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Celebrities’ Courageous Stories About How They Served in the Army

Paul Newman – U.S. Navy

Paul Newman was a U.S. Navy veteran who went on to become the most well-known actor of his time, winning awards and performing in iconic movies such as Cool Hand Luke and Butch Cassidy And The Sting. He’s considered one of the most influential actors in film history, and that’s not all!

Unfortunately, he had to give up his Navy V-12 pilot training after it became clear that he would be color blind. His life ended with lung cancer in 2008 at the age of 83, despite never being confirmed as a cause for his departure.

Gene Hackman – US Marines

Gene Hackman had a career before Hollywood fame, which began during his days in the Marine Corps. His Hollywood career lasted more than six decades. He was primarily a radio operator and found other ways to express himself as well. One day he volunteered for duty at the radio station of his unit, DJing without thinking anything would come from it, but they liked him so much that he became their newscaster too!

Later sent to China, where most stationed there were radio operators. He is one Hollywood legend with a storied career that won him two Academy Awards, four Golden Globes, and two BAFTAs.

Adam Driver – US Marines

It’s not surprising that Adam Driver is such a good fighter in the Star Wars movies. Maybe he applied a trick or two that he must have learned during his time as a marine. He served as a mortarman with the Marines after 9/11. The attacks motivated him to serve in the Marines and be graced by the uniform.

Unfortunately, he broke his sternum while serving. As a result, he was medically relieved from service for this injury despite trying to recover. Driver wanted to serve the Marines for a longer time and enjoy wearing the esteemed uniform.

Owen Wilson – New Mexico Military Institute

If you ever pictured Owen Wilson as a military man, this is your chance to rethink it. Owen Wilson joined the New Mexico Military Institute. It’s kind of hard to believe, right? Imagining Wilson in a military uniform seems a bit hilarious as this man is always getting into some accident! He probably had the same opinion, and he never completed his studies or continued with any more training either.

After leaving school at NMMI, he attended the University of Texas, where he studied Arts like many other actors before he has done too, but we all know that comedy was really what made him famous!

Clint Eastwood – U.S. Army

Clint Eastwood is a Hollywood mogul who’s been in the industry for over 50 years. He attempted to go back to complete his studies at Seattle University but ended up being drafted into the Korean War instead.

Clint had a short stay in the U. Army. Even though Eastwood wasn’t really fighting on the battlefield during that time since all he did was work as a lifeguard, The Mule will be his next project – you won’t want to miss it! We are all excited to see him in this upcoming project after a long time.

Chuck Norris – U.S. Air Force

The actor and martial artist turned into a cult figure joined the U.S. Air Force in 1958, just after his high school graduation. Chuck Norris was then sent to South Korea, where he served as an air policeman – it is there that he got acquainted with workouts and started training in Tang Soo Do and Tae Kwon Do.

He learned a lot during his stay in South Korea. When returning back home to California, at March AFB (Air Force Base), until 1962 when he retired from service because of arthritis on both knees.

Pat Sajak – U. S. Army

Pat Sajak was a familiar voice on the radio during Vietnam, and today he’s best known as the host of Wheel of Fortune. However, his first jobs were with Armed Forces Radio. He became popular for playing rock ‘n roll music to soldiers stationed there all around Asa. He was sometimes broadcasting from locations that seemed like they couldn’t be more dangerous than what they already faced!

Leaving the Army after two years, Pat continued working in different formats on Top 40 stations. Eventually, he became one of America’s most iconic game show hosts ever – not just because you can win money but also because it seems to come so naturally.

Sidney Poitier – U.S. Army

Sidney Poitier is a Bahamian-American actor who has taken credit for being the first-ever to bag an Academy Award and Golden Globe award. He got this prestigious honor due to his performance in Lilies of the Field, which was superb! Sidney had so many financial problems when he was younger that even though he joined during World War II, he could be useful without necessarily fighting on battlefields.

Sidney only worked as an attendant at mental hospitals. It is still commendable that he could be of any use for the country during the war.

Willie Nelson – U.S. Air Force

Willie Nelson is a big name in country music. He’s been nominated for several Grammys and has won three of them, but you might not know that this talented musician was once an Air Force pilot! When he finished high school, Willie enlisted as part of the Korean War effort and served 9 months before getting discharged because his back gave him trouble.

This was during the 1950s, and he may have planned to stay for longer in the air force; however, he had to be under serious supervision by the doctors.

