American actor, Morgan Freeman, is known for his roles in films like Million Dollar Baby, and Street Smart… and, of course, for his calming voice that many now indelibly associate with the voice of God. What very few know, though, is how he voluntarily joined the USAF after high school and very quickly regretted that decision!
In 1955, Freeman enlisted because he loved war films and the idea of becoming a fighter pilot. He was so very passionate about it that he even turned down a scholarship to go to Jackson State University to study drama. He eventually became a radar technician, which he gratefully accepted after realizing that he was only in love with the idea of becoming a fighter pilot, but dreaded the job in reality.
Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel)
Were you a fan of Green Eggs and Ham growing up? Or The Cat in the Hat? This all time favorite author was actually a military man. Dr. Seuss enlisted in the US Army voluntarily, leaving behind his rising career as an illustrator and children’s book writer.
He concentrated working on politically-charged cartoons instead, satirically aimed at American Isolationists like Charles Lindbergh, who tried to keep the US out of war, and the infamous Adolf Hitler. “While Paris was being occupied by the clanking tanks of the Nazis, and I was listening on my radio, I found that I could no longer keep my mind on drawing pictures of ‘Horton the Elephant.’ I found myself drawing pictures of ‘“Lindbergh the Ostrich.’” he said.
Ed McMahon
Ed McMahon will always be linked with the phrase “Here’s Johnny” of The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson; a show that gave us such fond memories that it borders near the fantastic to think that McMahon had actually served in the military for 25 years prior to taking on his iconic new role. Yup! Ed McMahon was in the Marines. In 1941, he enlisted and became a flight instructor.
He failed to see action with the Pacific Fleet after two atomic bombs were dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima, ending the war; but he was reinstated when the Korean War erupted. He retired with the rank of colonel in 1966.
J.D. Salinger
JD Salinger always found ways to write on the side, even after he was drafted by the US Army during WWII. Most of his books touch indirectly on his experiences as a Sergeant where he had many adventures and overcame seemingly insurmountable challenges, such as the storming of the beaches of Normandy on D-Day and the uncovering of the ghastly concentration camps.
Salinger’s most famous book is The Catcher in the Rye. While it is not a military book, his life and writing was no doubt enriched by his personal experiences as a soldier. Grab the book and see through the eyes of his timeless character, Holden Caulfield.
Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson is a prominent figure in the American music industry, also widely recognized for his outlaw country music – a subgenre that developed in the late 1960s in revolt against the slick and (in Nelson’s view) overproduced quality of the prevailing Nashville sound.
He served in the US Air Force straight after completing high school, but was discharged after nine months due to a bad back. His experiences, however, did leave him with with a bit of wisdom pertaining to one’s social responsibilities; and this has made him an activist, promoting biofuels and the legalization of marijuana.