Weird Facts on Celebrities Serving the Military

Military service, is the service by an individual or group in an army or militia (or refers to any other fighting forces), as a job of their choice, or may be a result of an involuntary draft of compulsory enlistment of an individual in national service or military services. In some countries they require their citizen to serve the military service, for example in Mexico, (except for cases of physical or mental disorders or religious beliefs). There are countries with a full volunteer military, that does not require their citizens, mandatory military service, unless the recruitment faces a crisis such in the Republic of Korea, where the mandatory military services in the army they served 21 months, in the Navy hey serve 23 months, and Air Force they serve 24 months or two years. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, their citizen requires 3 years minimum, up to 10 years. During the American Civil War in the United States, the first conscription was  introduced. In 1863, the Lincoln administration was forced to begin drafting  because of insufficient volunteers coming, despite complaints widespread that it was unconstitutional and undermined states’ rights, and the active drafting ended in 1973. President Carter brought back registration in 1979, that all ages 18 to 26 males are required to register with the Selective Service System, with mission of providing manpower to the armed forces in an emergency , Health Care Personnel Delivery System and “to run a classified conscientious objectors during draft, in an Alternative Service Program for men during a draft.” Since 1986, no one has been prosecuted for violating the conscription law in the USA. Women may enlist for voluntary services but do not register for Selective Service in the United States. Did you know that some famous celebrities had served the military? Here are some of the famous actors who served the military services.

1)  Elvis Presley

Elvis Aaron Presley  was born on January 8, 1935, a cultural icon and American singer and actor, otherwise named Elvis, and referred to as the King of Rock and Roll. ( On August 16, 1977, Elvis died suddenly at the age of 42, due to prescription of drug abuse that has severely deteriorated his health) was an American singer and actor. On March 24, Presley was inducted into the Fort Chaffee U.S. Army as a private, near Ford Smith, Arkansas. Presley’s arrival at the military base,was a major media event, where hundreds of people descended, as he stepped from down the bus, where he was accompanied by photographers. After Presley commenced basic training at Fort Hood, Texas, he was visited by Eddie Fadal, a businessman he had met on tour, and quoted that Presley said, “his career was finished”. After training, Presley joined the 3rd Armored Division in Friedberg, Germany on October 1.  Presley’s fellow soldiers have affirmed that,Elvis Presley, want to be seen as an ordianry soldier, despite his fame, and his generosity. Presley’s salary as an army, was donated to charity, a TV sets for the base was purchased, and bought an extra uniform set of fatigues for everyone in his outfit. While in Friedberg, Germany, Presley met Priscilla Beaulieu, a 14-year-old girl whom he married after seven and a half year of courtship. Presley returned to the United States with the sergeant rank on March 2, 1960, and was honorably discharged March 5.

2)  Tony Bennett

Anthony Dominick Benedetto, an Italian American singer, better known as Tony Bennett (born August 3, 1926), of popular music, jazz, standards and show tunes, an artist painter under the name of Anthony Benedetto, where his paintings are on permanent public display in several gallery institutions. The founder of the Frank Sinatra School of Arts in New York City, was Tony Bennett.   In 1962,Tony Bennett became famous with his signature songs , I Left My Heart in San Francisco which was recorded in 1962. In November 1944, Benedetto or Tony Bennett  was drafted into the United States Army during the WWII final stages, where he undergo basic training at Fort Dix and Fort Robinson to become an infantry rifleman. in January 1945, Benedetto was assigned as a replacement infantryman to the 255th Infantry Regiment of the 63rd Infantry Division, a unit filling in for the soldiers who suffered heavy losses in the Battle of the Bulge. Benedetto was moved across France, to Germany, where Benedetto stayed as part of the occupying force, but was later assigned to an informal Special Services band unit that would entertain nearby American forces. Tony Bennett sang with the 314th Army Special Services Band using the stage name of Joe Bari. In 1946, Tony Bennett was discharged from the Army and return to the States,and he studied at the American Theater Wing on the GI Bill. Benedetto aka Tony Bennett’s talent was recognized by Pearl Bailey in 1949,  and asked him to open for her in Greenwich Village and invited Bob Hope to that show. Bob Hope was impressed and named him Tony Bennett and decided to take on the road with him.

