Veterans Day celebrates those who served our country, and some of Hollywood’s biggest names are among them. Take a look at the surprising famous faces who served in the military.
Ice-T turned to the Army after high school. “When I had my daughter I was like, ‘Man, I’m going to go to jail, I got to do something,’ and I went to an enlistment office. Next thing you know, I’m in the military, four years infantry.” He later deployed to Hawaii before returning to the civilian world to start his rap career.
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Bob Ross made a complete 180 after his stint as a first sergeant in the U.S. Air Force. He told the Orlando Sentinel, “I was the guy who makes you scrub the latrine, the guy who makes you make your bed, the guy who screams at you for being late to work. The job requires you to be a mean, tough person. And I was fed up with it.”
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Bea Arthur served as a typist and truck driver in the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve during World War II.
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Morgan Freeman joined the Air Force in 1955. He served four years as a radar technician.
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Pat Sajak started his broadcast career on the American Forces Vietnam Network while serving in Vietnam between 1968 and 1969.
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MC Hammer joined the Navy before his hit “U Can’t Touch This.”
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In 1961 Jimi Hendrix was busted for driving a stolen car, and when given the choice between prison or joining the Army, Hendrix joined up. He was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division, but was honorably discharged after three years.
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Hugh Hefner served as an infantry clerk in the Army. Getting his start in publishing, he also submitted cartoon work for Army publications.
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Drew Carey served in the Marines Corps Reserves from 1980 to 1986, and it was there he discovered his talent for comedy. He told Military.com, “While in the Marine Reserves, I was looking for a way to make some more money, and it was suggested that I try using my jokes.”
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After the September 11 attacks, Adam Driver took the call to action to join the Marines. Unfortunately, he was medically discharged after breaking his sternum in an unrelated activity. “To not get to go with that group of people I had been training with was … painful,” he told GQ.
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In 1958, Chuck Norris joined the Air Force and served in South Korea. It was there he also mastered the martial arts of Tang Soo Do and Judo.
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Elvis Presley had to put his music career on hold when he was drafted into the Army in 1957. He was stationed in both Texas and Germany, but was discharged in 1960.
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Tom Selleck was in the National Guard from 1967 to 1973.
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Mr. T, or Laurence Tureaud, served in the Army’s Military Police Corps after getting booted from college after a year. He eventually became a Squad Leader.
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Oscar winner Sidney Poitier initially had a hard time finding work when he moved from the Bahamas to the United States. To remedy the situation, at 16, he lied about his age and joined the military as a medical attendant at a mental hospital in New York.
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Don Knotts served in the Army in 1943. He was mostly utilized as entertainment for the troops as a ventriloquist.
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Mel Brooks joined the Army Corps of Engineers. His responsibilities included deactivating land mines.
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Clint Eastwood was drafted during the Korean War, and served his time at Fort Ord in California as a swim instructor.
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Tony Bennett joined the Army in 1944. He fought in Germany and France, and later joined the Army Special Services Band.
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