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. Before entering the Army, Presley had caused national outrage with his rock and roll music. It just before Christmas in 1957 when legendary singer Elvis Presley received the news that hes going drafted into the United States Army. Military spouses are making a go of their dream jobs across a wide range of fields. 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. And the two went on to become married several years later. List of halls of fame inducting Elvis Presley, 1953 Elvis Presley would visit Gene Smith at the Halls Grocery located at 1588 Mississippi Boulevard. And the singer given emergency leave to go and visit her on her deathbed. It had been early 1957 when TIME reported. Little did he know that soon after graduating high school, he would be skyrocketing into the entertainment industry. Before entering the Army, Presley had caused national outrage with his sexually charged performances and rock and roll music. People were expecting me to mess up, to goof up in one way or another. The official cause of death was listed as heart attack, but the Presleys refused an autopsy to verify it. According to the singer, his time during service was a challenge. But Presley insisted on goingthough he later admitted that the 24-month spell as a GI would ruin his careerand days after wrapping up the filming of King Creole, he headed to the Memphis draft board to report. 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. January 27, 2023, 7:28 pm, by local. His induction was a major event, with hundreds of overlookers and media there to witness it. Suggested read: Before He Was a Star, Young Tony Bennett Was a Hero, Filed Under: Military History Tagged With: celebrities, military history. Over the course of his military career, Elvis had risen to the rank of sergeant. [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". Presley, not interested in dinner with someone he knew was considerably older, sent his father in his place. He would often write home to friends and family about how homesick he was, how desperately he missed his mother, and of how his fears about his career still clouded his mind. 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. 14 Goethestrasse, soon to become the then Germany's most celebrated private address. Presley was asked about his decision to serve as a regular soldier instead of as part of the service club. One nice thing about the military was that you got thirty days of paid vacation (leave) each year. 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. [3] Parker explained to Presley that this was a situation neither of them could refuse. 1935: Elvis is born Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, on January 8, 1935, in a two-room shotgun house in East Tupelo, then a separate municipality that some called the "roughest town in north Mississippi." Though poor, Elvis's parents, Gladys and Vernon Presley, were not unlike many others in Mississippi at that time, for the country was in the midst of the Great Depression. He served admirably, but his time was also spent as a rock star. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Your email address will not be published. One of Presley's instructors, Bill Norwood, who let Presley use his phone to call home on many occasions, recalls Presley breaking down in tears during many of these phone calls. He was crying and crying and crying. [5] Having his family close by cheered him up immensely, although he still spoke to friends about his fears for his career. Elvis Presley during national military service duty 1958-1960. 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. He still remained involved with music in his free time, cutting a five-song record in Memphis during a two-week leave. American singer and actor Elvis Presley served in the United States Army from 1958 to 1960. The singer also filmed the movie G.I. He then finished his senior year at L.C. 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.". Your email address will not be published. As he finally seen as a positive role model for the youth instead of just a nuisance. Tom claimed that Elvis drafting had cost the singer around half a million dollars in income. While he was living in Bad Nauheim, he met his future wife, Priscilla Beaulieu. She died in August 1958, with her son present. They thought I couldnt take it and so forth, and I was determined to go to any limits to prove otherwise, not only to the people who were wondering but to myself, said Elvis. On another trip, Elvis met 14-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu, the daughter of an Army officer, and he immediately began dating her. March 2, 1960: Elvis leaves Germany on a military transport plane bound for the States. Elvis was stationed at Ft. And the 20-plus years you've spent in uniform mean you have a highly sought-after skill set in the civilian world. But she ended up spilling the beans on one of the most embarrassing chapters