He was assigned to the Second Armored Division’s Hell On Wheels (is that where Paul McCartney got the name for his Jeep, which he named the song after?). haircut and coined the phrase “hair today, gone tomorrow” in a comment to the news media. There, Elvis was assigned army serial number 53 310 761, and after his physical was put in charge of the group after being processed and sworn in.Ĭan you imagine, off you go to war, and you have Elvis in your company! The following day Elvis received his famous G.I. From there, he and 12 other recruits were bused to Kennedy Veterans Hospital. On March 24, 1958, at 6:35am, Elvis, accompanied by his parents and a group of family and friends, reported to the Memphis draft board. Elvis turned down both offers, not wanting any special treatment.Įlvis was going to serve his time like a regular G.I. With the news of Elvis’ forthcoming induction, the Navy and the Air Force offered bids for his services – the Navy offering to create a specially trained “Elvis Presley company” and the Air Force had a plan for him to tour their recruiting centers, to drum up new business. On his 22nd birthday, the Memphis draft board held a press conference to announce that Elvis would be classified 1A and would be drafted sometime that year. The most famous person on the planet was going to war (well, not quite war, but you know what I mean)! Well, as one would expect, this was going to be one hell of a great PR exercise for the military. Under the draft system, young men of good health were expected to be available from the age of 18 to serve in the military for two years. In 1953, well before he became the King of rock and roll, Elvis had registered with the US Selective Service System. He then joined the rest of the 3rd Armored Division on the USS General Randall for a voyage to Bremerhaven, Germany. On Sept 22nd 1958, after receiving special permission from the US Army, Elvis Presley gave one last press conference at the Military Ocean Terminal in Brooklyn.
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