10 Celebrities Who Served In The Military

Serving in the military is considered one of the most honorable, brave things anyone can do with their lives, as it is highly dangerous at certain points in time. Men and women serve in multiple branches, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. However, most people don’t know that a lot of the well known celebrities we grew up loving actually spent some time serving in one of these military branches. The danger and sacrifice they laid down should be honored just like anyone else who spent time in the armed forces, though. Here are ten celebrities who risked their lives in the military.

Elvis Presley

Not long after becoming known as the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley was inducted into the U.S. Army as a private assigned to Fort Smith in Arkansas. Following his basic training at Fort Hood, Presley became a part of the 3rd Armored Division in Friedberg, Germany.

Tom Selleck

Tom Selleck is mostly known for his role as the private investigator on Magnum P.I., but he was also once a part of the 160th Infantry Regiment for the California Army National Guard. During the course of his time in the military, Selleck was stationed in Los Angeles to help control the Watts Riots.

Steve McQueen

Steve McQueen, an American actor known for his role in The King of Cool, joined the United States Marine Corp, where he was almost immediately promoted to Private First Class. He was assigned to serve in an armored unit, but was demoted for rebellious behavior. He spent 41 days in a military prison before being assigned to the security honor guard of President Harry Truman.

Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan, the United States’ 40th President, served in the Army Reserve after completing his fourteen home-study Army Extension Courses in 1937. He was also enlisted in the Army Air Force and the 18th Army Air Force Base Unit.

Henry Fonda

Henry Fonda made his Hollywood debut in 1935, but before that he had been enlisted in the United States Navy to fight during World War I. He helped raise funds for the military defenses in Great Britian, and served as 3rd Class Quartermaster aboard the USS Satterlee Destroyer.

Sean Connery

Scottish actor Sean Connery joined the Royal Navy long before he made his way to Hollywood. During his experience in the armed forces, he ended up with multiple tattoos to show his commitment to his family and his home country.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarzenegger, one of the most prolific action stars in Hollywood, served in the Austrian Army as part of the country’s year-long requirements for males to serve in the military. At the age of 21, he underwent basic army training.

Bill Cosby

Bill Cosby is famous and in the news for plenty of reasons these days, but the man served in the United States Navy before he became famous. He was involved with helping injured Korean War casualties with physical therapy treatment.

Sammy Davis, Jr.

Entertainer, dancer, and impersonater Sammy Davis, Jr. served in the United States Army during the 1940’s. While in the armed forced, he was assigned to a Special Services Unit for integrated entertainment. He gained fame for his album releases and acting after being discharged.

Rain

Jung Ji Hoon, otherwise known as Rain, is a South Korean pop star who served 21 months in 2012 in South Korea’s military. He served his time at Uijeongbu Camp in the province of Gyeonggi-Do. Months later, he was moved to the Ministry of National Defense.