Elvis Presley
Did you know that Elvis Presley, the king of rock and roll, was also drafted into the US military back in 1958? The interesting fact is that it was just two years after he gained fame for his two songs. So even before getting enlisted, he was a big name in the celebrity world.
Elvis served at Fort Hood for some time before being stationed in Germany. And by the time the legend discharged from active service, he had also found his love and future wife, Priscilla Beaulieu. How truly remarkable is it to get the opportunity to find love and serve one's homeland at the same time?
James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones accepted his very first delegation during the Korean War as the second lieutenant. Then in the 50s, the gentleman reported to Fort Benning's Infantry Officers Basic Course and underwent training to join the US Army Rangers, but unfortunately, he did not get the opportunity to finish the program.
Still, before James left the military, he was ranked as the first lieutenant, and when he ventured into showbiz, he was eagerly accepted into the entertainment industry. The icon voiced Mufasa in The Lion King and even lent his voice-over talents to the Star Wars franchise.
John Wayne
No one portrayed war, through patriotic movies, better than John Wayne. He had acted in countless films and soon became a bankable star in the genre. The reason may have been his experience serving in the military, although the star never actually got to be on the borders, fighting, due to his age and flourishing career in Hollywood.
Regardless of whether he actually served or not, John's films were a big hit in an otherwise sad country. It lifted everyone's spirits and renewed the feeling of defending the nation's honor!
Ice-T
We all know Ice-T because of his contribution to the entertainment industry as an actor and rapper, but before that, he served the country as a member of the US Army 25th Infantry Division. T was then set out to serve as a squad leader in Hawaii, and it was with the income he earned during the service that he purchased speakers, turntables, and a mixer.
From there, it wasn't long after that Ice-T began to pursue a career in music, and just look at him now, one of the biggest names in the Hip hop scene!
Gal Gadot
This Israeli actress, Gal Gadot, is famous for her title role in Wonder Woman and her turn in The Fast and Furious films franchise as Gisele Yashar. She is renowned for her strong demeanor on the screen, which is probably because of her training as a combat trainer in the IDF (Israeli Defense Force).
In addition, she had a grueling experience in the boot camp for three months, which Gal admits was the reason for her success in the motion-picture industry. Now that is quite obvious; Gadot's combat instincts are supremely evident in her on-screen performances.
Leonard Nimoy
Before offering his services as the very first officer, aka Mr. Spock in the starship Enterprise, Leonard Nimoy served as a combatant in the United States Army Reserves. Unfortunately, however, all the records regarding his services were destroyed in a fortunate fire, which is a real pity, but nobody would want proof for his services, it is evident through his work!
It is speculated that Leonard was posted in Georgia, in Fort McPherson for 18 months, and he was even able to attain Sergeant's position before finally returning home as a war veteran in 1955.
Montel Williams
In 1974 Montel Williams enrolled in the United States Marine Corps and was offered a position in the naval intelligence in Guam as a cryptologic officer before being shifted to N.S.A. in Maryland. Interesting how a martial in the military turned out to be one of the best inspirational speakers the world has ever seen. Well, let us tell you how he got into it.
During his time in the military, Montel began counseling, and it was at the time that he realized he had a passion for motivational speaking. Well, whoever thought that one could not pursue their personal career while away in the army?
Jimi Hendrix
This legend always struck us as a handsome bad boy, but the real deal is the fact that even before gaining mass attention, he did some pretty outrageous things. But it was when he was arrested for a certain activity that he was faced with the decision to choose between getting deployed or getting confined, and like you might have guessed already, he chose to join the forces.
Upon completing his paratrooper training in the 101st Airborne Division in Kentucky, Jimi left the army and started pursuing his passion: music! And after having been injured after a parachute jump, Hendrix was officially discharged.
