[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. But the date postponed to March 24 after the deferment. Elvis henceforth receives a salary of $ 109.37. Facts Verse In letters to friend Alan Fortas, Presley described his homesickness and insisted that he hated the training. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Elvis Aaron Presley [a] (January 8, 1935 - August 16, 1977), often referred to mononymously as Elvis, was an American singer, actor and Sergeant in the United States Army. 1,593 Views. b) He met his future wife, Priscilla Beaulieu (who at the time was 14). Furthermore, each performance would have been recorded and filmed for sale to television stations worldwide. [5] After being assigned to Company A, 2d Medium Tank Battalion, 37th Armor, Presley completed basic training by June. Two months later, he was granted emergency leave to see his ailing mother, whom he deeply adored. He also became reliant on barbiturates and stimulants. Between March 28 and September 17, 1958, he belonged to Company A, 2d Medium Tank Battalion, 37th Armor, stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. Get the best viral stories straight into your inbox! He went on to become one of the most enduring and prolific . According to the Washington Post, this idea ultimately sat well with Elvis, who was reported as saying: People were expecting me to mess up, to goof up in one way or another. They followed him to Arkansas, and the singer receiving his G.I. With him claiming it to be the absolute best of the 31 films that he starred in during his career. Popular, by It . And has gone down in history as the first of his kind. His time was brief, and Elvis Presley's military rank would peak as an Army Sergeant (E-5). Obama's State of the Union: A Jobs Analysis, How Not Having a 9-to-5 Job Can Fit Your Lifestyle, Why the Nonprofit World Can Provide a Great Job Resource, Sign up for a free Military.com membership, NCOA, Military.com Join Up for Improved Veteran Job Fairs, Military Skills Translator: Army Armor Officer, Lies They Tell Transitioning Veterans: Veteran Career Fairs Don't Work. He said, "I was in a funny position. And so [] More, Sex, Drugs, and Rock n Roll. 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. Despite their age gap, they kept in touch, and after Elvis left the army in 1960, he had Priscilla join him at Graceland. [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. [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. Elvis received news that his mother not doing well. It's an amazing-looking outfit topped with a neckerchief and an acoustic guitar. To his credit, he did not try to use his celebrity to evade the draft, and served his two years honorably, achieving the rank of sergeant. Rock stars are infamous for their insatiable appetites for all things in excess. Presley had recorded a handful of songs before he left for overseas to cover his time away, but RCA was worried that they would run out of material before March 1960. He still remained involved with music in his free time, cutting a five-song record in Memphis during a two-week leave. Many parents, religious leaders, and teachers groups welcomed his draft into the military. Which was King Creole. Many people still hold Elvis time in the army up to a critical eye and question whether or not the singer was truly the hero that many make him out to be. All Rights Reserved. His arrival at Fort Chaffee became a major media event, with hundreds of fans greeting him as soon as he stepped out of the bus. . Humes High School and, shortly after graduation, began what would become his illustrious career as an artist. [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. While fans around the country were upset by the news, parents and teachers groups were ecstatic; they viewed Presley as a menace to society. 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. 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. Actually, that's the only way it could be. After buying his off-base property, Elvis continued working in the day but began having lavish parties at night. At the end of 1956, he had already charted more top-100 hits than any performer since the list had been invented, and his handsome looks had scored him roles in movies such as Jailhouse Rock -- and that's not even mentioning his legendary appearances on the Ed Sullivan television show, which led to near-riots by the studio audience and an order from the show's producers to show him performing "from the waist up" so America's youth wouldn't be corrupted by his gyrating hips. [5] Eddie Fadal, another of Presley's friends, remembers that Presley would worry about his career, fearing it was all over. [23], On September 13, 1959, airman Currie Grant, who had met Presley a couple of months earlier, introduced him to 14-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu during a party at Bob's home. Though shes only fourteen years old at the time, Elvis introduced to Priscilla Beaulieu by one of his army friends. [3] Parker explained to Presley that this was a situation neither of them could refuse. [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. On November 27, 1958, Elvis was promoted to private by his superior, Captain Edward Betts. Presley politely told both parties that he would consider their offers. Parker, with the permission of the army, had arranged for news crews from around the world to be on hand to report Presley's entry into the army. 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. His first instructor was a German shotokan stylist named Juergen Seydel who taught Elvis at his off-base housing in Nauheim until 1958. 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. It was a friend of Elvis who would later introduce a teenage Priscilla to fellow military serviceman and entertainer Elvis Presley, evolving. Elvis accepted the deferment not so much for his own sake but for the crews. He knew that people were waiting for something big to happen, but he proved them wrong. When America was entering into World War II, music legend Elvis Presley was just reaching the peak of his success in the entertainment industry. Before entering the Army, Presley had caused national outrage with his rock and roll music. While Elvis military career might not have seen the legendary singer acting like an all-out war movie hero, it is admirable that he didnt try to neglect his duty to serve his country like some other stars of the time. 2023 The SOFREP Media Group. 1 singles between 1957 and 1959, on television, and in movie theaters, beginning in 1956 with his screen debut . According to Alanna Nashs book The Colonel, Tom was instrumental in convincing Elvis to join up. So, it shouldnt really be that big of a surprise that, with numbers like those, celebrities would face the same risk of dying [] More, The Truth About Elvis Presleys Military Career, Kids Today Will Never Appreciate This About the 70s, Scientists Discovered Evidence That Exposes An Ancient Lie About Woolly Mammoths, Handlers Thought This Owl Was Male For 23 Years Then He Laid An Egg, This Baby Elephant Decided To Spend His Last Days Alongside This Creature, Woman Adpots Tiny, Adorable Puppy. . Elvis Presley served in the military for two years after being drafted in 1958 and was honorably discharged in 1960. At the time of his draft he was the most well-known name in the world of entertainment. At the time of his draft he was one of the most well-known names in the world of entertainment. Well, he said, what have we here? Buddy Blouin is a content writer that loves creating through the written word. Elvis in Germany At 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month attained a special significance in the post-war years. c) He met Charlie Hodge, who became Elvis' confidant, a best friend and a Graceland resident for 17 years. Michael Jackson song meaning: Who is Dirty Diana about? This affected the singer not only during his service, but it actually continues to affect his legacy to this day. Like most young men his age, Elvis registered with the Selective Service in January of 1953. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Elvis manager Colonel Tom Parker, and hes not too happy about the fact that his most prestigious and highest earning client had drafted. . Like all of us, Elvis Presley's life was marked by different stages. But the shows [] More, You might remember her as Mindy in the off-beat yet endearing 70s and 80s sitcom Mork and Mindy. The use of drugs and addiction would claim the Kings life at only the age of 42. Why Did Elvis Presley Join The Army Elvis Presley joined the Army on March 24, 1958. [4], The Navy offered to create a special Elvis Presley Company made up of men from Memphis and Presley's closest friends, and offered him the chance to perform in Las Vegas, and have his own private quarters. While Elvis felt that the music industry may have changed a little bit while hes gone. There are several paths to success if you're getting out or thinking about getting out of the military after just one tour. Elvis Presley during national military service duty 1958-1960. Over the course of his military career, Elvis had risen to the rank of sergeant. He was inducted at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas and reached the rank of Sergeant before being honorably discharged on March 5, 1960. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING VETERAN JOURNALISM - JOIN SOFREP+ Colonel Tom Parker, Presley's manager, was well aware of his client's draft status and how it could affect his career. He had been promoted to sergeant a month before. 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. He was inducted in March 1958, two weeks after wrapping his movie King Creole, for which he sang part of the soundtrack. His mother had always been the most important person in his life, and now he felt as though everything he had worked for had been for nothing. Bidding started at $100,000 and climbed slowly before its final sale to an unnamed bidder. Articles Hot [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.). After her role on that classic sitcom ended, Jan became more interested in being a mother than being an actress. Support Veteran Journalism . Elvis serving during the subsequent release of the film King Creole a month later. Circa 1958, American singer and actor Elvis Presley sits in a restaurant wearing his US Army uniform. People were expecting me to mess up, to goof up in one way or another. Elvis Presley served in the military for two years after being drafted in 1958 and was honorably discharged in 1960. Military.com 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." With. Her funeral was held on August 15, and Presley collapsed several times before, during, and after the service. The day marked the start of his military service - a brief but significant period of his life that features in director Baz Luhrmann's new movie biopic of the . Yes, Elvis Presleys military career happened, as he was drafted into the U.S. Army on December 20, 1957. Stories of wild parties in Presley's hotel room were also making it into the papers regularly, and Parker was forced to hold a press conference to dispel these rumors. Elviss original date of induction into the United States Army had on January 20, 1958. Besides the Good Conduct merit, he also earned a medal for expert marksmanship all by himself. Elvis returned from Germany in 1960. [14], Media reports echoed Presley's concerns about his career, but RCA producer Steve Sholes and Freddy Bienstock of Hill and Range had carefully prepared for his two-year hiatus. January 27, 2023, 7:28 pm, by Singles were released before Elvis left for Europe, which kept him relevant and kept the money train going strong. Elvis stars as an Air Force pilot trying to convince his cousins in the Great Smokey Mountains to let the military construct a missile base on their land. Elvis Presley. [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. 20th May 2022 at 4:30pm. 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. Elvis was promoted to various ranks during his army service from 1958 to 1960, as part of his employment and duties. 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. As soon as Elvis finished with basic training, tragedy struck. Related: To create a personalized transition plan for yourself, and for transition guides and checklists, visit theMilitary.com Transition Center. Elvis Aron Presley entered the United States Army at Memphis, Tennessee, on March 24, 1958, and then spent three days at the Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, Reception Station. In the new millennium, Jan has turned her interests [] More, Each year over 1.5 million patients become victims of medical malpractice in the US alone. As a result, he became dependent on stimulants and barbiturates. Elvis and Vernon were both devastated by her death. In a letter to his client, Parker explained that recordings of Presley with just a piano for accompaniment, singing gospel songs would be good enough; his fans would just want to hear him sing anything. However, many audience members didnt realize that. Describing the moment she met Elvis, Priscilla said: As Currie led me over to him, Elvis stood up and smiled. Copyright 2023 Military.com. Presley, not interested in dinner with someone he knew was considerably older, sent his father in his place. 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." If youre enjoying this video so far, be sure to hit the like button to show your support! [19] The army held a press conference on March 1 before Presley departed from Germany. Please subscribe to continue reading 0 Comments Get. [4] The Pentagon, too, had been in touch to offer Presley the opportunity to join Special Services, entertaining the troops without having to train as a regular soldier; this was known by many soldiers and veterans as "the celebrity wimp-out". One nice thing about the military was that you got thirty days of paid vacation (leave) each year. Elvis Presley on the day of his induction into the army March 24, 1958. Some theorists even [] More, Are you a fan of sitcom My Three Sons? This earned him the respect of many of his fellow soldiers and people back in the United States who previously viewed him in a negative light. There, hed bid his iconic hairstyle to receive his GI haircut and his celebrity status outside the boot camp to become soldier 53310761. Learn how your comment data is processed. Elvis was officially drafted into the US Army in 1957, but joined up and began training in 1958. January 27, 2023, 6:25 pm, Trending The press made a huge deal out of Elvis induction into the United States Army. Read next: Famous Veterans: Youll Never Believe These Celebrities Actually Served. Mickey Rooney. 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. 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