3)  Alan Alda

Alphonso Joseph D’Abruzzo also known as Alan Alda, (born January 28, 1936), is an American actor, director, screenwriter, and author. Alan Alda was a Emmy Award six-time winner and Golden Globe Award winner, too. Alan Alda is best known as Hawkeye Pierce for his TV sereis roles, M.A.S.H and The West Wing as Arnold Vinick. Alda is currently a Visiting Professor at the School of Journalism at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, and a member of The Center for Communicating Science advisory board. Alan Alda studied in Paris during his junior year, and acted in Rome in a play, and performed with his father in Amsterdam on a television show. In college, Alda was a ROTC member, and after graduation, he joined the U.S.Army Reserve and underwent training as gunnery officer for six months and  served for a year at Fort Benning, Georgia.

4) Charlton Heston

Charlton Heston, born John Charles Carter, was born on October 4, 1923 was a film, theater and television actor and a political activist, and a political activist. Heston appeared in 100 films over 60 years, and best known for his role as Moses, parting the red sea in The Ten Commandments in 1956, Ben Hur in 1959 and won Best Actor for the Academy Award, El Cid in 1958.  – April 5, 2008) Heston is from Clan Fraser,( a Scottish clan of French origin). Charlton Heston enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces in 1944, and served as a radio operator and aerial gunner on board a B-25 Mitchell in the Alaskan Aleutian Islands station with the Eleventh Air Force for two years. He was promoted as a Staff Sergeant. After serving the military,and rise to fame, he was chosen as narrator for highly classified Military and Department of Energy instructional films related in nuclear weapons, and held the nation’s highest security clearance or Q clearance, same to the DoD or Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA clearance of TS). While serving the military, Charlton Heston met Lydia Marie Clarke, a student of the Northwestern University and married her on that same year. Charlton Heston died due to pneumonia complications on April 5, 2008, at his Beverly Hills home in California, with Lydia, his wife of 64 years, by his side and his son Fraser Clarke Heston and daughter, Holly Ann Heston. Heston was cremated and his ashes were given to his wife and children.

Tom Selleck

Thomas William “Tom” Selleck is a film producer and American actor,(born January 29, 1945). Selleck is best known for his private investigator starring role in Magnum P.I. television series in 1980 to 1988 as Thomas Magnum, based in Hawaii. He also played the role for a television series Robert B. Parker novels as Police Chief Jesse Stone, as NYPD Police Commissioner Frank Reagan in a CBS-TV drama Blue Bloods and other 50 film and television roles. In 1987, Selleck was a co-starring role in Three Men and a Baby, the highest-grossing movie; Quigley Down Under, Mr Baseball and Lassiter and many more films. Tom Selleck served in the 160th Infantry Regiment of the California Army National Guard as a soldier and his unit was activated in Los Angeles  for the Watts Riots.

5) Ernest Bognine

Ernest Borgnine, born Ermes Effron Borgnino on January 24, 1917, and Borgnine died of renal or kidney failure on July 8, 2012 approximately 1:30 p.m.). Ernest Borgnine is from Carpi (Modena), Italy who immigrated to the United States, with his career that spanned more than 6 decades as an actor of American film and television. Borgnine was known as an unconventional lead in many 1950′s films, and won an Oscar in Marty film in 1955. In 1962 he played as Quinton McHale for television, in the 1962–1966  McHale’s Navy series. At the age of 92, Borgnine earned a nomination for Emmy Award nomination for his work on the ER series. From 1999 to 2012, Borgnine was also known for being the original voice of Mermaid Man on SpongeBob Square Pants. In 1935, Ernest Borgnine joined the United States Navy, after he graduated from James Hillhouse High School in New Haven, Connecticut. In 1941, Borgnine was discharge but re-enlisted and served the military after Pearl Harbor until 1945. He accumulated ten years serving the Navy, and was promoted as the gunner’s mate 1st class rank in the process. Borgnine served the USS Lamberton destroyer. Borgnine’s military decorations he received was, the Navy Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal with Fleet Clasp, the American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the WWII Medal, and received in October 2004 an honorary rank as chief petty officer, from Terry D. Scott, the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, for Borgnine’s supporting the naval families and Navy worldwide.