Arnold Schwarzenegger – Australian Army

Arnold Schwarzenegger is a guy who knows how to live dangerously. He’s tried his hand at everything from politics, weightlifting, and acting – not only in movies but also as Governor of California for 8 years! And Arnold doesn’t just dabble in these things; he dives headfirst into them with reckless abandon.

His military experience was no exception: when the law required all 18-year old men to serve back then. Schwarzenegger enlisted himself without hesitation. His risky endeavors in life have truly paid off in shaping him and his personality and made him world-famous.

Kris Kristofferson – U.S. Army

Kris Kristofferson has an interesting story that is worth telling. He became a notable name in the music industry in the 1970s. We all know him for his songs like Me and Bobby McGee, Help Me Make it Through the Night, Sunday Mornin’ Comin Down.

Around this time, Kris joined the army because their family really wanted it to happen. Kris joined the U.S. Army, and it turned out to be a great investment for him when he faced tough times in his musical career with no other way of making money on the side.

Sean Connery – British Royal Navy

Sean Connery is the ultimate James Bond actor, but he also served in the British Royal Navy for a few years. The Scottish legend learned his spy moves from probably being an officer on board and joined at just 16! Sean stayed in the military for three years, but it became a short stint. He faced numerous health issues that made him leave early, though.

Afterward, Sean pursued acting, which became his Hollywood star status we can’t be more thankful about now. His magnificent Bond persona is a fan favorite.

Paul Newman – U.S. Navy

Paul Newman was a U.S. Navy veteran who went on to become the most well-known actor of his time, winning awards and performing in iconic movies such as Cool Hand Luke and Butch Cassidy And The Sting. He’s considered one of the most influential actors in film history, and that’s not all!

Unfortunately, he had to give up his Navy V-12 pilot training after it became clear that he would be color blind. His life ended with lung cancer in 2008 at the age of 83, despite never being confirmed as a cause for his departure.

Humphrey Bogart – U.S. Navy

Humphrey Bogart’s time as a member of the United States Navy during WWI is something that many people know about. He enlisted in 1918 at age 18 and was given an opportunity to join after his mother urged him to sign up for it. His famous scar on his upper lip, which is believed by some sources to have been from when he served with the navy, helped launch his career post-war.

His career first started off on Broadway before making it a big-screen actor, and most recognized him today due to his iconic roles. Sadly though, Humphrey passed away in 1957 because of esophageal cancer.

Carl Reiner – U.S. Air Force

Carl Reiner is a talented comedic actor who served in the U.S. Air Force as well as worked behind the scenes on shows like The Dick Van Dyke Show, and he’s also known for Tweeting! This 96-year old performer has been entertaining audiences with his work since 1940. When he became a corporal in the military service of our country – he even had some time to serve overseas during WWII!

Nowadays, Carl uses Twitter often where followers can see him sharing updates about activities around town or just get an update that there are new episodes available from classic T.V. series which were created by none other than himself.

Morgan Freeman – U.S. Air Force

You may be surprised to know that Morgan Freeman once turned down a prestigious scholarship for the U.S. Air Force. He always had a feeling of patriotism and undying love for historical and war films. This inspired Freeman to become a pilot and also join the Army in 1955.

Although he never got to fly a plane, he worked as a radar technician there. After four years, he was discharged in 1959. We all would have seen his true potential if he had achieved the dream of becoming a pilot.

Mickey Rooney – U.S. Army

Mickey Rooney had a very interesting and sometimes tragic acting career. He was born in 1920 when movies were just becoming popular, so he started his film work at an early age – as soon as Hollywood discovered him. But Mickey didn’t only star on the big screen; by World War II’s end, he’d already enlisted with “Special Services,” entertaining American troops around Europe!

After returning home to America after that war ended, and has appeared in over 200 films! Mickey continued building up his impressive movie resume with such classics as Breakfast At Tiffany’s, and It’s A Mad-Mad-Mad-Mad World.

George W. Bush – National Guard

Former President of the U.S. George W. Bush was in the Texas Air National Guard. After this, he worked as a pilot and was assigned to Houston. Bush failed his physical exam in 1972; therefore, he was suspended from flying again. Eventually, he started Arbusto Energy, which was a small company initially.

Besides, he became politically involved and, as a result, served as the 43rd president of the U.S. from 2001-2009. He is still politically active and meets influential people like the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammad bin Salman.

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