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It may come as no surprise that black belt martial art's artist Chuck Norris served four years in the U.S. Air Force as an Air Policeman. It was actually due to his assignment in South Korea that the actor first took up Tang Soo Do!
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This Western legend had quite the eventful time during the Korean War. While Clint Eastwood would serve his stint in the Army as a lifeguard at Fort Ord in California and never see any actual combat, Eastwood did have a near death scare when involved in a Douglas AD bomber crash. Luckily Clint and the pilot crashed in the ocean and were able to use a life raft to swim back to shore.
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Yet another Western legend to join the military was actor James Arness. Known for playing "Marshal Matt Dillion" on hit series Gunsmoke, James first attempted to join the military as a naval fighter pilot, but was turned down because of his height. He was then drafted into the U.S. Army where he served as a rifleman in Italy until he was honorably discharged following an injury to his right leg.
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While country music singer Willie Nelson is known for his outlaw style and activism, the singer would join the U.S. Air Force after graduating high school in 1950. However, after less than a year, Willie began suffering from back problems and was discharged.
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Our last country singer to have served his country is the legendary Kris Kristofferson. With his father serving in the U.S. Army Corps for most of Kris's childhood, and Kris's grandfather's history as an officer in the Swedish Army, Kris was pushed at an early age by his father to join the military. Kris would serve in the U.S. Army for five years, even reaching the rank of captain, before leaving to pursue his passion for music full-time.
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