Thursday, 2nd March 2023See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. He went on to become one of the most enduring and prolific . He would end up having to fight an even tougher battle [] More, What could be more mysterious than an island filled with buried treasure? When he was finally drafted in 1957, he was already an international superstar and legions of fans were dismayed, to say the least. Elvis acceptance of his draft into the United States Army only helped cement his cultural legacy that much more. More info. The singer also filmed the movie G.I. While enjoying the holidays in preparation for Christmas at the now-infamous Graceland, Uncle Sam called upon the biggest star in the world for service. Elvis Presley on the day of his induction into the army March 24, 1958. They followed him to Arkansas, and the singer receiving his G.I. Get special job alerts, offers and insider tips on making the most of your military experience in the civilian workforce. Again he politely refused, and was instead given the task of driving the commanding officer of Company D, Captain Russell. He knew that people were waiting for something big to happen, but he proved them wrong. But without joining the army, he might have never met her. Presley arranged for her and Vernon to return to Memphis on August 8. [4] After discussing each offer with Parker, Presley decided to join as a regular soldier. The Army introduced Presley to karate which he studied seriously and later incorporated into his live performances. Something which won him a great deal of respect with both his fans and detractors alike. In the meantime, Parker wrote from the United States on a nearly daily basis to Presley about how things were going back home. 1 Year-Later She Realizes Her Huge Mistake, Bebe Buell Reveals Everything About Her Rock Star Romances, The Real Reason Peter Lawford Got Kicked Out of the Rat Pack, Pam Dawber is Unrecognizable Today (Try Not to Gasp), Why Jan Smithers DISAPPEARED After WKRP in Cincinnati, Celebrities Who Died Due to Medical Malpractice, The ONE Time Dolly Parton Got Naked in Public, Rare Photos of Lynda Carter Not Suitable for All Ages, How Each Gilligans Island Cast Member Died, The Tragic Death of Robert Urich & His Wife, The Tragic Life and Demise of Angie Dickinson. After her role on that classic sitcom ended, Jan became more interested in being a mother than being an actress. 34 with "Don't Ask Me Why," each featuring his longtime gospel backing band, the . Singles were released before Elvis left for Europe, which kept him relevant and kept the money train going strong. Sergeant (E-5); Buck Sergeant (nick name). Elvis Presley served in the United States Army between March 1958 and March 1960. At that time, he went back to Memphis and recorded a few songs before heading back into training. It . Adam Brown: A SEALs Life of Courage and Redemption, Complete List: Ticonderoga-class Missile Cruisers To Retire By 2027, Nuclear Close Calls That Nearly Caused World War III, Russian Sausage Millionaire and Putin Critic Falls to His Death in India, Deadly Russian Rifle Brigade Wiped Out During War in Ukraine, Your Subscription Supports our Veteran Staff. [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. During this time, Elvis seen shopping for records. All rights reserved. Elvis Presley as a US Soldier Stationed in West Germany: 1958-1960. Presley was asked about his decision to serve as a regular soldier instead of as part of the service club. 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. Not long before he was transferred to Germany,[1] his mother, Gladys Presley died of a heart attack brought on by acute hepatitis and cirrhosis at the age of 46. On March 24, 1958, Elvis Presley was officially sworn in as a private. Verify your free subscription by following the instructions in the email sent to: Search the largest free Veteran Job board to find jobs with veteran-friendly companies. Required fields are marked *. READ MORE: Mick Jagger Dave Grohl: The story behind their Eazy Sleazy collab. The show followed widowed aeronautical engineer named Steven Douglas and his three sons. Special adviser will analyze . He was actually grateful for the opportunity to serve his country. Refusing special treatment, Elvis turned them down, and after getting a deferment so he could finish filming King Creole, he entered the Army as a regular GI at Ft. Chaffee on March 24, 1958. Ninth. Elvis looked confused. [3], Two weeks after finishing King Creole, Presley reported for his induction on March 24, 1958, a day dubbed "Black Monday" for his fans by the press. During his vacation in Paris he would take private lessons . He was the man that elevated rock-n-roll like no other and created the rockabilly movement that still exists, in a much more niche way, today. 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. Circa 1958, American singer and actor Elvis Presley sits in a restaurant wearing his US Army uniform. 