6) Sir Sidney Poitier, KBE (Most Excellent Order of thr British Empire)

Sir Sidney Poitier, KBE, is a Bahamian-American born,is an actor, film director, author and diplomat. Sidney Poitier became the first black person to win an Academy Award for Best Actor for his “Lilies of the Field” role in 1963. In 1967, Poitier starred in three successful films such as To Sir with Love, In the Heat of the Night and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, making him the top box-office star of the same year, and named one of the Greatest Male Stars of All Time in 1999, ranking 22nd on the list of 25. Since 1997, Poitier became the Bahamian ambassador to Japan since the year of 1997. Sidney Poitier was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on August 12, 2009 by President Barack Obama, the highest civilian honor in the United States of America. Poitier was sent to Miami, Florida at the age of 15, to live with his brother, but moved to New York City at the age of 17, and worked as a dishwasher. He sat with Jewish waiter every night for many weeks helping him learn to read the newspaper. After he worked as a dishwasher, Poitier then decided to join the United States Army until a successful audition with the American-Negro Theater, landed him a spot for acting.

7)  Steve McQueen

Terence Stephen “Steve” McQueen was an American actor, known also as The King of Cool, born (March 24, 1930). McQueen died on November 7, 1980, at the age of 50 in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, after a removal operation of some metastatic tumors in his neck and abdomen following an operation. McQueen was one of the highest paid actor of his time, in spite of combative with his producers and directors. Mcqueen was an avid car and motorcycle racer. Steve McQueen, who was dyslexic, (Dyslexia is a very broad definition of a learning disability, that impairment or accuracy in being able to read), and partially deaf as a result of a an ear infection during his childhood, did not adjust well to his new life. McQueen joined the United States Marine Corps in 1947, and was immediately promoted to Private First Class  and assigned to an armored unit, but was demoted to private seven times because of his rebellious acts. McQueen went Unauthorized Absence (UA) after he failed to come back with his weekend expired pass, instead live with his girlfriend for two weeks, until he was caught by the shore patrol. McQueen spent forty-one days in the brig (military prison), when he resisted arrest.  After McQueen’s “confinement”, he resolved to focus his self-improvement and energies and embraced the military discipline  of the Marines. During an Arctic exercise, McQueen saved the lives of five other Marines, by pulling them from a tank before it broke through ice into the sea. He was also assigned as security honor guard of U.S. President Harry Truman’s yacht, and served until 1950 until he was honorably discharged. In 1978, Steve McQueen developed a persistent cough, he gave up smoking and underwent antibiotic treatments without improvement. Shortness of breath became more pronounced and in December 1979, after The Hunter filming,  a biopsy revealed a type of cancer related to exposure from asbestos called  pleural mesothelioma, for which there is no known cure. There was an evidence of widespread metastasis (widespread of cancer) in February 1980.

