up with Sun Records and its famous owner Sam Phillips, and with his strutting yet sensitive rockabilly style, had rattled off a number of hits by 1957 that are still classic to this day: "Heartbreak Hotel," "Blue Suede Shoes," and "Love Me Tender.". Facts Verse On March 24, 1958, Presley was sworn in and processed with others into the Army before boarding a bus to Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. Over the course of his military career, Elvis had risen to the rank of sergeant. Before serving in World War II, Elvis had certainly been one of the biggest celebrities in the world. And had some time to relax with his family back in Memphis before officially inducted. READ MORE: Mick Jagger Dave Grohl: The story behind their Eazy Sleazy collab. Answer (1 of 5): Written accounts agree that Elvis was discharged from the US Army as a Sergeant E-5 in March 1960, having been promoted from Corporal in February. During his service, Presley's life was affected in many ways. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Elvis Presley's army service began this week for the first time. His arrival was a major press event, and many fans showed up to witness it. He then finished his senior year at L.C. He left active duty at Fort Dix, New Jersey, on March 5, 1960, and received his discharge from the Army Reserve on March 23, 1964. He was honorably discharged, having achieved the rank of Sergeant-E5. He was inducted in March 1958, two weeks after wrapping his movie King Creole, for which he sang part of the soundtrack. The show followed widowed aeronautical engineer named Steven Douglas and his three sons. As mentioned previously, the film went on to become a personal favorite of Elvis. Besides Elvis family and friends, his manager was also there to see him off before he left to become inducted. Elvis was promoted to various ranks during his army service from 1958 to 1960, as part of his employment and duties. Its good that he did, as the film has gone down in history as one of the singers most popular movies, as well as his own favorite. While Elvis couldve arguably used some of his connections to try and get out of serving in the war. January 19, 2022, 6:17 pm, by June 20, 2021, 9:06 am, by The promotion to Specialist 4th Class took place on June 1, 1959. After initially being turned down and threatening to go AWOL, Presley was eventually given permission to leave on August 12. 6. Its hard for him to get used to the new location. Elvis in Germany At 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month attained a special significance in the post-war years. Well? he persisted. On November 27, 1958, Elvis was promoted to private by his superior, Captain Edward Betts The promotion to Specialist 4th Class took place on June 1, 1959. Elvis Presley first became addicted to amphetamines sometime in his early twenties. On March 24, 1958, Elvis Presley was officially sworn in as a private. On the first Hot 100, dated Aug. 4, 1958, Presley ranked at No. Suggested read: Before He Was a Star, Young Tony Bennett Was a Hero, Filed Under: Military History Tagged With: celebrities, military history. [20], On March 2, with Priscilla in attendance, Presley waved goodbye to the fans and media of Germany and flew home to the U.S. On the way, his plane stopped at Prestwick Airport in Scotland to refuel; this was the one and only time that Presley would set foot in the United Kingdom, (although being confined to an airport, he was technically never legally in the country.). During his time serving, Elvis slept in the snow and ate rations, both of which were new experiences for the singer. [3] However, Parker had no intention of allowing Presley to sign up for Special Services, since Presley would have received no compensation for these performances besides standard military pay. 'Viva Las Vegas' (1964) Flashy, gaudy, trashy and thin on story, just like the Vegas myth. Soon after, he was promoted to the private first class and specialist fourth class in June 1959. The story . It's no secret Elvis adored young women, and when he met Priscilla Wagner, everything. And had proudly submitted his draft card as soon as he had turned 18 years old. Your email address will not be published. Elvis Aaron Presley, in the humblest of circumstances, was born to Vernon and Gladys Presley in a two-room house in Tupelo, Mississippi on January 8, 1935. Elvis Presley. But in 1958 he made a surprising decision to join the US Army, shocking his fans. Unfortunately, it wasnt the only thing he was introduced to during his service, as it was in West Germany that he became addicted to barbiturates and stimulantssomething that would someday lead to the destruction of his marriage, eventually, death. Armed with a substantial amount of unreleased material, they kept up a regular stream of successful releases. Elvis was first exposed to Karate in 1958 after he was drafted into the Army and