Anthony Hopkins
He was just a 15-year-old boy when he met Richard Burton, the Welsh compatriot who inspired him to join Cardiff's Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. After serving in the military for a couple of years, Hopkins enrolled at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
Since then, Anthony has made his mark as one of the most successful and talented entertainers of our times. His acting skills are quite impeccable, and the man's performances have offered us some of the most memorable roles for which she was even awarded a Golden Globe, an Oscar, and an incredible five BAFTA awards.
Bill Cosby
Now, what is this man known for? Well, Bill Cosby is famous for The Cosby Show, of course! But prior to making everybody laugh with his smart comments, he used to be a hospital corpsman in 1956 for the US Navy! Bill offered his services to care for deeply injured Korean soldiers in the physical therapy department.
Bill provided his serviceability to the country for four years, and in 2011 at the Navy ceremony, he was even appointed as an honorary chief officer! However, since then, life has taken a turn for Cosby, and he is currently serving time.
George Carlin
This would be a really surprising fact, but before establishing himself as a super lucrative standup comedian, George Carlin served in the US Air Force. The reason might tear you up, but it was because he wanted to earn some extra cash to help pay the fees at his broadcasting school.
George's posting was in Bossier City, Louisiana's Barksdale Air Force Base as a radar technician. Although he never found himself on the battlefield, Carlin always made sure he contributed as much as he can from different positions. Thank you, sir, for the service and for making us laugh as well.
Robert Fuller
Born Leonard Leroy Lee, Robert Fuller is a retired actor who began his acting career in the 1950s. He is most notable for his roles in movies like The Brian from Planet Arrows, Teenage Thunder, and Incident at Phantom Hill.
Yet before he became an actor, Fuller served in the US Army for two years as part of the infantry. During his service (which began at just 19 years of age), Fuller was in Korea, stationed under the 19th Infantry Regiment. He was later chosen as Guard Mount’s outstanding soldier an impressive three times!
Robert Duvall
Between 1953 and 1954, Robert Duvall, actor, and filmmaker served in the United States army in the infantry unit, and by the end of the Korean War, he left the military as a private first class. After he appeared in the comedy production Room Service during his time in Camp Gordon, he studied the theatre arts with Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman in 1955.
In 2015, Robert got an Oscar nomination based on his role in The Judge, making him the oldest considered for the award at the time. Duvall's most recent movie appearance was in Widows, a raid movie released in 2018.
Alan Alda
Award-winning actor, screenwriter, director, author, and comedian Alan Alder made quite a name for himself in his time. Yet what most people don't know about him is that Alda was once in the military.
After graduating from school, Alan joined the military and served at Fort Bening for a year and the US Army Reserve for another six months. His army experience might have helped in some of his roles, including his award-winning role in Aviator and his most notable role as Hawkeye Pierce in MASH. Who said serving in the military couldn't help an actor's career?
Dennis Franz
Retired actor Dennis Franz is best known for acting the role of Andy Sipowics in NYPD Blue, a television series centered on the New York City Police Department. Although, before he went into acting and later became a celebrity, Franz served in the US Air force in the army’s 82nd and 101st divisions in Vietnam.
Despite having fought for his country in the war, Dennis doesn’t think about the days spent as a military official with fondness. On the contrary, he feels they robbed him of his youth because it made him feel older and worn out.
Harvey Keitel
By joining the Marine Corps at 16, Harvey Keitel went on a spiritual journey to discover a higher purpose in life and was assigned to Lebanon for Operation Blue Bat, where he learned that marines must keep citizens safe instead of causing mayhem in the world.
Harvey left the military service to pursue his passion for acting and made it big time with moves like Pulp Fiction, Mean Streets and Reservoir Dogs. He has won various awards for his exceptional acting, which made leaving the military service well worth it.
Adam Driver
Adam Driver auditioned for the Juilliard School of drama, dance, and music but was rejected the first time. Following the 9/11 attack, he decided to enlist in the United States Marine Corps, which gave him a feeling of self empowerment from the intense training, and that encouraged Adam to try again for Juilliard.
