December 19th, 2023
8minute read
Colonel Tom Parker was a master manipulator.
Elvis, he planned, was to serve as regular soldier, a good old American G.I.
His training with a medium tank battalion ultimately set him up for service with the 3rdArmored Division in Germany.
Sgt. Elvis Presley, U.S. Army, with the 3.5″-inch” M20A1 “Super Bazooka” in Germany. Image: NARA
Presley returned to Fort Hood, on August 18th, clearly heartbroken and lost after burying his mother.
Described as an armor intelligence specialist, Elvis eventually became the driver for Sgt.
Ira Jones of the Company C Recon Platoon.
Sgt. Elvis Presley of the 3rd Armored Division practicing with an M1 Garand rifle. Elvis had been promoted to sergeant while serving in West Germany during January 1960. Image: NARA
However, Presleys life in Germany was not quite like an ordinary G.I.
He was allowed to live off-post, surrounded by family members.
He settled in at the Hotel Villa Grunewald in Bad Nauheim, a town close to Friedberg.
In 1960, many of America’s troops stationed in Germany were still equipped with the .30 caliber M1 rifle. Image: NARA
Colonel Tom Parker held a special press conference to address and dispel them.
Elvis was, by far, the leading international superstar.
Alongside his homesick G.I.
Sgt. Elvis Presley aboard an M38A1 recon Jeep. This vehicle is armed with a .30 caliber Browning M1919A4 machine gun on a pedestal mount. Image: NARA
Clearly, Presleys service was not the same as the average American soldier.
The Army taught him karate, and he practiced martial arts for the rest of his life.
People were expecting me to mess up, to goof up in one way or another.
The primary mission of recon teams stationed in Western Europe was to scout for signs of a Red Army armored breakthrough. Image: NARA
After two years out of the spotlight, Elvis was still a superstar.
He was a bit older, much wiser, and a U.S. Army veteran.
On March 5, 1960, Elvis was honorably discharged from active duty.
Sgt. Elvis Presley scans the West German horizon for signs of an incursion by Soviet troops. Image: NARA
On November 4, 1960, Paramount Pictures would release G.I.
Art would imitate life, and Elvis fans around the world were thrilled.
In addition to the tremendous numerical disadvantage, American tanks were basically on par qualitatively with Soviet designs.
Sgt. Elvis Presley, U.S. Army, warms himself along with West German soldiers near a M59 Armored Personnel Carrier. Image: NARA
The Davy Crockett systems began to arrive in Germany about a year after Elvis had been discharged.
M1 Garand riflewas still in use, as was the.45 caliber M1911 pistoland theM3A1 Grease Gun submachine gun.
And for millions of fans, even in the 21stCentury, Elvis is still King.
Sgt. Elvis Presley in his team’s recon Jeep. Between the front seats is an M20A1 Super Bazooka. Image: NARA
On March 3, 1960, Elvis arrived at McGuire Air Force Base at Fort Dix, New Jersey. Nancy Sinatra, RCA recording execs, Colonel Tom Parker and a huge crowd of fans were there to greet him. Image: NARA
Sgt. Elvis Presley musters out of the U.S. Army. The King of Rock n’ Roll served honorably and returned to making music the fans loved. Image: NARA