stationed in Germany. There is no insignia on the sleeves for this rank, as seen on the photos below: On November 27, 1958, Elvis was promoted to Private First Class. [5] Hodge, who had enjoyed some success as an entertainer himself before being drafted, encouraged Presley to help him put together a show for the troops. Before the gold lam Nudie suit, Elvis rocked a red Nudie suit for the 1957 movie Loving You. From expensive cars to enormous mansions to copious quantities [] More, While Peter Lawford might the least well-known member of the Rat Pack, he is sometimes referred to as the Man Who Kept The Secrets due to his secretive efforts to connect Marilyn Monroe and his brother-in-law JFK. In the meantime, Parker wrote from the United States on a nearly daily basis to Presley about how things were going back home. The state had no organized militia, and the honorary title was given in return for. Box 378 Red Hook, New York 12571 United States. Whether you want to learn more about other famous veterans, polish up your resume, find veteran job fairs in your area, or connect with employers looking to hire veterans, Military.com can help. Elvis manager Colonel Tom Parker, and hes not too happy about the fact that his most prestigious and highest earning client had drafted. January 27, 2023, 6:25 pm, Trending [5] Presley was given a physical and assigned army serial number 53310761, before being sworn in and made leader of his group. His pay now increases to $ 122.31. Fellow soldiers have attested to Presley's wish to be seen as an able, ordinary soldier, despite his fame, and to his generosity while in the service. According to Alanna Nashs book The Colonel, Tom was instrumental in convincing Elvis to join up. Before serving, the King continued to build a younger audience, whereas some of his antics were not well received by a more conservative, older audience. Decades later these recordings would be released officially on titles such as Private Presley and Home Recordings. Memphis police find 11 shooting victims over two scenes in Whitehaven. Elvis began going through basic training, and didnt take his first leave until June. In May, a biographical musical drama film about the life of Elvis directed by Baz Luhrmann premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, featuring actor Austin Butler playing the titular role and Tom Hanks as Col. Tom Parker, followed by a theatrical release in Australia and the US. [5][6], In early August, while in Texas with her son, Gladys Presley took ill.[7] She had recently increased her alcohol intake to cope with her son's fame and army commitments, and she had also begun using diet pills to attempt to lose weight. [11], Although Presley's manager had forbidden him from performing while in the army, pressure from RCA for him to record new material led to Parker sending a microphone and a tape recorder to Germany. THE GENEROSITY OF ELVIS. While there could be many reasons for Elvis agreeing to his conscription, there is one which seems to be the most likely: the influence of Elvis manager, Colonel Tom Parker. Between March 28 and September 17, 1958, he belonged to Company A, 2d Medium Tank Battalion, 37th Armor, stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. Hes honorably discharged from service on March 5, and subsequently travelled back to his home state of Tennessee. Another reason, according to Peter Browns Down at the End of Lonely Street: Life and Death of Elvis Presley, Colonel Tom worried about how Elvis reputation would be affected if he took an easy route in the Army, rather than serving like everyone else. haircut became a major press event that was seen by eyes around the world. When America was entering into World War II, music legend Elvis Presley was just reaching the peak of his success in the entertainment industry. This would begin an 18-month period of Elvis serving in Company D, 32nd Tank Battalion, 3rd Armor Division while stationed in Friedberg, Germany. He trained at Fort Hood, Texas, but was able to take breaks to record music, meaning he had a back catalogue ready for his return. To understand Elvis Presleys military career and separate what was happening in the public eye would be a disservice to the events that occurred. Presley arrived at Fort Hood, Texas on March 24, 1958 and was assigned to the 2nd Armored Division's "Hell on Wheels.". And the two went on to become married several years later. With that said, the timing for young Presley wasn't the greatest, as he was experiencing a rise to stardom seldom seen before or since in popular music. Two days later, on March 5, Presley was officially discharged from active duty with his service officially notated as Honorable. Special adviser will analyze . THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING VETERAN JOURNALISM - JOIN SOFREP+ , PO Box 1077 MURFREESBORO, Tennessee 37133 United States, P.O. Actually, that's the