The former marine’s confidence in the corps helped land him a spot in the school, which was instrumental to his stardom in Hollywood. Upon graduation, he debuted his career with Girls, after which he acted as Kylo Ren/Ben Solo in the Star Wars franchise and the Oscar-nominated hit Marriage Story.
Mickey Rooney
Nine decades is a long time to be in showbiz, but Mickey Rooney made the best of all those years by featuring in an awe-inspiring 300 films. At the peak of his career, though, he was drafted to World War II, where he served to entertain the troops in the combat zone and won a bronze medal for his efforts in the war.
However, when Mickey returned from military service, he was no longer a big catch on the big-screens. Regardless of that, he appeared in many low budget movies with good critical acclaim and won numerous accolades for his comedic skills.
Jimmy Stewart
In 1940, Jimmy Stewart was drafted into the army, although he was previously rejected for being underweight. After the initial rejection, he gained enough weight to qualify for enlistment into the Air Corpse in 1941 until he retired in 1968.
Jimmy suffered Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from his military time because of innocent lives lost during his service and losing over a hundred fellow soldiers in combat. Even though he never talked about the events that led to his diagnosis, he acted it out in the famous movie, It’s A Wonderful Life.
Sidney Poitier
Award-winning actor Sidney Poiter has been setting records long before he set the record of being the first Bahamian and African-American to receive an Academy Award for Best Actor. Poitier won the award for his performance in Lilies of the Field.
Before then, Poiter had also set the record of being the youngest soldier in his unit. After all, when he joined the military, he was only sixteen years of age and pretended to be older to get in. During his time in the military, Sidney served as a medical attendant.
Jerry Garcia
Before coming up with albums like Run for the Roses and Cats Under the Stars, Jerry Garcia was a part of the US Army. The legendary singer drafted himself into active service as a punishment for his misdeeds.
After completing his training at the Fort Ord facility, he found himself stationed at San Francisco's Presidio. During his time as a military man, Garcia missed roll calls and spent most of his time leisurely engaged, and this was enough to get him discharged from service. Fortunately for us, he got out and went on to form the iconic band Grateful D**d!
Rob Riggle
Being a marine is one thing, but rising up the ladder to become a decorated lieutenant colonel and then quitting your job to pursue acting is a whole new level! It is the true story of Rob Riggle, the man who played Mr. Walters in 21 Jump Street and its lauded sequel 22 Jump Street.
Even after quitting the Marine Forces, Riggle kept in touch with the military and defense world. Most famously, he went to Iraq as a member of the USO to entertain the American troops with his wit and charm.
Johnny Carson
Let us agree that Johnny Carson doesn’t look like a military man, even by a long shot! But the fact remains that the prolific talk show host was inducted as an apprentice shipman in the navy and soon after promoted to the rank of midshipman.
During his time on the USS Pennsylvania, he worked as a communications officer who spent most days decrypting messages. Even back then, he had a flair for comedy and often found himself tasked with entertaining the fleet members. Now, we know that Carson deserved his Presidential Medal of Freedom for more than one reason!
Tom Selleck
Tom Selleck's thick mustache and brisk walking style gives it away, doesn't it? In 1967, the actor got a draft notice from the California Army National Guard, and soon he found himself in the component's 160th Infantry Regiment. After serving there for six years, he quit the forces to concentrate on his acting career.
Selleck subsequently went on to portray Thomas Magnum's role, a private detective who was a member of the SEAL unit. Tom is actively involved in veteran affairs and serves as the Vietnam Memorial Fund's spokesperson off the screen. Whatever said and done, no one can take the patriotism out of him!
Mr. T
Mr. T looked all convincing in his role as Sergeant Bosco Baracus in The A-Team because he had the real-life experience of being in the troops. He served in the Military Police Corps for a brief period before his lifelong affair with wrestling and acting began.