8)  Clark Gable

William Clark Gable born February 1, 1901, was an American actor, best known for his 1939 epic movie Gone with the Wind, playing the role as Rhett Butler, and many other films and among them is the Mutiny of the Bounty. Clark Gable died on November 16, 1960 at the age of 59, from a type of ischaemic heart disease (coronary thrombosis) ten days after suffering a severe severe heart attack. Clark Gable third marriage in 1939 was Carole Lombard, actress, born October 6, 1908, died on January 16, 1942, from a plane crash near the Las Vegas, Nevada mountain, with her mother and press agent, Otto Winkler, on board the Trans-World Airlines Flight 3, killing all 22 passengers aboard, including 15 servicemen en route to training in California. After the death of his wife, Carole Lombard, in 1942, Gable joined the U.S. Army Air Corps, Lombard had suggested her husband, Clark Gable to enlist as part of the war effort, but MGM was unwilling to release him, and so he resisted Lombard’s suggestion. After his wife’s death, Gable made a public statement that prompted Commanding General Henry H. Arnold, of the Army Air Forces to offer Gable a “special assignment” in aerial gunnery. Gable had earlier expressed an interest in (OCS) Officer Candidate School, but on August 12, 1942, Gable enlisted in the army, with the intention of becoming an enlisted gunner on an air crew. MGM arranged for his training to enlist with the army to a studio friend, cinematographer Andrew McIntyre, and accompany him. However, after a few days since he was enlisted,  on August 17, 1942, Gable and McIntyre were sent to Miami Beach, Florida, where they entered USAAF OCS Class 42-E. Then on October 28, 1942, Gable and McIntyre completed their training, commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant, with Gable spending time as an assistant potato peeler. On January 27, 1943, Gable reported to Biggs Army Air Base, to train with and accompany the 351st Bomb Group as head of a six-man motion picture unit to England, where Gable had spent most of his duties during the war at RAF Polebrook 351st in United Kingdom. Andrew McIntyre, recruited John Lee Mahin the screenwriter, Sergeants Mario Toti and Robert Boles (camera operators), and Lt. Howard Voss (sound man) to complete his crew. While Gable was with the 351st at Pueblo AAB, Colorado, he was promoted to captain, for rank with equal extent to his position as a unit commander. Gable and McIntyre had equal seniority and both as first lieutenants, Gable flew five combat missions, including one to Germany, in B-17 Flying Fortresses as an observer-gunner between May 4 and September 23, 1943, and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal for his efforts.  Gable’s aircraft was damaged by (ground-based anti-aircraft guns firing explosive shells) flak and attack by fighters, which knocked out one of the engines and shot up the stabilizer, during one of his missions. In a Germany raid, one crewman was killed and two others were injured, and flak went through Gable’s boot and missed his head narrowly. Upon hearing the news, the MGM executives began to badger the U.S. Army Air Corps to reassign their most valuable screen property to non-combat duty.  Gable returned to the United States in November 1943, to edit the film, only to find that the aerial-gunner personnel shortage had already been set right. Gable was promoted to Major in May 1944, and was hoping for another combat assignment but, when D-Day came and as the days passed, until June, and no further orders, Gable requested for a discharge and was granted. Captain Ronald Reagan signed Gable’s discharge papers. Reagan is a Hollywood actor and became the President of the United States. In September 1944, Gable completed editing Combat America film, providing the narration himself and making use of numerous interviews focusing more with enlisted gunners.

