10 Celebrities Who Risked Their Lives Serving In The Military

Unknown to most people, many of the popular actors today served the military. Some of these celebrities joined the military out of a civil duty while others out of their own free will. Nevertheless, the danger and sacrifice these men have faced in their lives is worthy or recognition. So here is a list of 25 celebrities who risked their lives serving in the military.

10

Elvis Presley

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Shortly after Elvis Presley was hailed as the King of Rock and Roll, he was inducted into the Fort Chaffee U.S. Army as a private and was assigned near Ford Smith in Arkansas. After his basic training at Fort Hood, he became part of the 3rd Armored Division in Friedberg, Germany and was paid ordinary wages. He donated most of his earnings to charity.

9

Tony Bennett

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Italian American singer Anthony Dominick Benedetto, more popularly known as Tony Bennett, was drafted into the United States Army during World War II and underwent special training at Fort Dix and Fort Robinson to be promoted as an infantry rifleman. Sometime in 1945, he was also assigned as a replacement to the 255th Infantry Regiment of the 63rd Infantry Division.

8

Alan Alda

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Born on January 28, 1936, American actor and director Alan Alda finished his studies in Paris and was an active Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) member. Shorty after he graduated college, he decided to join the US Army Reserve and underwent basic training as a gunnery officer within a period of six months. He also served for a year at Fort Benning in Georgia.

7

Charlton Heston

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Film, theater, and television actor Charlton Heston has always been a political activist. In 1944, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces and became a radio operator and an aerial gunner at B-25 Mitchell, which was then stationed around the Alaskan Aleutian Islands with the Eleventh Air Force. He served the military for two years and became a Staff Sergeant before he rose to fame as an actor.

6

Tom Selleck

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Best known for his private investigator role in television series Magnum P.I., Tom Selleck was once part of the 160th Infantry Regiment of the California Army National Guard where he served as a soldier. In the course of his stay in the military, his unit was stationed in Los Angeles in order to control the historical six-day L.A. riot known as Watts Riots.\

5

Ernest Borgnine

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Italian immigrant and multi-awarded actor Ernest Borgnine joined the United States Navy sometime in 1935, shortly after he graduated high school from James Hill House High School in Connecticut. After he was discharged in 1941, he enlisted again to serve the military, particularly the United States Navy. Following the bombing of the Pearl Harbor, he was promoted as the gunner’s mate 1st class rank and held several other positions.

4

Sir Sidney Poitier

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Sir Sidney Poitier is a Bahamian-American actor who was named as one of the Greatest Male Stars of All Time in 1999. At age 15, he moved to New York City and worked as a dishwasher and waiter. His desire to serve the United States Army during his late adolescence came after reading a newspaper and learning about the need for more military volunteers in the United States.

3

Steve McQueen

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Born Terence Stephen McQueen, Steve McQueen is an American actor best known for his role in The King of Cool. In 1947, he joined the United States Marine Corps where he was immediately promoted as Private First Class. He was also assigned to serve an armored unit but was demoted because of his rebellious behavior. After 41 days in military prison, he was assigned as the security honor guard of the private yacht of President Harry Truman.

2

Clark Gable

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American actor William Clark Gable joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942 as a gunner on an aircrew, following the death of his wife. He underwent several trainings and entered the USAAF OCS Class 42-E months after, where he was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant. In 1943, he also headed a six-man team at RAF Polebrook 351st in the United Kingdom.

1

Ronald Reagan

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The 33rd Governor of California and 40th President of the United States, Ronald Wilson Reagan, enlisted in the Army Reserve following his completion of the fourteen home-study Army Extension Courses in 1937. Before he became an actor and ventured into politics, he joined the Army Air Force and was assigned to AAF Public Relations and the 18th Army Air Force Base Unit.