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. He was in the middle of making a name in film and recording around this time, and Parker wouldnt want to lose the momentum of his career. But Elvis service actually ended up being incredibly beneficial for the singers career due to the clout that he received from fans and detractors alike. Elvis Presley served in the U.S. Army from March 24, 1958, to March 5, 1960. Elvis Presley woke up on the morning of March 24, 1958, as the king of rock and roll and by the end of the day, he was a Private in the US Army. But alas, you take the good with the bad. But if you've been in for more than one tour, your life is about to change substantially. According to Alanna Nashs book The Colonel, Tom was instrumental in convincing Elvis to join up. Blues, made during his stay in Germany. . Speaking of Elviss pain at his mothers passing, his friend Judy Spreckels said: I have never seen anyone as sad as Elvis was. Like all of us, Elvis Presley's life was marked by different stages. His first instructor was a German shotokan stylist named Juergen Seydel who taught Elvis at his off-base housing in Nauheim until 1958. One afternoon, after a heated argument with her husband Vernon, Gladys collapsed from exhaustion. [13] Witnesses recall that Presley took an instant liking to Priscilla, and the pair were practically inseparable during the rest of his time in Germany. Colonel Tom Parker, Presley's manager, was well aware of his client's draft status and how it could affect his career. Elvis Presley in the barracks (Image: Getty) Elvis rejoined the army, despite this sorrow, and soon his luck changed when he was taken to Germany with his troop. As he finally seen as a positive role model for the youth instead of just a nuisance. "Stuck On You" was the first hit single by Elvis Presley after he returned from two years of military service in the US army. Answer (1 of 9): Elvis was drafted in 1958. Paul Beaulieu married the former Anna Lillian Iversen-Wagner (b.1926), on September 11, 1948. He was inducted in March 1958, two weeks after wrapping his movie King Creole, for which he sang part of the soundtrack. The timing could not have been worse. Elvis Presley first became addicted to amphetamines sometime in his early twenties. Unlike other soldiers, all eyes were on Elvis. Rock stars are infamous for their insatiable appetites for all things in excess. Before the gold lam Nudie suit, Elvis rocked a red Nudie suit for the 1957 movie Loving You. At Fort Dix, New Jersey he was honorably discharged from active duty on March 5, 1960, receiving a mustering-out check of $109.54. One nice thing about the military was that you got thirty days of paid vacation (leave) each year. Facts Verse Which is a vastly greater sum of money when adjusted for inflation. During his active military career Mr. Presley served as a member of two different armor battalions. [11] 20th Century Fox had agreed upon a $200,000 fee for one Presley film, with options on a second for $250,000 and a 50/50 split on profits. From expensive cars to enormous mansions to copious quantities [] More, While Peter Lawford might the least well-known member of the Rat Pack, he is sometimes referred to as the Man Who Kept The Secrets due to his secretive efforts to connect Marilyn Monroe and his brother-in-law JFK. The deferment period also allowed Elvis time to record several songs. But in 1958 he made a surprising decision to join the US Army, shocking his fans. 32nd Tank Battalion, 3rd Armor Division in Friedberg, Germany, where he attained the rank of sergeant . He was the rebellious King of Rock 'n' Roll, but Elvis Presley didn't shirk his duty when he was drafted by the U.S. Army and gained the more modest title of "sergeant." Buddy Blouin is a content writer that loves creating through the written word. After receiving his education at the Pacific Military Academy, Mickey Rooney served in the U.S. Army from 1944 to 1946. This would include the evolution of sound. The promotion to Specialist 4th Class took place on June 1, 1959. Though he managed to defer service in order to finish his work on the film King Creole, Presley would go off and become a Soldier. This would be part of the mounting reasons that Elvis Presleys service in the U.S. Army helped his popularity skyrocket. While he was living in Bad Nauheim, he met his future wife, Priscilla Beaulieu. Yes, Elvis Presleys military career happened, as he was drafted into the U.S. Army on December 20, 1957. Oak Island is a privately owned island that sits off the coast of Nova Scotia in Canada. Having starred in such television programs as VEGA$ and Spenser: For Hire. Anna brought to the marriage a toddler daughter Priscilla, from a previous marriage. Your email address will not be published. These tracks would give way to more ballad-centric tunes that resonated with older listeners. But one that he was ready and willing to meet. At what rank was Elvis Presley upon his discharge from the army? Elvis returned to service on August 24, and sent overseas to see active duty the next month. It has been reported that Elvis privately feared that his stint in the military would negatively affect the momentum he had building in his music and film career, but he needn't have worried -- over fifty years and a multitude of hits later, his legendary status and legacy as the King of Rock 'n' Roll is still secure. And was likely grateful that the war was about to take his mind off of it. 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