Singing and Serving

Category: Tribute

Veterans Day originated as Armistice Day in 1938 to honor the "Great War" (what we now call World War I) veterans on the anniversary of the signing of the armistice ending the first world war.  In 1954 the name of the holiday was changed to "Veterans Day" to honor the veterans of both world wars as well as Korea and peacetime veterans.


Many of the greats in country music served in the military before (and in a few cases, during) their career.  So on Veterans Day, here is a list of some of the members of the world of country music who served in the armed forces, and the wars in which they fought (if applicable).


Hall of Famers in bold.


Army:


Jules Verne Allen (World War I)
Jack Anglin (World War II)
Bob Atcher (World War II)
Bobby Bare
Jim Ed Brown
Tom Brumley
Horace "Aytchie" Burns (World War II) 
Kenneth "Jethro" Burns (World War II)
Tommy Cash
Harold "Curly" Chalker
Hank Cochran
Earl Thomas Conley
Tommy Duncan (World War II)
Bob Ferguson (also served in the Marines)
Jack Greene
Tom T. Hall
Henry "Homer" Haynes (World War II)
Fairley Holden (World War II)
Doyle Holly
Harlan Howard
Stonewall Jackson (primarily served in the Navy; briefly in Army but discharged after it was discovered he lied about his age)
Louis "Grandpa" Jones (World War II)
Doug Kershaw
Rusty Kershaw
Kris Kristofferson
Charlie Louvin (Korea; was in the Army Air Corps during WW II)
Ira Louvin (World War II)
Darrell McCall
Del McCoury
Skeets McDonald
Jesse McReynolds (Korea)
Jim McReynolds (Korea)
Roger Miller
George Morgan
Webb Pierce
Elvis Presley
John Prine
Boots Randolph
Jerry Reed
Don Reno (World War II)
Hal Smith (World War II)
Ralph Stanley (World War II)
George Strait
Nat Stuckey (Korea)
Conway Twitty
T. Texas Tyler (real name: David Myrick) (World War II)
Charlie Walker
Doyle Wilburn (Korea)
Teddy Wilburn (Korea)
Bob Wills (World War II)
Faron Young

Navy:


Hoyt Axton
Archie Campbell (World War II)
Cy Coben (World War II)
Larry Cordle
Roy Drusky
Benjamin "Whitey" Ford (Duke of Paducah) (World War I)
Ferlin Husky (Merchant Marines) (World War II)
Harold "Shot" Jackson
Stonewall Jackson (also briefly served in the Army but was discharged after it was discovered he lied about his age to enlist)
Johnny Lee (Vietnam)
Leon McAuliffe (World War II)
Bill Nettles (World War I)
Dale Noe (World War II)
Johnny Paycheck
Don Pierce (World War II)
Ray Pillow
Claude "Curly" Putman
Marty Robbins (World War II)
Carl Smith
Hank Thompson (World War II)
Slim Whitman (World War II)


Air Force/Army Air Corps:


Randy Atcher (World War II)
Gene Autry (World War II)
Rod Brasfield (World War II)
Johnny Cash
Jimmy Dean
Tennessee Ernie Ford (World War II)
Kendall Hayes
Tommy Jackson (World War II)
Charlie Louvin (World War II, was in the Army in Korea)
O.B. McClinton
Willie Nelson
Mike Nesmith
Del Reeves
Charlie Rich
Carter Stanley (World War II)
Mel Tillis


Marines:


Wendy Bagwell (World War II)
Jack Clement
Tommy Collins
Don Everly
Phil Everly
Freddy Fender
Bob Ferguson (Korea) (also served in the Army)
Josh Garcin
Freddie Hart (World War II)
George Jones
Ray Price (World War II)
Charles Whitstein
Robert Whitstein (Vietnam)

Thank you for your service.