AFTER hearing the shocking news last week “Major kills 11 in rampage at US Army base” at Fort Hood, Texas, USA - it is interesting to note that Fort Hood was already somewhat famous because of a young recruit named Elvis Presley who was also there one time to do his basic army training.
Elvis Presley was drafted into the US Army on December 19, 1957 by the Memphis Draft Board No 86, he asked for and received (a little over in fact) a 60 day deferment to finish the movie King Creole, filmed in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Elvis reported for duty on March 24, 1958, travelled from Memphis to Fort Chaffee, Arkansas on a Greyhound bus with 12 other recruits. After just four days at Fort Chaffee Elvis and the other recruits travelled to Fort Hood, Texas, America’s biggest military base to begin his basic training.
At Fort Hood Elvis, Army No US 53310761 was assigned to A Company, Second Medium Tank Battalion, Second Armoured Division. He earned $78 a month, down from the $400,000 a month he had been making as a civilian.
The rest, they say, is history.
PETER COOK Vanbrugh Gate Broom Manor Swindon
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