9) Ronald Reagan

Ronald Wilson Reagan born February 6, 1911, a radio, film, television actor and became the 33rd Governor of California (1967 to 1975) and the 40th President of the United States (1981 to 1989). He died on June 5, 2004 of pneumonia at the age of 93, brought on by his Alzheimer’s disease which was acquired since 1994. On April 29, 1937, Ronald Reagan, enlisted in the Army Enlisted Reserve, after completing fourteen home-study Army Extension Courses, Reagan enlisted in the Army Enlisted Reserve, as a private assigned to Troop B, 322nd Cavalry at Des Moines, Iowa. He was granted the authority in an Officers Reserve Corps of the Calvary as second lieutenant on May 25, 1937. On April 18, 1942, Reagan was ordered to active duty for the first time, but due to his nearsightedness, he was classified for limited service only, and was excluded from serving overseas. Reagan applied for a transfer from the cavalry on May 15, 1942 to the (AAF) Army Air Force upon the approval, and was assigned to AAF Public Relations and to the 18th Army Air Force Base Unit or the First Motion Picture Unit in Culver City, California. On July 22, 1943, Ronald Reagan returned to the First Motion Picture Unit after completing this duty and was promoted to Captain. Reagan was ordered to temporary duty in New York City in January 1944, to participate in the Sixth War Loan Drive opening. On November 14, 1944, Reagan was re-assigned to the First Motion Picture Unit, where he remained until the end of World War II. On February 2, 1945, Reagan was recommended for promotion to Major, but on July 17, 1945,  this recommendation was disapproved. In 1945, while with the First Motion Picture Unit, Reagan was indirectly involved in discovering Marilyn Monroe, the sexy actress, and returned on December 9, 1945 to Fort MacArthur, California, where he was separated from active duty. Reagan ranks highly in public opinion polls of U.S. Presidents, a conservative icon, and is credited for generating an American political right ideological renaissance.

10) James  “Jimmy” Stewart

James Maitland Stewart born, May 20, 1908, was an American stage and film actor, best known for his distinctive voice and persona, and starred in many films considered classic movies, and he was nominated for five Academy Awards, and received one Lifetime Achievement award.  – Stewart died of lodge in his lungs or embolism at the age of 89, on July 2, 1997, the clot caused a heart attack killing Stewart immediately. He was a MGM major contract star. Jimmy Stewart had a noted military career and has the rank of Brigadier General in the United States Air Force Reserve Base, and was a World War II and Cold War Veteran. In 1953, Stewart received permanent promotion to colonel and served as Air Force Reserve commander of Dobbins Air Reserve Base. In 1966, Brigadier General James Stewart flew during the Vietnam War as a non-duty observer in a B-52 on an Arc Light bombing mission, but he refused the release of any publicity regarding his participation, as he did not want it treated as a stunt, but as part of his job as an officer in the Air Force Reserve. On May 31, 1968, Stewart retired from the Air Force, after 27 years of service, and was promoted to major general on President Ronald Reagan’s retired list. Jimmy Stewart received a numerous of awards during his military service. In 1983, Stewart had undergone surgery for skin cancer. Stewart underwent a heart surgery and had a pacemaker implanted in April 1993.  On January 31, 1997, Stewart tripped over a plant in his bedroom and was rushed to a hospital for some closure stitches in his forehead to close a bloody gash from a wound, where it was discovered that he had an untreatable skin cancer, and was sent home.

11) Henry  Fonda

Henry Jaynes Fonda was an American stage and film actor, and made a debut in Hollywood in 1935, born on May 16, 1905. Henry Fonda died from heart disease on August 12, 1982. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer, but noted only as concurrent disease on his death certificate and was not the cause of his death. Henry Fonda, created a strong appeal in his screen image throughout his six decades acting career in Hollywood. Henry Fonda was the patriarch of a famous actor’s family, that includes Jane Fonda (daughter), Peter Fonda (son), Bridget Fonda (granddaughter), and Troy Garity (grandson). Henry Fonda was fondly called Hank by his family and close friends. The American Film Institute named him the 6th Greatest Male Star of All Time in 1999. Fonda enlisted in the Navy to fight in World War II, quoted, “I don’t want to be in a fake war in a studio”, and helped raised funds for the defense of Britain with Jimmy Stewart previously. Fonda served for three years, as 3rd Class Quartermaster on the USS Satterlee destroyer. He was later granted certain powers as an Air Combat Intelligence in the Central Pacific as Lieutenant Junior Grade and was awarded the Bronze Star and the Navy Presidential Unit Citation. Henry Fonda took a break from acting, and enjoyed civilian life by attending Hollywood parties, after the war.

