Actor and martial artist Chuck Norris got his start in the martial arts while serving in the military. In 1958, Norris enlisted in the Air Force and was given the military occupational specialty of air police, which today is called Air Force security forces. His goal was to have a career in law enforcement.
Norris was discharged from the Air Force in August 1962 with the rank of Airman first class. Following his military service, Norris applied to be a police officer in Torrance, California. While on the waiting list, Norris opened a martial arts studio. Norris started to participate in martial arts competitions.
“He always dropped the Korean War reference, hoping everyone would conclude that he was in combat and might be some sort of hero. Actually, he'd been a lifeguard at Fort Ord in northern California for his entire stint in the military”, said Eastwood's former longtime companion Sondra Locke.
Country legend Willie Nelson tried the military, and a few other jobs, before actively pursuing his music career. Right after Nelson graduated high school in 1950 he joined the U.S. Air Force. His time serving was short-lived though. He was medically discharged nine months later due to back problems.
The Oscar winner with the iconic voice, Morgan Freeman was intrigued by war films growing up, which inspired him to join the Air Force in 1955. He served as a radar technician, and, realizing that flying in the Air Force was not for him, left the military almost four years later.
Was Denzel Washington ever in the military? Denzel Washington attended the prep school Oakland Military Academy when he's 14, but he was never in the military.
Before his hit TV show MAGNUM P.I. made him a household name, Tom Selleck served in the National Guard as a sergeant in the U.S. Army infantry. Before his time in the Army, Selleck started as a business major at the University of Southern California, then pursued acting at the encouragement of a drama coach.
For example, country superstar Tim McGraw served in the Air Force before moving to Nashville to pursue a music career. The discipline and work ethic he learned in the military helped him hone his craft and become one of the most successful artists in country music history.
Was Toby Keith in the military? No, but his father was. Toby Keith didn't serve time in the military himself; he was, however, the son of a veteran and dedicated ample time to supporting service members. In 2009, Keith told the American Forces Press Service that his father taught him to respect veterans.
No, Tom Selleck did NOT serve in Vietnam, and upon receiving his draft notice in 1967, Selleck joined the California National Guard and served in the 160th Infantry Regiment of the California Army National Guard from 1967 to 1973. He also served six months active duty status in the United States.
Jack Nicholson retired from the US Army as a Brigadier General after 30 years active duty in Germany, Lebanon, Vietnam, Korea, Switzerland, and the USA.
Bob enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1967 and after training and initial stateside assignments was assigned to 1st FSR in Vietnam where he was immediately sent to the 26th Marines in Khe Sahn in January 1968. After returning from Vietnam, Bob held varied communications and other billets rising to the rank of MSgt.
Bob Ross was an American painter, art instructor and television host who created the instructional television program The Joy of Painting. Ross enlisted in the U.S. Air Force at only 18 years old. He moved up in ranking and became a sergeant before retiring in 1981, marking 20 years in the service.
MC Hammer - When a professional baseball career didn't pan out as he had hoped, Hammer turned to the Navy. He served for three years before he was honorably discharged, trading in his dress whites for Hammer pants.
What little Norris has said is that fighting wasn't something that either martial artist wanted while filming Way of the Dragon. There have long been rumors that Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris actually did have a secret match in a hallway somewhere, but this likely never happened based on what Norris has said.
Kris was a Golden Gloves boxer and went to Pomona College in California. From there, he earned a Rhodes scholarship to study literature at Oxford University. He ultimately joined the United States Army and achieved the rank of captain. He became a helicopter pilot, which served him well later.
Joshua Mario Gracin (/ˈɡreɪsɪn/; born October 18, 1980) is an American country music singer. While serving in the United States Marine Corps, he first gained public attention as the fourth-place finalist on the second season of American Idol.
Bryan was only 17-years-old when he first joined the Navy, as he followed in his family's footsteps. His late mother, father, and grandfather all served in the Navy. After eight years of service, the fast-rising artist was honorably discharged to pursue music full-time.
Allan Jackson was just 20 in 1964, when he enlisted to fight in Vietnam. “It was the height of the Cold War, and I believed in it, so I quit. “I was notified of my acceptance and enlisted on the 8th of February 1965.”
Actor Dennis Franz is best known for portraying a TV detective and starring in numerous blockbuster films in the 1970s through the 1990s. Dennis Franz in South Vietnam in 1968. Less known, is that Franz was a soldier who served in combat during the height of the Vietnam War.
In the report, anonymous sources told the publication that Selleck was in "a lot of pain and agony" from arthritis. Sources also told RadarOnline that the pain was "so severe" that Selleck was using a stunt double for Blue Bloods scenes, including those in which he's seen simply getting out of the car.
Riggle joined the Marines in 1990 after getting his pilot's license, intending to become a naval aviator, but left flight school to pursue a comedy career.