only way it could be. People were expecting me to mess up, to goof up in one way or another. January 28, 2023, 4:29 pm, by When Presley was told that he would have to serve as a regular soldier, he was furious that Parker failed to get him out of the draft. This rank gets one stripe on the uniform sleeve. While he was living in Bad Nauheim, he met his future wife, Priscilla Beaulieu. According to a 1985 interview with People magazine, Priscilla was introduced to Elvis by another officer, but the 14-year-old was very shy about meeting her icon. G.I. At Fort Dix, New Jersey he was honorably discharged from active duty on March 5, 1960, receiving a mustering-out check of $109.54. The United States used to require all able-bodied, healthy young men to register for the draft in the military and serve for at least two years, and the 18-year-old Elvis Aaron Presley did just that in 1953. When Elvis Presley walked off an army troop ship in Bremerhaven, West Germany on October 1, 1958, he was only 23 years old. [citation needed], On October 1 the USS General George M. Randall arrived in Germany and Presley was once again offered the chance to join Special Services. While Elvis felt that the music industry may have changed a little bit while hes gone. . Before entering the Army, Presley had caused national outrage with his rock and roll music. [7] The next day Gladys' condition worsened so rapidly that she was rushed to a hospital. Tom did his best to keep releasing singles while Elvis was serving overseas. Military career of musician Elvis Presley, Gaar, Gillian G. "Ernst Jorgensen: Chronicler of Elvis' Life. Elvis received his draft notice on December 20, asked for his deferment on December 24. ELVIS PRESLEY in GERMANY Elvis in ArmyDecember 20 1957 Elvis Presley is drafted while spending the Christmas at Graceland March 7, 1960 Elvis Presley arrived back in Memphis, after 2 years in the U.S. Army. Facts Verse Elvis was given emergency leave to visit her, arriving in Memphis on August 12, but she died on August 14, 1958, of heart failure at age 46. Later in Elvis multi-year military career, he bought a house to share with his grandmother and father slightly off the boundaries of his base in Germany. How 'Elvis' highlights his complicated history with Black music. [6], Presley spent four days at Fort Chaffee before being transferred to Fort Hood, Texas. These tracks would give way to more ballad-centric tunes that resonated with older listeners. According to Milton Bowers, head of the draft board and angered by the public outcry, Presley "would have automatically gotten the extension [anyway] if he hadn't been Elvis Presley the superstar". Presley's leave was extended by five days on August 18, and when he finally left to return to Fort Hood he left instructions that nothing in his mother's room was to be altered. [3] Parker explained to Presley that this was a situation neither of them could refuse. Elvis Presley was in the military as a sergeant, just as he was as a King. RecPak is a meal replacement for the outdoors that saves you weight, space and time in the most challenging environments, just add water. Ultimately, its regarded that his time as a Soldier would also begin what would become his demise. 2.3k Views. Along the way he ends up in a love. Ninth. Elvis looked confused. Presley was soon a ubiquitous presence-on the radio, where he scored eight more No. [17] The army also introduced Presley to karate, which he studied seriously, later including it in his live performances. Apparently, they arent subscribers to the old adage that too much of a good thing can actually be a bad thing. Barrett products are used by civilians, sport shooters, law enforcement agencies, the United States military, and more than 75 State Department-approved countries around the world. ", By February 1960 Elvis had been promoted to sergeant (E-5), and he finished his 18-month stint in Germany in March of that year. Elvis was a SERGEANT in. Elvis Presley, who died 44 years ago this month, was not a drug abuser in the typical rock'n'roll lifestyle sense, a new book claims, but he was medicating to address a series of congenital. However, there is an anomaly, photographs of Elvis arriving home in M. Though shes only fourteen years old at the time, Elvis introduced to Priscilla Beaulieu by one of his army friends. With robust designs and vintage classic style, discover the heritage of military timepieces today! This time was incredibly important for him, with it marking the death and meeting of two. Presley had received his draft notice on December 20, 1957 and, according to History.com, received one draft deferment, delaying his entry into the Army until March 24 of the following year. Anna brought to the marriage a toddler daughter Priscilla, from a previous marriage. Her death devastated both Elvis and his father, as chronicled in Peter Guralnicks book Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley. Besides the Good Conduct merit, he also earned a medal for expert marksmanship all by himself. Presley was drafted into the United States Army in December 1957; on March 24, 1958, he entered the Army at the . Before entering the U.S. Army, Presley had caused national outrage with his rock and roll music. Well, he said, what have we here? By the time that Elvis had drafted into the army, he already a bit of a legend in his own time. Support Veteran Journalism . Though he managed to defer service in order to finish his work on the film King Creole, Presley would go off and become a Soldier. Elvis Presley swapped his plush $100,000 mansion for an Army barracks Monday after he breezed through a physical examination and was officially inducted into the Army. Facts Verse The Navy, Air Force, and even The Pentagon were hoping to be the choice for the King. Facts Verse Upon his arrival, he was sent to . Because of this, Elvis induction into the United States Army did a lot to help him garner the respect of the people. On January 8, Presley's twenty-second birthday, he was declared 1-A by the Memphis Draft Board; physically fit and likely to be drafted some time in the next eight months. Comment down below to share whether you think Elvis deserves respect for his time in the United States Army, or if you think he spent too much time on his improvised musical jam sessions and not enough time defending America. He was the rebellious King of Rock 'n' Roll, but Elvis Presley didn't shirk his duty when he was drafted by the U.S. Army and gained the more modest title of "sergeant." E-4 is not an unusual rank for a trained tanker, as Elvis was. On another trip, Elvis met 14-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu, the daughter of an Army officer, and he immediately began dating her. Copyright 2023 Military.com. More info. But without joining the army, he might have never met her. But if you've been in for more than one tour, your life is about to change substantially. Later he was assigned to the Third Armored 'Spearhead' Division, and stationed in Friedberg, Germany -- it was here that he met Priscilla Beaulieu, who would eventually become his wife over seven years later. The deferment period also allowed Elvis time to record several songs. It . You can too, by following these critical steps. Like everybody else, Elvis started his Army service as a Private in March 1958. At the time of his draft he was the most well-known name in the world of entertainment. [7], After training at Fort Hood Presley was assigned to the 1st Medium Tank Battalion, 32d Armor, 3d Armored Division, at Ray Barracks, Germany, where he served as an armor intelligence specialist. When did Elvis Presley join the army? December 13, 2021, 6:22 am It was here he met the. This would be part of the mounting reasons that Elvis Presleys service in the U.S. Army helped his popularity skyrocket. Elvis stationed in Friedberg, Germany. Elvis Presley served in the U.S. Army for two years and while most biographical accounts seem to quickly skim through the "army years," author Trina Young argues that this period was perhaps the most significant and life-changing time in The King of Rock and Roll's life. According to the singer, his time during service was a challenge. On January 8, 1957 (the King's 22nd birthday), the Memphis Draft Board announced that Elvis had been chosen under the current selective service system to serve two years of active duty and four years in the Reserves. Presley, not interested in dinner with someone he knew was considerably older, sent his father in his place. 14 Goethestrasse, soon to become the then Germany's most celebrated private address. Elvis returned from Germany in 1960. But soon after, he was back defending America. Furthermore, each performance would have been recorded and filmed for sale to television stations worldwide. Unlike the rest of us, his stages are crisply defined like action figure special editions. When he was finally drafted in 1957, he was already an international superstar and legions of fans were dismayed, to say the least. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. [9][5] He left Fort Hood on September 19, headed for Brooklyn Army Terminal in New York where he would ship out to Germany on September 22. At night, he was known to host parties at his off-base residence and play music with friends. There will be three or four girls, one French, one Italian and two Germans. trip beyond the USA and Canada, courtesy of his local draft board in Memphis, Tennessee. Charlie went on to work with Elvis in his musical career after both of them returned overseas, and he stayed a key member of Elvis band until the latters death. Priscilla Presley career: What films was Priscilla in after Elvis? Presley accepted his request, but only agreed to play piano in the background; Parker had drilled into him that there