12) Sean Connery

Sir Thomas Sean Connery KBE, is a Scottish actor and producer, was born on August 25, 1930, became a famous figure when he played the role of James Bond (Agent 007) from 1962 and 1983 Bond films. He was under the six Eon Productions films, and non exclusive production of doing the Thunderball remake and Never Say Never Again. In 1988, Connery won in 1988, as the Best Supporting Actor for the Academy Award for his The Untouchables role. In July of 2000, Sean Connery was knighted and given the title as “The Greatest Living Scot“, and “Scotland’s Greatest Living National Treasure“, and named Sexiest Man Alive in 1989, by People Magazine, and was voted at the age of 69 in 1999, at age 69, as the “Sexiest Man of the Century“. Sean Connery joined the Royal Navy where he got his two tattoos during his service, of which his official website says “unlike many tattoos, his were not unworthy which reflect, his two lifelong commitments to his family and the Scotland, which one tattoo marked Mum and Dad and the other tattoo was Scotland Forever. Connery was discharged from the Navy due to medical reasons because of his duodenal ulcer, which he inherited from his family history, affecting all male members of their family. In 2003, Connery underwent a removal of cataracts surgery from both eyes. Connery revealed that he was recovering from a removal of kidney tumor surgery in January on March 12, 2006. He had a small broken shoulder bone in his shoulder after falling while playing golf in 2008, and in an interview with Wine Spectator magazine, he revealed that he was diagnosed with a heart problem, in October 2009.

13) Tony Curtis

Tony Curtis, born Bernard Schwartz, was born on June 3, 1925, he is an American actor, who became famous during the 1950s and early 1960s, and his career spanned six decades, and acted in more than 100 movies from comedy to drama. Tony Curtis was the father of known personality and movie actresses, Jamie Lee Curtis and Kelly Curtis, Curtis’ daughters from his first wife, Janet Leigh, a Hollywood actress. Tony Curtis enlisted in the United States Navy after the Pearl Harbor attack and the World War II was declared. Curtis was inspired by the role of Cary Grant in Destination Tokyo and Tyrone Power’s role in Crash Dive 1943, and he joined the Pacific Submarine Force. Curtis served aboard the USS Proteus, as a submarine tender until the Second World War ended. On September 2, 1945, Curtis witnessed the surrender of the Japanese in Tokyo Bay from the signal bridge of his ship about a mile away. Curtis was discharge from the Navy, and attended the City College of New York on the G.I. Bill. Tony Curtis was rushed to hospital due to advanced cirrhosis of the liver, as a result of his cocaine addiction and alcoholism in 1984. Curtis was admitted to the Betty Ford Clinic, and promised to overcome his several illnesses. In 1994, Curtis underwent a heart bypass surgery. On September 29, 2010, Curtis died at his Henderson home, because of a cardiac arrest. 

14)  Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger born July 30, 1947, is an Austrian and American actor, former professional bodybuilder, businessman, investor, and politician. From 2003 to 2011, Schwarzenegger served two terms as the 38th Governor of California. Schwarzenegger revealed that he had separated from his wife of 25 years, Maria Shriver, as he completed his second term as governor in 2011.Maria Shriver is from the Kennedy family, as a niece of the late Democrat US President John F. Kennedy. Schwarzenegger had fathered a son more than fourteen years earlier with Mildred Patricia “Patty” Baena, a household employee, and this was revealed in the Los Angeles Times on May 16, 2011. Schwarzenegger has a dual Austrian/United States citizen, where he hold an Austrian citizenship by birth and in 1983, he obtained his U.S. citizenship by naturalization. In 1965, Schwarzenegger served in the Austrian Army to fulfill the required one year of service at the time of all Austrian Males, from 18-year-old to 21 years old. He won the title of Junior Mr Europe contest during his army service. He went Absent Without Leave (AWOL) during his army basic training so he could take part in the competition and and spent a week in military prison. Arnold Schwarzenegger was chosen as the Europe’s best built man, which made him popular, and won the title of The Mr. Universe, his ticket to American Dream, United States of America, the land of opportunity, where he said, ” I could become a star and get rich.”

