A special envelope arrived in the mail and completely changed everything for Elvis Presley. He was at the absolute top of his music career, selling millions of records and acting in huge movies. Suddenly, a single piece of paper forced him to trade his nice shiny clothes for a heavy set of green military boots. A massive and scary change was about to hit his daily life, and loud fans everywhere were completely shocked by the news.
In March 1958, the famous singer officially entered the United States Army. Fans cried outside the metal gates when he reported for duty. Everyone thought he would ask for special treatment because he was so rich and famous. Instead, he wanted to be treated exactly like every other normal soldier in the camp. The very first thing he did was sit in a simple barber chair to let the army completely cut off his famous hair.
His early days in the army were filled with very hard work. He had to wake up early to do basic training at Fort Hood in Texas. His long days involved heavy marches, fast running, tough drills, and standing in perfect lines for hours. Even though it was completely different from his fun life on the big stage, he worked very hard and finished his basic training by the end of May.
He learned how to drive giant army tanks and shoot heavy weapons. During this time, he also faced a very deep sadness when his mother suddenly passed away. Even with a heavy broken heart, he promised to be a good soldier and keep working hard. He proved to everyone that he was not just a spoiled singer, but a very strong young man who could handle the hardest rules.
Elvis Presley Enters the Army (Part 1)
After spending many months in a camp overseas in Germany, his time in the military finally came to an end. In the early spring of 1960, he packed his bags to quit the army and return home. He left behind his young girlfriend, Priscilla, who was only sixteen years old at the time. Huge crowds of news reporters and cameras waited for him at the airport in New Jersey to loudly welcome him back.
He gave a huge speech to the nation while wearing his final army uniform. Reporters asked him if the strict military life changed his mind about playing rock and roll music. He smiled and said it did not change his mind at all because the giant tanks he drove used to rock and roll quite a bit. He was completely ready to put his shiny suits back on and start singing his fun songs again.
Elvis Quits U.S. Army (1960)
Those two long years away from the stage made him even more famous than before. Fans respected him deeply because he served his country just like any other normal person. He proved that he could handle the toughest dirt and still come out looking like a true king. His smooth return to the stage showed everyone that true talent never fades away, no matter how long the break is.