of her life instead. Bidding started at $100,000 and climbed slowly before its final sale to an unnamed bidder. Parker, who was often a visitor to Presley's home, would attempt to reassure his client. Something which won him a great deal of respect with both his fans and detractors alike. Many fans waved goodbye to him at the airport in Germany before he flew back to the United States, where he was greeted by an even larger crowd of fans who were overjoyed to see that the young artist was back to do some rock and roll. Flippo asked Parton about what the most outrageous thing shed [] More, Robert Urich was known throughout the world as a tough guy. Yes, Elvis Presleys military career happened, as he was drafted into the U.S. Army on December 20, 1957. One hundred members of his division also got a taste of Elvis-mania when they participated as extras in the film G.I. 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. March 24, 1958: Elvis is inducted into the army in Memphis. This same addiction caused his death at the age of 42 in 1977.[2]. Its also worth noting that while there was talk of having Elvis serve as entertainment to lift morale, he wanted no part of it. Elvis Presley served in the military for two years after being drafted in 1958 and was honorably discharged in 1960. His term lasted from March 1958 to March 1960, which was during the time that he was one of the biggest names within the entertainment industry. Some of which used in King Creole and some of which released as singles while Elvis was serving overseas. Furthermore, each performance would have been recorded and filmed for sale to television stations worldwide. After initially being turned down and threatening to go AWOL, Presley was eventually given permission to leave on August 12. 'Viva Las Vegas' (1964) Flashy, gaudy, trashy and thin on story, just like the Vegas myth. On November 27, 1958, Elvis was promoted to private by his superior, Captain Edward Betts. Sean Connery beat up Lana Turner's boyfriend for pointing gun at him, Elvis Presley got 'excited' during sensual dance scene with actress, Mick Jagger Dave Grohl: The story behind their Eazy Sleazy collab. ", 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. 23-year-old Elvis Presley was drafted for the U.S. Army in March 1958. Describing the moment she met Elvis, Priscilla said: As Currie led me over to him, Elvis stood up and smiled. Elvis Presley receives his draft notice for the United States Army. Upon his arrival, he was sent to . He was promoted up to Sergeant rank during his time and was 21 years old when he first enlisted. On the first Hot 100, dated Aug. 4, 1958, Presley ranked at No. On March 24, 1958, Elvis the Pelvis was sworn into the Army and would go on to complete basic training, mainly at Fort Hood. Elvis Presley frequently at 81 Club in 1953 located at 81 North Second Street, Memphis, Tennessee. Elvis had always been incredibly patriotic. Her funeral was held on August 15, and Presley collapsed several times before, during, and after the service. Elvis Presley was drafted into the United States Army during the Korean War in 1957. On February 1, 1958, then 23-year-old Rock and Roll star Elvis Presley recorded his last single before joining the U.S. Army. d) His first post . 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. [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. Box 378 Red Hook, New York 12571 United States. Since you've left the military, you have already had some civilian experience, but maybe it's time for a change in your education or career path. American singer and actor Elvis Presley served in the United States Army from 1958 to 1960. They followed him to Arkansas, and the singer receiving his G.I. 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. On August 11, after calls from her doctor, Presley requested emergency leave to visit with his mother. [22] Dee returned to the US in the summer of 1959, closely followed by Vernon, and the pair returned to Germany together. 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. I blushed and said nothing, not willing to reveal that I was only in the ninth grade. After her role on that classic sitcom ended, Jan became more interested in being a mother than being an actress. It was a friend of Elvis who would later introduce a teenage Priscilla to fellow military serviceman and entertainer Elvis Presley, evolving. Elvis was promoted to various ranks during his army service from 1958 to 1960, as part of his employment and duties. [24] In her autobiography, Priscilla says that despite his worries that it would ruin his career, Parker convinced Presley that to gain popular respect, he should serve his country as a regular soldier rather than in Special Services, where he would have been able to give some musical performances and stay in touch with the public.