In what has since become an interesting anecdote, Mr. T once famously had to chop trees as punishment for misconduct. With all the raw energy oozing from his hands, he managed to cut down nearly 70 of them, leaving the entire platoon astonished! No wonder he was named the ‘Top Trainee’ of his batch.
Don Rickles
Often called the best insult comedian in the country, Don Rickles chanced upon his first job in 1941 just after completing high-school. It was that of a seaman in the US Navy, which allowed him to serve on the USS Cyrene for nearly five years.
After getting discharged from service, he enrolled himself into the American Academy of Dramatic Arts before the world of stand-up comedy opened the doors for him. By this time, Rickles knew what he wanted to do and ended up entertaining people with his wit for the remainder of his lifetime.
Kris Kristofferson
Kris Kristofferson's family were staunch patriots who laid utmost emphasis on serving in the military. So, after the man got a degree in English literature, he found himself pushed into the US Army. The induction soon led to training at the Ranger School, where he learned how to fly a helicopter.
Despite doing well in the forces, Kris didn't feel content as an army man and quit his job after being assigned a captain's rank. Eventually, Kristofferson made a name for himself as a musician and actor, but that success came at the cost of his family's wrath.
John Coltrane
World War II so moved John Coltrane that he joined the army despite not receiving a conscription call. The jazz maestro undertook training at the New York naval station and was then posted at Pearl Harbor shortly after. It was during this period he fell in love with jazz music, and the unit assigned him the role of playing saxophone for their swing band.
After his stint with the Navy ended, he continued to perform and achieved great success in the world of music. All in all, we can say that Coltrane achieved a great deal in the four decades of his lifetime!
Johnny Cash
Besides enthralling us with his music, Johnny Cash took up many roles in his lifetime like salesman and radio announcer. But the most significant of them all was his spell with the US Air Force. While learning the nuances of aircraft at the San Antonio station, he managed to form a music band.
Within four years, Cash got discharged from the forces and started making music on a full-time basis. His baritone voice was a huge hit, and within a year, he started gracing the most prominent recording studios in America.
Ernest Hemingway
This name is probably the most surprising one on this list! Ernest Hemingway achieved many titles and accolades in his lifetime, and his service during the first World War is among the lesser-known ones.
At the age of 18, Hemingway signed up to be an ambulance driver, wherein his primary role was to deliver sweets and other supplies to soldiers. In fact, he even got injured when he came in the line of fire while on duty, and that warranted a hospital stay for nearly six months. Subsequently, he recovered from the injury and returned to his homeland to become a journalist and celebrated writer.
James Stewart
Making the transition from being in the Army to acting is never easy, but legendary actor James Stewart made it seem like a child's play. Before joining Hollywood, the actor earned his private and commercial pilot license, making it easier for him to join the U.S. Army Air Force.
Despite being denied a spot after his first try because he was underweight, Stewart was finally accepted in 1941 and went on to become a Brigadier General by the time he was leaving service in 1968. Today, Stewart ranks as one of the Hollywood greats with a long and illustrious film career upholding his place in the showbiz pantheon.
Henry Fonda
You might know the late Henry Fonda from his flawless performances in the blockbuster films On Golden Pond and The Grapes Of Wrath*, but did you know that he served in the U.S. Navy? Yes, the legendary actor took a break from his Hollywood duties to join the marine folk during World War II, with his service earning him a Presidential Citation and the Bronze Star.
Fonda picked up his acting career when the war ended, and he starred in numerous films as a military character. Sadly the actor passed on in 1982 due to a heart attack after ailing from prostate cancer for a long time.
Ernest Borgnine
Among the few celebrities who served in the military twice, Ernest Borgnine was a popular veteran actor and a navy officer who joined the U.S. Navy before making his Hollywood debut in the late 1940s. Despite being discharged in 1941 after six years of service, the actor rejoined the Navy in 1942, in Pearl Harbor's wake.
