He left active duty at. He still remained involved with music in his free time, cutting a five-song record in Memphis during a two-week leave. When Elvis Presley walked off an army troop ship in Bremerhaven, West Germany on October 1, 1958, he was only 23 years old. Thunder Force on Netflix cast: Who plays young Lydia? 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. There are advantages to an atypical job in terms of its work schedule beyond merely accommodating your biological clock's Positions and Skills Sought. [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. Below are nine quick facts about Presleys time in the Army. At night, he was known to host parties at his off-base residence and play music with friends. 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. And the two went on to become married several years later. 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. In the time between receiving his draft notice and entering boot camp, Presley . It was one of these buddies that introduced Elvis to a woman that would later become his wife. According to a 1985 interview with People magazine, Priscilla was introduced to Elvis by another officer, but the 14-year-old was very shy about meeting her icon. . September 22, 1958: Elvis leaves for Germany on a troop transport ship. However, disaster struck in his early days in the army: his mother, Gladys, died after being diagnosed with hepatitis. Please subscribe to continue reading 0 Comments Get. 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. It had been early 1957 when TIME reported. Dawber has married to NCIS star Mark Harmon for more than three [] More, Jan Smithers is a former television actress that is best known for her portrayal of the character Bailey Quarters on the television series WKRP in Cincinnati. Suggested read: Before He Was a Star, Young Tony Bennett Was a Hero, Filed Under: Military History Tagged With: celebrities, military history. [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]. List of halls of fame inducting Elvis Presley, 1953 Elvis Presley would visit Gene Smith at the Halls Grocery located at 1588 Mississippi Boulevard. Parker, who was often a visitor to Presley's home, would attempt to reassure his client. Elvis Presley first became addicted to amphetamines sometime in his early twenties. This would include the evolution of sound. Elvis Presley receives his draft notice for the United States Army. Mickey Rooney. Anna brought to the marriage a toddler daughter Priscilla, from a previous marriage. He was inducted in March 1958, two weeks after wrapping his movie King Creole, for which he sang part of the soundtrack. [3] In the summer of 1956, Parker wrote to the Pentagon requesting that Presley be considered for Special Services, which would allow Presley to do only six weeks basic training and then resume life as normal, performing several times a year for the armed forces. Elvis Presley on the day of his induction into the army March 24, 1958. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Elvis manager Colonel Tom Parker, and hes not too happy about the fact that his most prestigious and highest earning client had drafted. Elvis in Germany At 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month attained a special significance in the post-war years. On January 20, 1960, Elvis was promoted to acting sergeant (platoon leader). June 20, 2021, 9:06 am, by And the singer given emergency leave to go and visit her on her deathbed. Presley politely told both parties that he would consider their offers. Before entering the Army, Presley had caused national outrage with his rock and roll music. Some theorists even [] More, Are you a fan of sitcom My Three Sons? 14 Goethestrasse, soon to become the then Germany's most celebrated private address. Speaking of Elviss pain at his mothers passing, his friend Judy Spreckels said: I have never seen anyone as sad as Elvis was. [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. Before entering the Army, Presley had caused national outrage with his rock and roll music. They would eventually marry after a seven-and-a-half-year courtship. 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. 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." Facts Verse It's an amazing-looking outfit topped with a neckerchief and an acoustic guitar. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. They thought I couldnt take it and so forth, and I was determined to go to any limits to prove otherwise. The armed forces would own the exclusive rights to these recordings, meaning all of the profits would be retained by the government. On March 24, 1958, Elvis Presley was officially sworn in as a private. During his time serving, Elvis slept in the snow and ate rations, both of which were new experiences for the singer. Elvis Presley applied for United States Selective Service and received license #40-86-35-16. When he was finally drafted in 1957, he was already an international superstar and legions of fans were dismayed, to say the least. Many parents, religious leaders, and teachers groups welcomed his draft into the military. Answer (1 of 5): Written accounts agree that Elvis was discharged from the US Army as a Sergeant E-5 in March 1960, having been promoted from Corporal in February. Elvis Presley served in the military for two years after being drafted in 1958 and was honorably discharged in 1960. 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. The rest, as they say, is history. In his eyes, after a year of negative publicity, this was the perfect opportunity to change the view that older Americans had of him. But she ended up spilling the beans on one of the most embarrassing chapters of her life instead. When Presley received his draft notice in 1956, his manager Tom Parker did everything he could to delay the rising stars enlistment. Elvis was stationed at Ft. Unfortunately, it wasnt the only thing he was introduced to during his service, as it was in West Germany that he became addicted to barbiturates and stimulantssomething that would someday lead to the destruction of his marriage, eventually, death. G.I. However, that didnt stop the all-American singer from proudly accepting his duty to defend his country. Why, youre just a baby.. For Elvis Presley, military service was an important part of his life. 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. Which was King Creole. Elvis Presley, who died 44 years ago this month, was not a drug abuser in the typical rock'n'roll lifestyle sense, a new book claims, but he was medicating to address a series of congenital. Buddy Blouin is a content writer that loves creating through the written word. And so [] More, Sex, Drugs, and Rock n Roll. When Presley was told that he would have to serve as a regular soldier, he was furious that Parker failed to get him out of the draft. Facts Verse Elvis Presley as a US Soldier Stationed in West Germany: 1958-1960. [13] Presley used the recorder to mess around with friends and family, singing mainly gospel and current hits, but none of these recordings was sent back for release by RCA. Elvis henceforth receives a salary of $ 109.37. 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. As his famously tousled hair was shaved down to regulation length, he cracked, "Hair today, gone tomorrow." In Parker's words, "Taking any of these deals will make millions of Americans angry. Although some of the times were difficult. Apparently, they arent subscribers to the old adage that too much of a good thing can actually be a bad thing. Its good that he did, as the film has gone down in history as one of the singers most popular movies, as well as his own favorite. 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. 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. 20th May 2022 at 4:30pm. Facts Verse Elvis Presley served in the US Army for a short time, in the middle of his recording and film career. This wasnt just Elvis Presley in military garbs going to defend America. Although Elvis grateful for the opportunity to defend his country after Americas entrance into World War II, fans terrified at the prospect of losing their new idol. Although the Army offered to allow him to "serve" as an entertainer in special services, he declined, opting inste. [citation needed], On October 1 the USS General George M. Randall arrived in Germany and Presley was once again offered the chance to join Special Services. Her funeral was held on August 15, and Presley collapsed several times before, during, and after the service. He was glad to have the opportunity to try it out. He recorded the song in March of 1960, and RCA released it within two weeks. Despite their age gap, they kept in touch, and after Elvis left the army in 1960, he had Priscilla join him at Graceland. Answer (1 of 9): Elvis was drafted in 1958. Its hard for him to get used to the new location. Besides the Good Conduct merit, he also earned a medal for expert marksmanship all by himself. 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