[25]. [22] When Presley heard of the relationship between his father and Dee he flew into a rage; in his mind his father had no business to be setting up with another woman so soon after the death of Gladys. Armed with a substantial amount of unreleased material, they kept up a regular stream of successful releases. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING VETERAN JOURNALISM - JOIN SOFREP+ Upon joining the Army, Presley would turn down any offers of special treatment. Frozen musical London tickets: How to get tickets for West End Frozen. 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. The King of Rock and Roll continues to draw heads through biopics, anniversary releases, merchandising, and much more. . [18], In early 1959, after a combination of a few complaints from other guests about the behavior of Presley fans wanting to see him at the Grunewald Hotel and the arrival of King Saud of Saudi Arabia, whose rather large entourage demanded the closing of the entire facility so that they could be well taken care of, particularly as his stay there was for medical reasons, Elvis and the group left the hotel and moved to a five-bedroom house nearby, at No. Elvis henceforth receives a salary of $ 109.37. But the shows [] More, You might remember her as Mindy in the off-beat yet endearing 70s and 80s sitcom Mork and Mindy. Below are nine quick facts about Presleys time in the Army. As a result, he became dependent on stimulants and barbiturates. [5] Presley was given a physical and assigned army serial number 53310761, before being sworn in and made leader of his group. Everyone's familiar with Elvis Presley, but he has quite a wild backstory when it comes to romance. According to Alanna Nashs book The Colonel, Tom was instrumental in convincing Elvis to join up. For the record, here are Elvis' significant military dates. And was likely grateful that the war was about to take his mind off of it. Military career of musician Elvis Presley, Gaar, Gillian G. "Ernst Jorgensen: Chronicler of Elvis' Life. 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. 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. Elvis was a SERGEANT in the Army. Support Veteran Journalism . This was a popular American sitcom that ran over 12 seasons and 380 episodes from 1960 to 1972. Get special job alerts, offers and insider tips on making the most of your military experience in the civilian workforce. But while Jailhouse Rock or Blue Suede Shoes may be classics, its not the only thing we should remember from his life. Blues, made during his stay in Germany. And received notice that the deferment had accepted on December 26. At that time, he went back to Memphis and recorded a few songs before heading back into training. 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. Elvis Presley served in the US Army for a short time, in the middle of his recording and film career. He was actually grateful for the opportunity to serve his country. 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. On January 20, 1960, Elvis was promoted to acting sergeant (platoon leader). Popular, by Elvis' life was affected in a variety of ways during his service, beginning with the death of his mother. While Elvis felt that the music industry may have changed a little bit while hes gone. January 19, 2022, 6:17 pm, by In the mid-'50s, Elvis was often spotted with his signature comb. [3] Over the course of the next twelve months, Parker led Presley to believe that it was still possible to avoid the draft completely,[3] while secretly planning to allow it. At the time of his enlistment, he was widely regarded as the most well-known name in the world of entertainment. On March 24, 1958, Elvis Presley was officially sworn in as a private. And he was also glad that he was serving his country. [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. And had some time to relax with his family back in Memphis before officially inducted. [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. As his famously tousled hair was shaved down to regulation length, he cracked, "Hair today, gone tomorrow." 1,593 Views. What are the industries and jobs that will receive a boost thanks to the President's initiatives? [10], During the crossing Presley became a friend of a fellow soldier named Charlie Hodge. Love and Monsters 2: Will there be a Love and Monsters sequel? Like everybody else, Elvis started his Army service as a Private in March 1958. As mentioned previously, the film went on to become a personal favorite of Elvis. His natural hair color was sandy blonde, and he dyed it jet black. But in 1958 he made a surprising decision to join the US Army, shocking his fans. RCA agreed to release an album of Presley's press conference the day he left for Germany; titled Elvis Sails, the album would pay Presley $0.22 per sale in royalties, guaranteed up to at least 100,000 copies. Cold War madness hadnt reached its apex, but there were trends beginning to develop. However, hes also a bit of a controversial figure amongst the more conservative members of the population that hadnt yet gotten used to the world of popular music. While Elvis couldve arguably used some of his connections to try and get out of serving in the war. He recorded the song in March of 1960, and RCA released it within two weeks. Answer (1 of 9): Elvis was drafted in 1958. You can unsubscribe at any time. Elvis Presley. Paul Beaulieu married the former Anna Lillian Iversen-Wagner (b.1926), on September 11, 1948. Elvis was promoted to various ranks during his army service from 1958 to 1960, as part of his employment and duties. They thought I couldnt take it and so forth, and I was determined to go to any limits to prove otherwise. 