With ten years of exemplary service, Borgnine retired from the Navy in 1945 to continue with his acting career. He achieved fame with his performance in Marty, winning him the coveted Academy Award. The military veteran had a massively successful career in Hollywood for over six decades before passing on in 2012.
Glenn Miller
Not many people can boast of having more hits than Elvis Presley, but Glenn Miller's one of them, and during his peak in the late '30s, the performer was one of the best-selling artists. When he was 38, Miller decided to join the Army, and despite being rejected by the Navy for being too old, in 1942, he got finally accepted into the Air Force.
During his military service, Miller established an Army band that churned out over 50 hits and played close to 800 shows. Sadly, when traveling to France to perform for the U.S. troops in 1944, the trombonist's plane disappeared, and to date, it's never been found.
Clark Gable
Different people have different reasons behind joining the military, and for Clark Gable, it was his late wife. When his then actress wife Carole Lombard passed on due to injuries, she suffered from a plane crash while on her way to a war-bond rally, Gable was distressed, and in 1942, he joined the U.S. Air Force before retiring two years later as a major.
Nicknamed 'The King,' Gable made his acting debut on stage before rising to become a famous Hollywood star, with his role as Rhett Butler in Gone With The Wind earning him rave reviews. The actor passed on in 1960, after suffering a heart attack.
Bea Arthur
Bea Arthur is famous for her performance as Maude Findlay on the popular sitcom All in the Family, but did you know she’s also among the first ladies to enlist in Marine Reserves? The actress joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1943 when she was 21 years and served as a typist and truck driver before her honorable discharge in 1945.
The Golden Girls actress had a majorly successful Hollywood career, with a reported net worth of $8 million by her passing in 2009. We have no idea whether she had some combat training during her military service, but we can be sure Bea was more than competent!
Ted Williams
While most athletes are all about fame and fortune, Ted Williams was cut from a different cloth. The legendary baseball player put the bat-and-ball aside and joined the Army under the Reserve Aviation Unit in 1942, where he served four years.
Williams rejoined the Army in 1952 during the Korean War, but his military career was cut short after developing pneumonia one year later. The player went on close to 40 missions, earning countless accolades and awards, and his time in baseball was massively successful, too, with Ted considered one of the greatest hitters in history.
Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
Before dipping his feet into the murky waters of Hollywood, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. worked as a clerk, and by 1939, the actor was already a household name - All that had to be kept on hold, though, as World War II broke out.
Douglas was assigned to South America's special envoy when the USA joined the conflict. During his time in the Navy, Douglas played a significant combat role, establishing a special Navy unit called 'Beach Jumpers,' whose specialty was deception and psychological warfare. With his mark in service well documented and recognized, Fairbanks retired from the force as a captain in 1954.
Kurt Vonnegut
Famous for writing dark, satirical books, Kurt Vonnegut is a renowned author who rose to fame after penning the acclaimed literary novel Slaughterhouse Five, which became a best-seller. While you might know the book, did you know Kurt's own experiences inspired it?
After graduating from Cornell University, the author enlisted in the Army in 1943 and was then unfortunately taken into confinement while participating in the 'Battle of the Bulge' as an infantry battalion scout. Vonnegut was released and returned to the Army in 1945, and we bet with his successful military and writing career, he doesn't worry about his bank balance these days.
Steve McQueen
Nicknamed 'The King of Cool,' Steve McQueen was a legendary actor who rose to become the highest-paid actor in the world during his peak. Famous for his rebellious nature, McQueen joined the Marine Corps in 1947, but he had some issues in the force that saw his rank demoted several times.
Despite his combative nature and a trouble-filled stint in the military, Steve is credited with saving some marines from a disaster by pulling them out of a tank before hell broke loose. We bet that incident will remain to be a shining star in what was otherwise a blotched military career.
