The age of rock ’n’ roll was left with an unfillable void when this rock star departed. Johnny Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, author, and guitarist. Having sold over 90 million records worldwide, he was primarily known for his unique country music; classic tunes that turned him into a music icon.
We bet you didn’t know he served time in the military, being the star that he was. It gets even crazier when you learn that he also became a spy, working dangerously to collect sensitive information for the government. In 1950, enlisted in the US Air Force, he was a Morse Code Interceptor for the 6910th Security Group in West Germany. His primary job was to intercept Russian military radio transmissions, and he was likely among the first to hear about the death of Joseph Stalin, well before it reached the rest of the world.
Bob Barker
The Price Is Right game show host used to be a US Navy pilot, and a very good one at that. He flew eight different types of aircraft while on active duty and was highly regarded by his peers as being among the very best.
In June 1943, after he completed his naval aviation cadet status, Barker reported for duty, where he was commissioned as an ensign. Over a period of 18 months, he was trained at eight different wartime locations, excelling nicely. He is one of those celebrities who has actually seen some real action and found he was a natural at it.
Carl Reiner
In his prime, let’s just say Carl Reiner was the guy who had it all. He’s got good looks, a wonderful sense of humor, and intelligence to boot. He’s known to us as the producer, writer, and actor of The Dick Van Dyke Show, and has been awarded nine Emmy Awards and a Grammy throughout his career.
Carl Reiner’s foray into the military was not out of his own will, although he did not feel forced to do it either. He was drafted into the US Army air force back in 1943, under an all-hands-on-deck policy. He performed his tasks diligently and was promoted to the rank of corporal.
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.