National Veterans Chamber of Commerce

FAMOUS VETERANS IN HISTORY

By: Joseph Molina National Veterans Chamber of Commerce

veteransccsd@gmail.com

There are a lot of famous veterans that once served in the United States Army, many of whom later became top celebrities in different ventures in the United States. We can’t talk about all of them, but we will name a few.

CLINT EASTWOOD

This world-famous movie actor became best-known for his role as Dirty Harry and then parlayed that into a long and successful acting/directing career. But it was his stint with the United States Army that landed him on this list. Eastwood was drafted in 1951 during the Korean War.

CHUCK NORRIS

Chuck Norris joined the United States Air Force in 1958 and served as an Air Policeman in South Korea. There, he was inspired by locals practicing martial arts. Later, he famously became the first Westerner to be awarded an eighth-degree black belt in Taekwondo.

ICE T

You know him as Ice-T from either his hip-hop/gangsta rap career or his long stint on television’s Law and Order: SVU, but for a while, he was just Tracy Marrow. Born in South Los Angeles, he enlisted in 1979 after graduating from Crenshaw High School. He served as a squad leader at Schofield Barracks, where he used his GI Bill to purchase stereo equipment and dove into music and entertainment in his spare time.

MORGAN FREEMAN

Sometimes being in the military helps determine what you want to be in life — even if it means not being in the military. Talented young Morgan Freeman was so in love with the idea of flying that he joined the U.S. Air Force in 1955 instead of accepting a scholarship for drama from Jackson State University in Mississippi.

STEVE MCQUEEN

This world-famous on-screen bad boy wasn’t just “The King of Cool” in movies. Steve McQueen had a rough childhood, and his troublesome persona was authentic, which created some issues once he joined the Marines in 1947. Famous for roles in The Sand Pebbles, The Cincinnati Kid, Love With The Proper Stranger, The Getaway, Magnificent Seven and many others. He was honorably discharged in 1950.

ELVIS PRESLEY

The King of Rock ’n’ Roll was drafted into military service in 1958, four years after he officially started his music career. Presley, who by this time had accrued enormous fame and fortune, was determined to prove to the American public and himself that he had the guts to stick out his military service and not take the easy road. He was honorably discharged in 1960.

EILEEN COLLINS

Collins attended Syracuse University and then graduated from flight school at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. Eileen Collins, American astronaut, the first woman to pilot and, later command a U.S. space shuttle.

Summary:

I hope you found this information useful, and of course, there is plenty more out there to learn and research. Let me know if you find something that will be useful to share with the Veteran Community.

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