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. [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. Its hard for him to get used to the new location. Elvis accepted the deferment not so much for his own sake but for the crews. Michael Jackson song meaning: Who is Dirty Diana about? Elvis was first exposed to Karate in 1958 after he was drafted into the Army and stationed in Germany. It's an amazing-looking outfit topped with a neckerchief and an acoustic guitar. Can You Name All 8 United States Uniformed Services? But Presleys manager, Colonel Tom Parker, understood the importance of keeping Elvis fresh in the minds of his American audience. January 27, 2023, 7:23 pm, by The singer was spending the holiday at his famous Graceland estate, and was amidst the peak of his career success. Mr. Presley's overseas service took place in Germany from October 1, 1958, until March 2, 1960, as a member of the 1st Medium Tank Battalion, 32d Armor. September 14, 2021, 5:02 am, Way back in 1980, Dolly Parton sat down with Chet Flippo of Rolling Stone magazine for what she thought was just going to be a typical interview. Thunder Force on Netflix cast: Who plays young Lydia? [16] RCA also managed to generate four albums compiling old material during this period, most successfully Elvis' Golden Records (1958), which hit number three on the LP chart. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. At what rank was Elvis Presley upon his discharge from 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. Elvis Presley as a US Soldier Stationed in West Germany: 1958-1960. At the time of his draft he was one of the most well-known names in the world of entertainment. Presley arranged for her and Vernon to return to Memphis on August 8. Elvis stationed in Friedberg, Germany. [5] Hodge would become a close friend to Presley during their time in the army, and he was invited to work for him when they were both discharged. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING VETERAN JOURNALISM - JOIN SOFREP+ , PO Box 1077 MURFREESBORO, Tennessee 37133 United States, P.O. The fatigues and hat that Elvis wore during his service are now on display inside of the Rock Hall's newest featured exhibit. 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. Elvis Presley joined the army on 24 March 1958. This time was incredibly important for him, with it marking the death and meeting of two. [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. One afternoon, after a heated argument with her husband Vernon, Gladys collapsed from exhaustion. He had a twin brother who was stillborn. [7] The next day Gladys' condition worsened so rapidly that she was rushed to a hospital. Apparently, they arent subscribers to the old adage that too much of a good thing can actually be a bad thing. 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. 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. He was inducted in March 1958, two weeks after wrapping his movie King Creole, for which he sang part of the soundtrack. [4], Worried that rock and roll was a passing fad, Presley wanted to make King Creole the best role he had ever acted. Having a successful career in the military is a major accomplishment. It saw the arrival of its most famous soldier a 22-year-old Pvt. Its certainly admirable that Elvis didnt try to get out of drafted and actually saw some time in active duty. Tom did his best to keep releasing singles while Elvis was serving overseas. 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. Colonel Tom Parker, Presley's manager, was well aware of his client's draft status and how it could affect his career. He and his parents moved to Memphis, Tennessee in 1948, and Elvis graduated from Humes High School . It's no secret Elvis adored young women, and when he met Priscilla Wagner, everything. Anna brought to the marriage a toddler daughter Priscilla, from a previous marriage. It was here he met the 14-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu, who ended up becoming his wife after a long courtship. Parker promised Presley that if he worked hard and served as a regular GI for two years, he would return "a bigger star" than when he left. Which is a vastly greater sum of money when adjusted for inflation. Presley politely told both parties that he would consider their offers. 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. 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