would be no public performances of any kind during his service. Mini Bio (1) Elvis Aaron Presley was born on January 8, 1935 in East Tupelo, Mississippi, to Gladys Presley (ne Gladys Love Smith) and Vernon Presley (Vernon Elvis Presley). THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING VETERAN JOURNALISM - JOIN SOFREP+ SUS DONACIONES AL HOSPITAL ST. JUDE. Elvis was stationed at Ft. Alice Cooper meeting with Elvis Presley nearly became a real horror story. Feeling that he had a professional obligation to finish the film. Facts Verse Local ID: 111-SC-570995 ( NAID: 266778417) Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 - August 16, 1977) is widely known for his extraordinary music, performance style, acting career, and worldwide fame. Elvis Presley applied for United States Selective Service and received license #40-86-35-16. His natural hair color was sandy blonde, and he dyed it jet black. [11] Paramount, too, had signed deals to produce a number of new Presley films after his release; what would eventually become G.I. [22] Dee and Vernon eventually married in 1960, with her children becoming stepbrothers to Presley. [3] He knew that two years out of the limelight would mean hard work when he returned, and so he gave his all in that film to show the world that he had the potential to return as a serious, dramatic actor. March 29, 2021, 4:49 am, by Although the singers time overseas might not have been all that it cracked up to be by the singers many adorers. Blues, made during his stay in Germany. He had been promoted to sergeant a month before. Parker had arranged for enough material and merchandise to be available to keep Presley's name in the public arena during his two years in the service. While youre at it, ubscribe to the channel if youd like to be among the first to know when more Facts Verse videos are on their way! He left active duty at. His secret drug abuse wasnt uncovered until later, as he went through his service with less drama, nor didnt commit any serious reprimands as some of the public eye expected from him. Every service member leaves the military eventually. He was inducted at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas and reached the rank of Sergeant before being honorably discharged on March 5, 1960. As a result, he became dependent on stimulants and barbiturates. As his famously tousled hair was shaved down to regulation length, he cracked, "Hair today, gone tomorrow." He was now living off post, in his own house, with his mother, father, grandmother, and friend Lamar Fike; soldiers who had dependents living off post were allowed to live with them. Weve come a long way since the time of Elvis Presleys military days, but its still a humbling reminder that we all have a responsibility to help those reentering civilian life through support and resources for mental and physical health. The singer also filmed the movie G.I. He was glad to have the opportunity to try it out. Blues is a 1960 American musical comedy film directed by Norman Taurog and starring Elvis Presley and Juliet Prowse.The movie was filmed at Paramount Pictures studio, with some pre-production scenery shot on location in Germany before Presley's release from the army. March 24, 1958: Elvis is inducted into the army in Memphis. The King of Rock and Roll continues to draw heads through biopics, anniversary releases, merchandising, and much more. Dubbed the "King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Actually, that's the only way it could be. 2023 The SOFREP Media Group. . [13] Fans would congregate outside the house to see Presley as he came and went to work, and a sign was put up stating that autographs would be given between 7:30 and 8 p.m.[13], On January 20, 1960, Presley was promoted to sergeant. This same addiction caused his death at the age of 42 in 1977.[2]. However, Colonel Tom convinced him these were not the avenues for his act, partly because they would include performing for free, which was not part of the Colonels way. This affected the singer not only during his service, but it actually continues to affect his legacy to this day. Required fields are marked *. Parker was given the title of colonel in the Louisiana State Militia by Louisiana governor Jimmie Davis in 1948. Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox, Revolutionized American Warfare, Taylor Sheridan Is Taking on the Military World With New Spy Thriller, Mission Daybreak Rewards Those Fighting Against Veteran Suicide With Millions, Volunteers Needed for the Million Veteran Program. January 27, 2023, 7:23 pm, by The next day, his friends and family saw him off as he headed out to Fork Chaffee, Arkansas. Feeling that he had been promoted to sergeant a month before certainly one. Residence and play music with friends that his elvis presley military rank serving, Elvis 14-year-old... 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