Sunny Anderson
You've probably seen Sunny Anderson making delicious dishes at Future Food Network, and we are confident that many of you have already tried her recipes. But not many people know that before finding her spot in the food industry, Sunny used to work for an Air Force media agency. Interestingly, she had a passion for serving in the military, primarily because of her family's army routes.
Soon after graduating from high school, Anderson decided to join the US forces. Four years down the lane, she was discharged with honor. Thanks to her experience, following her retirement Sunny, worked on several radio shows, eventually hosting her hit show The Kitchen.
Owen Wilson
Almost everyone agrees that the handsome Owen Wilson has a unique acting style, and thanks to her outstanding performance in films like Midnight in Paris and Night At the Museum, he became a household name. Let us ask you a question, did you know about the star's military service? Yes, you heard it right. It turns out that Owen attended an armed forces institute in New Mexico.
Following his graduation, he decided to pursue a career in the acting business. These days, he has managed to make a real name for himself in Hollywood and amassed a whopping $40 million fortune!
Rock Hudson
In t he1940s, soon after completing his high school graduation, Rock Hudson decided to enlist in US Navy. Following his rigorous training, he served the country in the Second World War as an aircraft engineer. Four years down the lane, he was discharged from service and did a few odd jobs to pay his bills while working hard to pursue a career in acting.
Interestingly, his hard work paid off when he starred in Pillow Talk, which instantly made him Hollywood's ultimate heartthrob. Sadly, due to some medical complications, our favorite actor passed away in the mid-80s.
James Garner
Who in their right mind does not adore the legendary James Garner for his outstanding voice acting, on-screen presence, and production skills? It seems that he learned to organize things from the military as he had served in Merchant Marine. But unfortunately, Garner fell victim to severe seasickness, which is probably why he later enlisted in California National Guard. Interestingly, he served the country in the Korean War, where Garner was also wounded twice.
Little did he know that following his discharge, a distinguished career as an actor was awaiting him. To this day, James remains in our hearts for his performances in films like Maverick and The Rockford Files.
Yogi Berra
We all know that Yogi Berra became one of the greatest baseball catchers in the game's history. But not many of his fans might know that he also served the nation during the Second World War. And not just any posting; it turns out that Berra was the gunner's mate during the invasion of France.
Following the end of the conflict, Yogi retired from the military he started playing baseball in the minor league. A few years later, he played for the Yankees and after his demise in 2015, Yogi posthumously became the Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient for his brilliant service.
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye was undoubtedly one of the most excellent musicians back in the 60s. Yet long before he established a name for himself in the industry, he decided to enlist for the US Air Force after dropping out of high school. Unfortunately, Gaye realized that he was not suitable to fulfill the duty of an Airman. So, the singer chose to discharge from the service.
Thanks to his soulful voice, he established a name in the music industry within years and was immediately contacted by several record labels. The rest is history, and today, Marvin is nothing short of a national treasure for his contributions to the industry.
Clifton James
Best known for his outstanding performances in the James Bond films, including The Man With The Golden G** and Live and Let D**. Surprisingly, it turns out that all the action in his films was not new for him as he had a pretty good wartime experience. During the Second World War, James served in an infantry unit, a challenging post for troops.
Not only that, for his outstanding services for the United States, he received Silver Star, Bronze Star, as well as two Purple Hearts. Sadly, in his late nineties, he succumbed to diabetes and left his millions of fans mourning the loss of the brilliant star.
Josephine Baker
Josephine Baker undoubtedly became a symbol of resistance in the jazz age. At an early age, the American-born star moved to the French capital of Paris where she rose to international and national fame. You might not know, but the stunning Baker was France's resistance agent, recruited by the country's intelligence agency to gather sensitive information from enemy German troops.
Well, we must say that her story looks more like a scene from a spy movie. Later, the French government bestowed her with Rosette de la Resistance and Croix de Guerre - some of the country's highest honors.
