From 1958 to 1960, the iconic Rock and roll star Elvis Presley found himself serving in the American Army. For plenty of people in the community, the draft was actually welcome news — they viewed his music as a form of desecration, something that was eating away at the moral fabric holding society together.
Fun Facts:
- Elvis Presley was given the chance to join Special Services, where he could have entertained fellow troops and enjoyed priority housing. Instead, his manager steered him toward serving as a regular soldier, with the idea that he'd come back home as a hero.
- For a large number of people, his choice to serve as an ordinary soldier actually cast his otherwise controversial and unaccepted music in a much more positive light — a sharp contrast to the negative perception that had previously surrounded him.
- During his time at war, and in the wake of losing his mother, he crossed paths with Priscilla Beaulieu, who would become his first wife. He also picked up a barbiturate addiction during this period, which would ultimately unravel his first marriage and claim his life at the age of 42.
- On March 2, 1960, Elvis Presley set foot back on American soil following an honorable discharge from service. He had earned the rank of sergeant.
- Elvis Presley passed away in 1977 after battling poor health and enduring several hospital stays. True to form, Presley kept performing right up until his body could no longer carry on. He was 42 years old.