Elvis, The Army & Colin Powell
Elvis was one of thirteen inductees that day. Among them were Farley R. Guy, Elvis' old friend from his days living at Lauderdale Courts, as well as Donald 'Rex' Mansfield and William R. 'Nervous' Norvell, who would become close friends to Elvis during his Army service. As their military bus pulled out of Memphis from Kennedy Veterans Hospital headed toward Ft. Chaffee, Arkansas, hundreds of fans in an endless caravan of cars escorted them across town and over the bridge into Arkansas. Many would follow all the way to Ft. Chaffee.
After processing at Ft. Chaffee, six of the thirteen, Elvis included, were given orders to report to Ft. Hood, Texas for basic training. Ft. Hood is located near Killeen, Texas and was named in honor of Confederate General John Bell Hood and his renowned Texas Brigade. General Hood was a distant ancestor of Elvis on his paternal grandmother Minnie Mae Hood Presley's side. Elvis received basic and advanced tank training at Ft. Hood serving with the 2nd. Armored 'Hell On Wheels' Division made famous by General George Patton during World War II. (General Patton was someone Elvis admired his entire life and Elvis would often quote him.)
After training at Ft. Hood he was transferred to the 3rd. Armored Division 'Spearheads' in Germany.
Elvis served for eighteen months.
Colin Powell served a long and illustrious career in the U.S. military and is today a respected statesman currently serving as Secretary of State in the George Bush administration. In his memoirs 'My American Journal', Powell tells of relating Army stories to his children 'who only perked up at one story'. The story was of his serving in Germany as an Army lieutenant in 1960. He recalled one day on maneuvers:
'Hey, Lieutenant', one of my men shouted. 'Come on over. Look who's here'. I walked over to the jeep, where a grimy, weary-looking sergeant saluted me and put out his hand. It was Elvis Presley.
That their father had shaken the King's hand astonished my kids.
What impressed me at the time was that instead of seeking celebrity treatment, Elvis had done his two-year hitch, uncomplainingly, as an ordinary GI, even rising to the responsibility of an NCO'.
Click the U.S. Army logo to go to our next page about Elvis Presley in the U.S. Army.
The G.I. Blues of Elvis Presley
Photos - Elvis in the U.S. Army in colour
Rare Photos - Elvis in the U.S. Army
Photos - Elvis In The U.S. Army 1958-1960
Elvis In The U.S. Army 1958-1960
Elvis wanted to be just one of the GIs
3d Armored Division Co-Stars with Elvis
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Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD
Never before have we seen an Elvis Presley concert from the 1950's with sound. Until Now! The DVD Contains recently discovered unreleased film of Elvis performing 6 songs, including Heartbreak Hotel and Don't Be Cruel, live in Tupelo Mississippi 1956. Included we see a live performance of the elusive Long Tall Sally seen here for the first time ever. + Plus Bonus DVD Audio.
This is an excellent release no fan should be without it.
The 'parade' footage is good to see as it puts you in the right context with color and b&w footage. The interviews of Elvis' Parents are well worth hearing too. The afternoon show footage is wonderful and electrifying : Here is Elvis in his prime rocking and rolling in front of 11.000 people. Highly recommended.
Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD Video with Sound.
