Presley was asked about his decision to serve as a regular soldier instead of as part of the service club. At that time, he went back to Memphis and recorded a few songs before heading back into training. His first instructor was a German shotokan stylist named Juergen Seydel who taught Elvis at his off-base housing in Nauheim until 1958. Around this time Presley's father, Vernon, had been getting close to a woman named Dee Stanley, the wife of army sergeant Bill Stanley. He had a twin brother who was stillborn. Elvis Presley frequently at 81 Club in 1953 located at 81 North Second Street, Memphis, Tennessee. Elvis began going through basic training, and didn't take his first leave until June. It also got a lot of things wrong, especially where the pop singer's longtime manager "Colonel" Tom Parker is concerned. The show was a success due to its excellent writing and directing. Elvis was first exposed to Karate in 1958 after he was drafted into the Army and stationed in Germany. Presley, not interested in dinner with someone he knew was considerably older, sent his father in his place. 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. To understand Elvis Presleys military career and separate what was happening in the public eye would be a disservice to the events that occurred. Like all of us, Elvis Presley's life was marked by different stages. He had become a pistol sharpshooter, and expressed his enjoyment at the "rough and tumble" of the tanks obstacle course. But the shows [] More, You might remember her as Mindy in the off-beat yet endearing 70s and 80s sitcom Mork and Mindy. Apparently, they arent subscribers to the old adage that too much of a good thing can actually be a bad thing. While fans around the country were upset by the news, parents and teachers groups were ecstatic; they viewed Presley as a menace to society. But Presleys manager, Colonel Tom Parker, understood the importance of keeping Elvis fresh in the minds of his American audience. Well, he said, what have we here? At the time of his enlistment, he was widely regarded as the most well-known name in the world of entertainment. Though shes only fourteen years old at the time, Elvis introduced to Priscilla Beaulieu by one of his army friends. March 28, 2021, 6:21 am, by . 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. Elvis Presley on the day of his induction into the army March 24, 1958. Destroying American Monster Abrams: Pro-Russian Group Release A How-To Video, Two Iranian Warships Docks in Brazil Despite US Sanctions Threat, Decorated Navy SEAL Died in HALO Training Accident, The Weird World of the Desert Eagle and its Offspring, F-35 Fighters Increase Presence In Asia As Singapore Acquires Eight More, A Trickle of Tanks: Europe is Slow to Deliver on Its Promise, A Look at the Unconventional Tactics Used by Western Militaries Throughout History, SOFREP Cartoon: US Sends Stern Warning About Chinas Spy Balloons. During his deployment in Ray Barracks, Germany, via USS Randall, Presley served as an armor intelligence specialist in October 1958. Cold War madness hadnt reached its apex, but there were trends beginning to develop. [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. The promotion to Specialist 4th Class took place on June 1, 1959. And he was also glad that he was serving his country. March 2, 1960: Elvis leaves Germany on a military transport plane bound for the States. In the mid-'50s, Elvis was often spotted with his signature comb. Elvis' life was affected in a variety of ways during his service, beginning with the death of his mother. But soon after, he was back defending America. It's an amazing-looking outfit topped with a neckerchief and an acoustic guitar. At Fort Dix, New Jersey he was honorably discharged from active duty on March 5, 1960, receiving a mustering-out check of $109.54. . 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. He simply wanted regular training and was offered $78 a month on top of another $1,000 from his record company. 34 with "Don't Ask Me Why," each featuring his longtime gospel backing band, the . 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. 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. His time was brief, and Elvis Presleys military rank would peak as an Army Sergeant (E-5). When America was entering into World War II, music legend Elvis Presley was just reaching the peak of his success in the entertainment industry. local. His pay now increases to $ 122.31. Still, Elvis was willing to receive one deferment in order to complete filming of the movie that he was currently working on. 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. Its undeniable that Elvis Presley was one of the biggest stars of all time. According to the singer, his time during service was a challenge. He was crying and crying and crying. However, Presley remained true to his words about not wanting to receive special treatment and instead sought to experience his whole time in the Army like everybody else. [5] Eddie Fadal, another of Presley's friends, remembers that Presley would worry about his career, fearing it was all over. He knew that people were waiting for something big to happen, but he proved them wrong. Mickey Rooney. However, due to commitments at Paramount and the filming schedule of his latest film, King Creole, Presley had to personally write to the Memphis Draft Board to request a deferment. January 28, 2023, 4:29 pm, by document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This time was incredibly important for him, with it marking the death and meeting of two. Although people like his manager had feared that the time overseas would hurt Elvis career, it ended up only boosting the singers popularity in the long run. The show followed widowed aeronautical engineer named Steven Douglas and his three sons. June 20, 2021, 9:06 am, by Elvis accepted the deferment not so much for his own sake but for the crews. I blushed and said nothing, not willing to reveal that I was only in the ninth grade. 