During the mid-20th century, many of Hollywood’s most recognizable stars stepped away from the spotlight to serve in the United States Army—including Elvis Presley. Drafted in late 1957, Presley declined special privileges and chose to serve as a regular soldier despite his worldwide fame. Even so, his experience in uniform inevitably differed in certain respects from that of fellow servicemen who lived outside the public eye.
Elvis Presley is drafted into the US Army
Elvis Presley’s induction into the United States Army just before Christmas in 1957 shocked the music industry. Already an international superstar, his career was soaring, and many worried that stepping away for military duty might disrupt his rapid rise.
Although he had the opportunity to join Special Services—the Army’s entertainment division, which could have spared him from standard duties—his manager encouraged him to serve as a regular enlisted soldier, taking on the same obligations as any other recruit.
Elvis Presley reported for duty at Fort Hood, Texas, on March 24, 1958, where he was assigned to the 2nd Armored Division, widely known as “Hell on Wheels.” His arrival sparked intense media attention, with large crowds gathering in hopes of catching a glimpse of the global star.
Following basic training, Presley deployed to Europe aboard the USS General George M. Randall. He was subsequently stationed in Friedberg, where he served with the 3rd Armored Division.
Elvis Presley’s military service
Publicly, Elvis Presley was happy with his stint in the military, particularly enjoying the portions of tank training. However, behind the scenes, he was not as content. He reportedly missed home and his family, and disliked training. As well, he was understandably worried about his career – or lack thereof – when his service was over.
Presley was genuinely determined to complete his service as a regular soldier, but, in reality, he had many unofficial benefits not afforded to other troops. Still, he was known to be extremely generous and provided those in his unit with television sets and extra fatigues. He also donated his wages to charity.
However, his service wasn’t all positive. While performing military exercises, Elvis was introduced to illicit substances, which he held in high regard for their energy and weight loss “benefits.”
Making America’s enemies uncomfortable
Elvis Presley’s presence in West Germany made America’s enemies uncomfortable, particularly the Soviet Union and East Germany. This created some serious tension between the US and the USSR, as the latter suspected the former was using Presley to lure defectors over the border.
East German Defense Minister Willi Stoph said Elvis and his music were a “means of seduction to make the youth ripe for atomic war.” Communist Party leader Walter Ulbricht added that it was “not enough to reject the capitalist decadence with words, to … speak out against the ecstatic ‘singing’ of someone like Presley. We have to offer something better.”
To counter rock and roll’s racy dancing, Communists created the Lipsi, a government-approved dance that was slightly more fun than standing on Legos. It was aimed toward young people and meant to win back rock and roll fans… Unsurprisingly, the dance not only never caught on, but was openly mocked.
Elvis Presley returns to the United States
Elvis Presley was discharged from the Army in March 1960 in what was a highly publicized event. Many were still bewildered by his decision to serve as a regular soldier, and he was asked why during the press conference. He responded:
“I was in a funny position. Actually, that’s the only way it could be. People were expecting me to mess up, to goof up in one way or another. They thought I couldn’t take it and so forth, and I was determined to go to any limits to prove otherwise, not only to the people who were wondering but to myself.”
On March 5, 1960, Presley was honorably discharged from active duty. Although he was terrified that his career had been killed by the military, his popularity had only risen while he was serving; his manager had secured plenty of material to drip-feed to the public while he was away.
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Presley’s popularity also took an unexpected turn during his service. Before he’d left, he was an extremely controversial figure – loved by teenagers and feared by parents. Becoming a symbol of rebellion, older generations believed Presley was a threat to the moral well-being of adolescents and was corrupting the nation.
However, when he returned, he’d gained considerable respect among older generations for his service. While many were still fiercely against Presley and his pelvic antics, his military career had actually given him a boost in fame.