15) “Bill” Cosby

William Henry “Bill” Cosby, Jr., (born July 12, 1937) is an American comedian, veteran stand-up performer, actor, author, television producer, educator, musician and activist. Bill Cosby played the starring role in his first action show in the 1960s, I Spy. Followed by his famous  The Bill Cosby Show sitcom. Cosby joined the Navy, and served the Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, Naval Station Argentia, Newfoundland and at the Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland. Cosby worked in physical therapy treatment as a Hospital Corpsman for four years, with injured Korean War casualties, while serving the Navy, where Cosby discovered what was important to him. Then realized the need for an education, and finished his equivalency diploma via Distance education or distance learning ( correspondence courses), a mode of delivering education and instruction. Cosby’s son, Ennis William, was shot dead on January 16, 1997,  while changing a flat tire on the side of Los Angeles Interstate 405.

16) “Sammy” Davis, Jr.

Samuel George “Sammy” Davis, Jr. born December 8, 1925, was an American entertainer, dancer and singer, impersonator actor, impersonating other famous celebrities.  – May 16, 1990)Davis began in Broadway and Las Vegas as a child vaudevillian who became popular for his performances, and later become a world famous film star, recording artist, and television actor. He was also a Frank Sinatra’s Rat Pack member. Davis became an overnight sensation following the Ciro Nightclub’s performance after the Academy Awards in 1951. Sammy Davis, Jr. lost his left eye in a car accident in 1954. Davis, as an African-American was the victim of racism throughout his life, and was a large civil rights financial supporter. During the World War II, Davis served the United States Army, however, he face in hostility by strong racial adverse judgment or opinion. During the World War II service in the Army, Davis was assigned to a Special Services unit in integrated entertainment and he found that the spotlight lessened the unfavorable opinion, but in spite of racial discrimination white men admired and respected his performances. After Davis was discharge from the military, he rejoined the dance and act family, which played around Portland, Oregon clubs.

17) Song Seung-heon

Song Seung-heon, is a South Korean actor, born October 5, 1976, best known for his Korean drama roles, such as Autumn in My Heart, Summer Scent and East of Eden, Three Guys, Three Girls in 1996, and 1999 debut movie Calla with leading actress, Kim Hee-sun. In the late 2004, Song Seung-heon, just as he was getting ready to start shooting Sad Love Story, another high profile TV drama, it was revealed that the Korean actor had avoided his compulsory military service by illegally submitting tainted urine samples that suggested he was suffering from certain illnesses and was not fit for the army. Though being surrounded by the scandal and press coverage this aroused, Song agreed to serve his two year-term in the military immediately. On November 15, 2006, Song was discharged with the Corporal rank, to much media attention.

18) Rain 

Jung Ji-Hoon better known as Rain, was born June 25, 1982, is a South Korean designer and model, singer, songwriter, dancer, and actor. Rain  ro Jung Ji-Hoon, left the JYP Entertainment management in 2007, and started his own J. Tune Entertainment company, but still retains working together relationship with Park Jin-young. Rain starred in the popular drama called Full House in 2004, with Song Hye Kyo one of Korea’s most popular actresses. Rain was named 100 Most Influential People Who Shape Our World in the Time magazine magazine website article in April 2006. On September 27, 2010, at  The Fugitive: Plan B press conference, Rain announced that he decided to hold off on his military service until 2011 to study for his masters degree. Rain announced on September 23 that he would enlist in the military on October 11. He reported for a compulsory military service for 21 months at the camp in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi-do province at the  306th Army draft camp. Rain was transferred to the Ministry of National Defense, the Defense Media Agency in Yongsan-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, in March 13, 2012. He was appointed Honorary Ambassador of Military in April. Rain will be discharged from the Korean military service July 10, 2013. Due to his popularity, Rain is considered a ‘world star‘, in South Korea, Japan, throughout Asia, Europe and North America, China, Singapore, Thailand, Canada and the United States.

