|
Sergeant E-5 Elvis A.Presley
3rd Armored Division
Served with the Division: 10/1/58 - 3/1/60
| |
ABOVE: Elvis Presley on March
1, 1960 at his final press conference in Germany before flying
to the States for separation from active duty. At left is Capt.
John J. Mawn of the 3rd Armored Division Public Information Office
(PIO), who was at Presley's side during virtually all of his
contacts with the press during 1958-60. The scene above was at
HQ Co, 1st Bn, 32nd Armor, Friedberg, Germany. (Photo by Sp4
Frank Laughron of the 143rd Signal Bn.) |
A BASIC SUMMARY
OF ELVIS PRESLEY'S ARMY CAREER
| |
- Born January 8th, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi, to Vernon
and Gladys Presley in a two-room house. His twin brother, Jesse
Presley, died at birth.
- In Germany, assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Armor Regiment,
3rd Armored Division, Ray Barracks, Friedberg. Served with the
Division from 10/1/58 to 3/1/60.
- Received draft notice at age 23 in Memphis, TN, and was subsequently
inducted on March 24, 1958, and processed at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas.
- Total time on active Army duty: 2 years, 3/24/58 - 3/5/60.
- Spent 6 months at Ft. Hood for basic & advanced training
(under 2nd Armored Division) prior to Germany.
- While at Ft. Hood, his mother, Gladys, dies unexpectedly
on August 14, 1958. He returns to Memphis on emergency leave.
- MOS 133.60 at discharge (armor intelligence specialist, or
"scout").
- Could drive, load, and shoot an M-48 Patton battle tank,
but with 3rd Armored he served as jeep driver and recon. scout.
- Promoted to Sergeant E-5 at age 25 on 1/20/60 at Tank Range
42 at Grafenwoehr, Germany.
- Was supervised at press and other events during his 17 months
with the 3rd Armored by Capt. John Mawn of Division PIO. In August,
2002, Mawn (of Fort Smith, Arkansas) was quoted as saying, "My
job was to make sure that Presley didn't screw up at press and
public appearances. And, you know what, he never did."
- Rented a house in Bad Nauheim, Germany, at 14 Goethestrasse
while assigned to Friedberg. Granted off-post status, as his
grandmother and father lived with him and were designated as
dependents.
- On September 13, 1959, met Priscilla Beaulieu, the teenage
step-daughter of an Air Force captain stationed at Wiesbaden
AFB. They met at Elvis' home in Bad Nauheim, where she had been
invited to a party through a mutual friend. They would eventually
marry on 5/1/67 and divorce in 1973.
- Accomplished a singing career that lasted from 1954 to 1977,
during which he charted more hits, spent more weeks at the top
of the chart, and scored more consecutive #1 hits than any other
artist in the history of popular music to this day.
- Died on 8/16/77 at age 42.
- "Before Elvis, there was nothing." -- John Lennon
|
|
|