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. Unlike other soldiers, all eyes were on Elvis. She died in August 1958, with her son present. After initially being turned down and threatening to go AWOL, Presley was eventually given permission to leave on August 12. After his release from the service, Presley found a new fan base among an older age group, thanks in part to his army career and releases of ballads compared to his earlier rock and roll songs. There are advantages to an atypical job in terms of its work schedule beyond merely accommodating your biological clock's Positions and Skills Sought. During this assignment he completed basic and advanced military training. Memphis police find 11 shooting victims over two scenes in Whitehaven. American singer and actor Elvis Presley served in the United States Army from 1958 to 1960. [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. The next day, his friends and family saw him off as he headed out to Fork Chaffee, Arkansas. This would begin an 18-month period of Elvis serving in Company D, 32nd Tank Battalion, 3rd Armor Division while stationed in Friedberg, Germany. They thought I couldnt take it and so forth, and I was determined to go to any limits to prove otherwise. Facts Verse Humes High School and, shortly after graduation, began what would become his illustrious career as an artist. Sadly, his mother, Gladys Presley, passed away in August 1958, which granted him emergency leave. 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 had proudly submitted his draft card as soon as he had turned 18 years old. People were expecting me to mess up, to goof up in one way or another. After her role on that classic sitcom ended, Jan became more interested in being a mother than being an actress. He still remained involved with music in his free time, cutting a five-song record in Memphis during a two-week leave. 4th of July 2022: Celebrating the Birth of Our Nation & Its Heroes, Military Appreciation Month 2022: Saluting Those Who Serve, Veterans Day 2022: Celebrating Those Whove Served, Famous Veterans: Youll Never Believe These Celebrities Actually Served, Elvis Presleys service in the U.S. Army helped his popularity skyrocket, Before He Was a Star, Young Tony Bennett Was a Hero, Here are 200 Remote Jobs for Veterans in 2023. 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. It had been early 1957 when TIME reported. Copyright 2023 Military.com. And had starred in such hit Hollywood films as Love Me Tender. January 19, 2022, 6:17 pm, by Her funeral was held on August 15, and Presley collapsed several times before, during, and after the service. 'Viva Las Vegas' (1964) Flashy, gaudy, trashy and thin on story, just like the Vegas myth. 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 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. [7] The next day Gladys' condition worsened so rapidly that she was rushed to a hospital. One nice thing about the military was that you got thirty days of paid vacation (leave) each year. He was inducted at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas and reached the rank of Sergeant before being honorably discharged on March 5, 1960. On January 20, 1960, Elvis was promoted to acting sergeant (platoon leader). Feeling that he had a professional obligation to finish the film. 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. Headquarters Company, 1st Medium Tank Battalion, This page was last edited on 28 January 2023, at 07:47. [17] The army also introduced Presley to karate, which he studied seriously, later including it in his live performances. Buddy Blouin is a content writer that loves creating through the written word. 1,593 Views. March 29, 2021, 4:49 am, by [7] The officer who initially denied Presley his emergency leave was later disciplined for his actions. He donated his army pay to charity, purchased TV sets for the post, and bought an extra set of fatigues for everyone in his outfit. On March 24, 1958, Elvis Presley was officially sworn in as a private. Elvis Presley was drafted into the United States Army during the Korean War in 1957. After his final goodbyes to family and friends, Presley and his fellow U.S. Army recruits were taken by bus to Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. Get the best viral stories straight into your inbox! Author Alanna Nash described it as "the performance that would forever define his potential". 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. This was a popular American sitcom that ran over 12 seasons and 380 episodes from 1960 to 1972. But while Jailhouse Rock or Blue Suede Shoes may be classics, its not the only thing we should remember from his life. The rebellious, edgy rock-n-roll sounds that would make Elvis a household name also made him a pariah to some. 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 . Little did he know that soon after graduating high school, he would be skyrocketing into the entertainment industry. It is now available for streaming exclusively on HBO Max beginning September 2. His time was brief, and Elvis Presley's military rank would peak as an Army Sergeant (E-5). 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. 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. 20th May 2022 at 4:30pm. February 19, 2023, 6:22 am, by Colonel Tom Parker, Presley's manager, was well aware of his client's draft status and how it could affect his career. Hood for Basic Training and was assigned to the Second Armored Division's 'Hell On Wheels' unit (once led by General George Patton). Required fields are marked *. Barrett is the world leader in long-range, large-caliber, precision rifle design and manufacturing. Presley politely told both parties that he would consider their offers. One afternoon, after a heated argument with her husband Vernon, Gladys collapsed from exhaustion. "[4], Presley was originally scheduled to be inducted on January 20, 1958. At what rank was Elvis Presley upon his discharge from the army? The King of Rock and Roll continues to draw heads through biopics, anniversary releases, merchandising, and much more. As mentioned previously, the film went on to become a personal favorite of Elvis. Ninth. Elvis looked confused. January 27, 2023, 7:28 pm, by But without joining the army, he might have never met her. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. She had seen him live during one of his earliest performances in the fifties, and she was keen to meet a star of his stature. Military spouses are making a go of their dream jobs across a wide range of fields. He was actually grateful for the opportunity to serve his country. Can You Name All 8 United States Uniformed Services? c) He met Charlie Hodge, who became Elvis' confidant, a best friend and a Graceland resident for 17 years. For Presley, however, being away in Germany was not all happy times. 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. 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. Draw heads through biopics, anniversary releases, merchandising, and Elvis Presleys military career separate. Ninth grade for something big to happen, but there were trends beginning to develop on the of! 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