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33 Celebrities You Didn’t Know Served In The Military
Before they commanded the silver screen, the world stage, or the baseball diamond, many of America’s most iconic figures commanded troops, flew combat missions, or served in the quiet, crucial roles that support a nation at war. Some of these famous veterans are household names — and you may not have even known that they served their countries.
Military service helped shape the future careers of these celebrities, artists, and leaders. Bob Ross developed the quiet, calm demeanor he was known for after vowing never to shout again after two decades in the Air Force. And some of Drew Carey’s earliest audiences for his comedy shows were his fellow Marines.
The most widespread intersection of fame and service came during World War II. The conflict demanded a national mobilization on an unprecedented scale, resulting in young men being called to service either through the draft or a heightened sense of patriotism. The war spawned dozens of famous veterans, from Bea Arthur to Christopher Lee.
Below, learn more about the little-known military careers of 33 celebrities.
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Audie Murphy, The Most Decorated American Combat Soldier Of World War II
Audie Murphy was the single most decorated American combat soldier of World War II, earning every U.S. military combat medal for valor from the Army that existed at the time.
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, a young Audie Murphy was eager to enlist. However, standing only 5'5" and weighing just over 100 pounds, he was rejected by the Marine Corps, the Navy, and the Army paratroopers for being too small. Thanks to his persistence, though, he was finally accepted into the U.S. Army in June 1942, a few days after his 17th birthday (though he had falsified his birth date to appear 18).
After basic training, he was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division. The famous veteran's service began in North Africa and continued through the campaigns in Sicily and Italy. From his very first days in combat, Murphy distinguished himself as an exceptionally skilled and aggressive soldier, earning promotions and decorations for his bravery.
Public DomainAudie Murphy spent 400 days on the front lines during World War II.
During Operation Dragoon in southern France in August 1944, Murphy's best friend was killed by a German machine gun crew that feigned surrender. Enraged, Murphy single-handedly advanced on the German position. According to military records from the time, he killed eight of the soldiers, wounded three, and took 11 more prisoner. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions.
However, Audie Murphy's most famous act of bravery occurred on Jan. 26, 1945, in the Colmar Pocket in France. Now a second lieutenant, Murphy was the commander of a company that was attacked by six German tanks and waves of infantry while awaiting reinforcements.
With his unit facing annihilation, Murphy ordered his men to fall back to a safer position in the woods. He remained alone at the front, armed with his M1 carbine and a radio to direct artillery fire. He then climbed onto an abandoned tank destroyer to fire upon the approaching enemies himself.
From this exposed position, he used the vehicle's machine gun to single-handedly hold off the German advance for over an hour. He killed or wounded an estimated 50 German soldiers, repelling their attack and saving his company. He sustained a leg wound at some point during the firefight, but he still kept shooting until he ran out of ammunition. Murphy then rejoined his men, refused medical attention, and led them in a successful counterattack.
For this incredible act of valor, the famous veteran was awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration.
By the end of the war, Audie Murphy had spent 400 days on the front lines and had been wounded three times. He had earned 33 U.S. medals, including the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars, and three Purple Hearts.
After the war, a producer saw Murphy featured in Life magazine and asked him to come to Hollywood — and the rest was history. Over the next two decades, Murphy appeared in more than 40 films, becoming one of the most famous veterans in history.
Famous Veterans: How Jackie Robinson Broke The Army's Color Barrier
Jackie Robinson is most often remembered for integrating Major League Baseball in 1947, but even before then, he had challenged racial segregation in the U.S. Army.
Five years before his Major League debut, Robinson was drafted into the Army, where he was assigned to a segregated cavalry unit at Fort Riley in Kansas. According to the National Museum of African American History & Culture, Robinson quickly embraced the "Double V" campaign, which saw him and other Black soldiers declaring a "war against bigotry and racial intolerance both at home and abroad."
That was easier said than done. While stationed at Fort Riley, Robinson and other Black soldiers were denied entry into Officer Candidate School. This led them to protest, which eventually resulted in Robinson and other Black servicemen being granted officer status. In January 1943, Robinson was commissioned as a second lieutenant.
National Baseball Hall of Fame LibraryJackie Robinson helped integrate both Major League Baseball and the U.S. Army.
The most defining moment of this famous veteran's military career came the next summer. By July 1944, he'd been transferred to Fort Hood in Texas to serve with the 761st "Black Panthers" Tank Battalion.
On July 6, Robinson boarded a military bus and was ordered by the driver to move to the back, in accordance with the local Jim Crow laws. Robinson, however, refused. At the time, Army regulations had desegregated military-operated buses, but local civilian drivers often still enforced segregation. Robinson argued with the driver — and later with military police and a superior officer who became involved.
As a result, Robinson was court-martialed, with officials claiming he had conducted himself in a "sloppy and contemptuous" manner. He faced six charges in total: disturbing the peace, drunkenness, conduct unbecoming an officer, insulting a civilian woman, insubordination, and refusing to obey the lawful orders of a superior officer.
Robinson felt the charges were racially motivated, and he enlisted the help of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to help draw attention to the trial. Indeed, during the court-martial a month later, Robinson was acquitted of all charges.
Robinson later reflected on the incident in his autobiography:
"My lawyer summed up the case beautifully by telling the board that this was not a case involving any violation of the Articles of War, or even of military tradition, but simply a situation in which a few individuals sought to vent their bigotry on a Negro they considered 'uppity' because he had the audacity to exercise rights that belonged to him as an American and a soldier."
Following the acquittal, Robinson was transferred to Camp Breckinridge in Kentucky, where he served as a coach for Army athletics. He received an honorable discharge in November 1944, having reached the rank of second lieutenant.
And while his military career was cut short, Robinson's Major League career was just getting started. Soon, he'd become one of the most famous veterans in sports history.
After reading about these famous veterans, learn about the strange deaths of 16 famous historic figures. Then, read the little-known story of the Bonus Army, the 20,000 veterans who marched on Washington, D.C. in 1932.
The post 33 Celebrities You Didn’t Know Served In The Military appeared first on All That's Interesting.
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