19)  Hyun Bin

Hyun Bin is a South Korean actor, born Kim Tae-pyung on September 25, 1982.  Hyun Bin is best known for his TV dramas lead roles such as the 2005 My Name is Kim Sam-soon, and the 2010 drama Secret Garden. On March 7, 2011, Hyun volunteered to serve his 21 months of Marine Corps compulsory military service, considered the toughest service branch on March 7, 2011. On December 6, 2012, Hyun was discharged and received a citation for being an exemplary soldier. Hyun confirmed in August 2009, that he was dating Song Hye-kyo, his Worlds Within co-star. In March 2011, However in March 2011, after hours Hyun enlisted in the military, Hyun’s and Song’s agents confirmed speculation that the couple had broken up, because Hyun did not want a personal matters interfere his last days with his fans before he will enter and start his military service.

20) Lee Dong-gun

Lee Dong-gun also known by his English baptismal name as Emmanuel Lee, born 26 July 1980 in Kangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Lee Dong-gun or Emmanuel Lee is a South Korean performer, actor, model and singer. Lee enlisted for his 21 months of active duty, mandatory military service in June 2010 and was appointed Honorary Ambassador of Military. On March 28, 2012 , Lee was discharged, and was appointed 2012 Korean Formula One Grand Prix promotional ambassador on that same year, held at the Korea International Circuit in October.

Kim Ji-seok

Kim Ji-seok born Kim Bo-seok on April 21, 1981, is a South Korean actor, rapper in the five-member Eurodance boyband LEO (리오), formed to capitalize on the success of then-popular g.o.d. boyband. But LEO did not make it big in the music industry, and the group was disbanded after eight months. The head of his agency told that his birth name could be confused with veteran actors Jung Bo-seok and Kim Bo-seong, thus he was given Kim Ji-seok as his stage name. On May 24,2010, he enlisted for his mandatory military service in South Chungcheong Province at the Nonsan training center for basic training for five weeks. After serving active duty with the Defense Media Agency of the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea. In March 2012, Kim Bo-seok aka Kim Ji-seok was discharged. After serving the military, Kim’s first acting project was the Two Moons horror film, released in July.

Psy

Park Jae-sang (born December 31, 1977), popularly known as Psy, is a South Korean singer, songwriter, rapper, dancer, and record producer, known for his humorous videos, stage performances, and became famous for his international viral video hit single Gangnam Style or Oppan Gangnam Style which means Big Brother is Gangnam Style, with Psy referring to himself. On December 21, 2012, his Gangnam Style music video exceeded 1 billion views on YouTube, became the first and currently only video to do so in the website’s history. Psy was recognized by the media as the “King of YouTube“. Park Jae-sang aka Psy was enlisted in the South Korean Military in 2003, as part of mandatory military service imposed on all male South Korean, ages 18 to 35. Psy was excused from military duty due to working at a South Korean government  software developing company ( grants those with technical expertise work in companies that serve the national interest). He was expected to be released from duties in 2005. Psy released in 2006, his fourth album Sa Jib, which won honors at the 2006 SBS Music Awards and Mnet Asian Music Awards in Hong Kong. in 2007, Psy was accused by the state prosecutors of “neglecting his work”, holding concerts and appearing on local television networks during his period of prior employment. The Seoul Administrative Court decided that Psy must be redrafted on October 12, 2007, rejecting a lawsuit filed by Psy against the Military Manpower Administration (MMA) in August. Two months later, Psy was re-drafted into the military, and held the Private First Class rank, and served as an South Korea’s 52nd Army Infantry Division as signalman, before being released from duties in July 2009. In July 2012, Psy released his sixth album PSY 6 (Six Rules) Part 1, and Oppan Gangnam Style, appeared in broadcasting networks and newspapers outside Asia, “Gangnam Style” is a Korean neologism referring with the Gangnam District of Seoul’s lifestyle.