Did you know some of your favorite Black musicians, comedians and even athletes served the country in U.S. Army?
From Hollywood legends like Morgan Freeman to music industry trailblazers like Motown Records founder Berry Gordy Jr. signed themselves up to fight for the country before we saw them on the red carpet. Not everyone joined with a zeal for patriotism.
For most celebrities, they joined as an alternative to going to college. For others, joining meant staying out of trouble during the infancy stages of their careers. Who knows? Maybe some of these celebs served in the same branch as some of our family members back in the day.
On this Veterans Day, let’s honor these 18 Black celebrities who served.
Elgin Baylor
In the early 60s, the NBA star was on active duty in the U.S. Army at the same time he was competing in professional basketball, per NBA’s website. He was drafted despite being an inch short of the maximum height and color-blind. By the time basic training began, he couldn’t fit the military uniform and was moved to be an official military medic. His performance in basketball got him a leave to play for the Lakers and continual leave by an order signed by President JFK.
David Robinson
The NBA star enlisted in the US Naval Academy and achieved the rank of a Lieutenant, Junior Grade. After receiving his commission he was assigned to the Civil Engineering Corps, per the Defense Department.
Berry Gordy Jr.
The Motown Records founder enlisted in the Army and served in Korea for two years, per the Detroit Historical Society.
Richard Pryor
The renowned comedian joined the U.S. Army in 1959. However, he only spent a brief time there — mainly in the brig due to disciplinary issues — and left in 1960, per Military.com.
Melvin Van Peebles
The actor and director enlisted in the Air Force after graduating from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1953, per Military.com. Peebles was a navigator and bombardier in the Strategic Air Command for three years before leaving and joining cinema.
Marvin Gaye
The singer was 17 years old when he dropped out of high school to enlist in the Air Force, according to his bio in Medic in the Green Time. His superiors considered him uncooperative and lackadaisical. He faked being mentally ill and was given a general discharge after one year. The rest is history.
MC Hammer
The music legend joined the Navy and spent three years as an aviation storekeeper third class, per Military.com.
Sheryl Underwood
The comedian joined the Air Force as a field medic and was deployed to West Germany and South Korea, per the DOD.
Shaggy
The reggae star left Jamaica to come to the US to pursue his music career at 18 years old, per Military.com. However, he joined the Marine Corps in 1988 after struggling to find work and fought in the Gulf War. He didn’t stay in the military much longer after that and went AWOL to pursue music seriously once he returned home.
Ice-T
The rapper-actor served four years in the Army’s 25th Infantry Division, according to Military.com.
Robin Quivers
Quivers was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Air Force and served as a nurse. She transferred to the Air Force Reserve from her base in Texas, climbing to a captain and served there for over ten years.
Morgan Freeman
Freeman enlisted in the Air Force after high school and trained to be an automatic tracking radar repairman, per the Department of Defense.
James Earl Jones
The legendary actor joined the Pershing Rifles Drill Team and Scabbard and Blade Honor Society in college. Then, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army. Finally, Jones was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 38th Regimental Combat Team, per the DOD.
Sidney Poitier
The actor enlisted in the Army at age 16. At that time, he was sent to a hospital to provide aid to the medical staff, where he cared for mentally-ill veterans, per Veterans Advantage.
Sinbad
The comedian joined the Air Force in 1979, according to Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs. It was there that he realized his passion for making people laugh, working as a comic for Tops in Blue, a touring performance ensemble of active-duty airmen. After he won the show “Star Search” in the late 1980s, his comedy career took off and his military career came to a close.
Sunny Anderson
The Food Network star was an Air Force broadcast journalist in Seoul, South Korea and worked for Air Force News Agency radio and television in San Antonio for five years, per DOD.
Mr. T
The pop culture sensation joined the Army National Guard just after the Vietnam War and later joined the Military Police corps, rising to a squad leader at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, per Military.com.
Jimi Hendrix
Hendrix had two options as a rebellious youth from Seattle: go to prison or join the Army. He chose the latter. He was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division and was discharged after the first year of his three-year contract because he distressed the captain, according to Military.com.
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