Charlton Heston
Over his six decades-long-career in the entertainment business, the gorgeous actor Charlton Heston appeared in more than one hundred movies. That's pretty impressive! There are chances that you might remember him as Moses from The Ten Commandments. His other film credits include the blockbuster epics Ben-Hur and El Cid.
Charlton served in the army for almost two years, and interestingly, within such a short span, he was promoted to the rank of staff sergeant. It appears that wherever Heston put his feet, success was there to kiss them. The celebrated leading man may be gone, but he's certainly not forgotten.
Henry Kissinger
Almost everyone knows that American statesman Henry Kissinger. But not many know that in 1938, he fled Nazi-controlled Germany. Fast forward five years, when he was a student at college, he decided to join the US military. Even though initially allocated to the engineering branch, Kissinger eventually found himself reassigned to the infantry division.
Since then, over the years, he has served the United States globally, primarily focusing on international relations and military conflicts! Currently, in his nineties, Kissinger is still respected by many for his political wit and distinct persona!
Sam Elliot
Known for playing so many heroic roles, it might not come as a surprise to you to find out that popular actor Sam Elliot was once in the military. After all, all that heroics need to have come from somewhere, right?
Before becoming an actor, Elliot was a part of the Califonia Air National Gard and served in the 163rd Airlift Wing. He even received a Spirit of America award in 2002 from the National Guard Association. So next time you watch a Sam Elliot film, bear this in mind ─ the real deal is not that much different from the heroic figure you see on screen.
Kirk Douglas - Navy
Kirk Douglas turned 102 in 2018, and this living legend definitely doesn't need an introduction. He's one of the last remaining stars from Hollywood's Golden Age, and we bet that you didn't know that interesting fact about him. Douglas has been in more than 90 movies over the course of his 64-year career, but before he called himself an actor, he served in World War II as a Navy lieutenant, then became a communications officer for submarine warfare. He was medically discharged in 1944.
Kirk might have been in retirement for many years now, yet his legacy is still very much alive, especially given the fact that both his son and grandson are following his glorious path.
Chuck Norris - Air Force
Chuck Norris has a diary, and it's called the Guinness Book of World Records. Before becoming an actor and a legendary meme, Chuck first served in the U.S. Air Force in South Korea in 1958. Many don't know that while he was serving in Korea, he saw some locals practice some Tang Soo Do - and ended up reaching black belt levels by the time he left the Asian country. Norris even founded the American Tang Soo Do back in 1966 and is now considered its grandmaster.
He has taken advantage of his success to give back to the military community and, as an act of charity, donate to veterans regularly, serving as a spokesman for the Veterans Administration and hospitalized veterans.
Clint Eastwood - Lifeguard
The Man with No Name was actually named Clint Eastwood. But before being the iconic Western cowboy, Clint was drafted to serve in the Korean War. Knowing Clint, you would have guessed that he had a pretty awesome job.
Well, you guessed wrong. Clint was a swimming instructor and didn't see much action on the field, and he was mostly stationed at Fort Ord.
Drew Carey - US Marines
Drew Carey of Whose Line Is It Anyway? and The Drew Carey Show served as a U.S. Marine Corps Reserve for six years, starting in 1981. Six years is a lot of time, don’t you think? It was during his time in the army that he discovered he could serve the United States of America a lot better by making people laugh.
And he did well! He started performing stand-up comedy while in service and then visited U.S. military bases in Iraq to help bring smiles to our troops. Considering that he now has his own star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame, we suppose that his choice to leave the Marines was more than wise!
Charles Bronson - Air Force
Charles Bronson started acting in 1951, and mostly known for his roll in Once Upon a Time in the West. He died in 2003 at 81 years old leaving a legacy of stellar performances, mainly in Western films. He also shares a name with Britain’s most notorious prisoner.
Not many people know he served in World War II as a combat pilot in the US air force and was awarded the Purple Heart. During the last years of his life, Bronson battled numerous health issues, from pneumonia and Alzheimer's disease to lung cancer and hip injuries.