How Elvis Became A Symbol Of U.S. Military Might

Today, the U.S. armed forces account for less than .5 percent of the population and only 7 percent of Americans have served in the military. But in the Cold War America of the 1950s, military service shaped young Americans’ lives, from their attendance at college to the music they listened to. Elvis Presley was one of the millions of young men who went into the armed forces. But what kind of army did Elvis join? And what sort of army wanted Elvis?

Brian Linn, professor of history and the Ralph P. Thomas Professor in Liberal Arts at Texas A&M University, has written Elvis’ Army, an account of how the U.S. restored its military presence to take on the demands of the Atomic Age. The book examines the army that Elvis and millions of other Americans served in, and it  covers not only such military subjects as doctrine, equipment, training and recruitment, but also how the Army “sold” itself to the public through movies, television, sports programs and advertising. The result is both an honest portrayal of the Cold War U.S. Army and a tribute to the forgotten soldiers who served in it.

Looking back, Linn says, Presley’s arrival into the Army was an event of near-mythical stature. The singer worth millions and adored by billions, who had just embarked on a successful movie career, suddenly found himself drafted and just another soldier stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. The drafting of the world’s hottest singer became a symbol of democracy at work, inspiring both Americans and their allies, and helping to spread American teen culture throughout the world.

“He never tried to get out of the draft and once in, he never asked for preferential treatment,” Linn explains.

“He reported for duty in 1958 and went through basic training just like everyone else and wanted to be treated like just another soldier. It was a different time back then – I doubt such a superstar today would conduct himself like Elvis did.”

Presley was not alone. In the 1950s, such future stars as baseball player Willie Mays and rock legend Jimi Hendrix (who was in the famed 101^st Airborne Division) also answered the call to duty.

The Army Presley entered was in the midst of transforming itself from the force that had fought World War II and Korea to one that could wage atomic warfare, Linn says.

“Our military had to re-invent itself,” he adds.

“The Cold War Army had to transform everything – its fighting techniques, its equipment, its officers and enlisted personnel, its training, its education system, all of it – a situation that is similar to what we face today as we transition from that Cold War force to one ready for the challenges of the 21^st Century. Even though the situation is different, the army that Elvis served in can teach us a great deal about what to anticipate in the future.”

The Army became the world’s largest technical school, Linn notes. Millions of American men learned auto mechanics, electronics, electrical work and other skills.

“Our military said it offered 500 technical skills, and once you left the Army, you had a trade that could get you a job,” he says. It also educated millions of young Americans, providing everything from basic literacy to college credit.

As for Presley, he would be transferred to Germany and serve in the elite 3^rd Armored Division. He would emerge from the Army transformed into an all-American hero, and image cemented in the military-themed picture G.I. Blues, which was one of the most popular films of 1960.

“Elvis became of symbol of the U.S. and its commitment of a strong military, and that a star of his magnitude was willing to wear the uniform to defend our country,” Linn adds.

“The military was changing dramatically and entering the nuclear age, a new form of warfare. We transformed our military to meet the challenges. That Cold War Army has all been forgotten. I hope Elvis’s Army makes Americans aware of the debt they owe to those soldiers.”