Changes

At the age of eighteen, like all young American men, on January 19, 1953, Presley registered for the Selective Service system. At the time, there was a draft and all young men in good health were to be able to serve two years in the military, and then spend four years in the reserves. Presley, after signing up, became the sensation he was. Then Presley received a draft notice, No. 40-86-35-16 on December 20, 1957, but sought deferment to finish his film ''King Creole''.<ref>[https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/elvis-presley-is-drafted]</ref> Presley went to the Memphis Draft Board on March 24, 1958 to be processed into the Army.<ref>[https://blog.newspapers.com/elvis-joins-the-army-march-24-1958/]</ref> Presley was offered a chance to be in the Special Services of the Army where he would entertain the troops, but Presley decided to be drafted as a regular soldier to have a more positive rapport with his fellow troops. <ref>[http://time.com/3746935/elvis-drafted-hair/</ref> He then spent 10 weeks in advanced tank training in Fort Hood, Texas. Presley returned soon after to see his mother, Gladys, who was gravely ill. She died on August 14, 1958.<ref>[http://bestclassicbands.com/gladys-presley-death-8-14-15/]</ref> Presley served for two years and was assigned as an M48 Patton tank crewman to Company A, 1st Medium Tank Battalion, 32nd Armor Regiment of the 3rd Armored Division. He was stationed at Ray Barracks in Friedberg, Germany. Presley was promoted to the rank of [[Sergeant]].<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/03/22/sixty-years-ago-elvis-presley-was-drafted-into-the-army-he-was-never-the-same/?utm_term=.f4f50725cc96</ref>

At the age of eighteen, like all young American men, on January 19, 1953, Presley registered for the Selective Service system. At the time, there was a draft and all young men in good health were to be able to serve two years in the military, and then spend four years in the reserves. Presley, after signing up, became the sensation he was. Then Presley received a draft notice, No. 40-86-35-16 on December 20, 1957, but sought deferment to finish his film ''King Creole''.<ref>[https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/elvis-presley-is-drafted]</ref> Presley went to the Memphis Draft Board on March 24, 1958 to be processed into the Army.<ref>[https://blog.newspapers.com/elvis-joins-the-army-march-24-1958/]</ref> Presley was offered a chance to be in the Special Services of the Army where he would entertain the troops, but Presley decided to be drafted as a regular soldier to have a more positive rapport with his fellow troops. <ref>[http://time.com/3746935/elvis-drafted-hair/</ref> He then spent 10 weeks in advanced tank training in Fort Hood, Texas. Presley returned soon after to see his mother, Gladys, who was gravely ill. She died on August 14, 1958.<ref>[http://bestclassicbands.com/gladys-presley-death-8-14-15/]</ref> Presley served for two years and was assigned as an M48 Patton tank crewman to Company A, 1st Medium Tank Battalion, 32nd Armor Regiment of the 3rd Armored Division. He was stationed at Ray Barracks in Friedberg, Germany. Presley was promoted to the rank of [[Sergeant]].<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/03/22/sixty-years-ago-elvis-presley-was-drafted-into-the-army-he-was-never-the-same/?utm_term=.f4f50725cc96</ref>

While Presley was processed at Fort Chaffe near Fort Smith, Arkansas, [[John Mawn]], the public information officer, was assigned to reply to the media when Presley’s draft notice became public. Presley received his "G.I. haircut" at Fort Chaffee on March 25, 1958, a day after his induction by the draft board in [[Memphis]], [[Tennessee]]. Earlier, Mawn told an [[Associated Press]] reporter that the already legendary entertainer would look like a "peeled onion", a retort which garnered national headlines. Presley himself said simply, "Hair today, gone tomorrow." Mawn went on to be technical adviser for Presley's 1960 film, ''G.I. Blues''.

While Presley was processed at Fort Chaffe near Fort Smith, [[Arkansas]], [[John Mawn]], the public information officer, was assigned to reply to the media when Presley’s draft notice became public. Presley received his "G.I. haircut" at Fort Chaffee on March 25, 1958, a day after his induction by the draft board in [[Memphis]], [[Tennessee]]. Earlier, Mawn told an [[Associated Press]] reporter that the already legendary entertainer would look like a "peeled onion", a retort which garnered national headlines. Presley himself said simply, "Hair today, gone tomorrow." Mawn went on to be technical adviser for Presley's 1960 film, ''G.I. Blues''.

Presley's conscription inspired the musical [[Bye Bye Birdie]].<ref>http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19756/m1/</ref>

Presley's conscription inspired the musical [[Bye Bye Birdie]].<ref>http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19756/m1/</ref>