Today is Veterans Day, and there are some country stars who are also veterans. Some people on this list may surprise you:
Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson served in the U.S. Air Force for a short time after graduating high school in 1950. However, back troubles forced him to leave the service after being stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash was a Morse Code Intercept Operator in the Air Force and spent much of his enlistment stationed in Landsberg, Germany.When news of Joseph Stalin’s death broke, Cash was hard at work.
Jamey Johnson
Corporal Jamey Johnson served his country as a member of the U.S. Marine Corp Reserves prior to his days chasing the country music dream in Birmingham, Ala. and then Nashville. He was a mortar man.
George Strait
George Strait was enlisted in the U.S. Army from 1971 to 1975, and he spent the final two years in Hawaii. While there he played country music with an Army-sponsored band called Rambling Country, and also with an off-base group called Santee.
James Otto
James Otto served in the U.S. Navy before chasing his country music dreams. He followed in his father and grandfather’s footsteps.
George Jones
Although the Korean War was underway during George Jones‘ time with the Marines, the eventual country legend was never asked to go overseas. He spent his entire enlistment — beginning in 1951 — stationed in California.
Kris Kristofferson
Kris Kristofferson was an Army Captain and helicopter pilot who nearly became a professor at West Point. Instead he began to chase his country music dreams.
Josh Gracin
Josh Gracin joined the Marines after one year at Western Michigan University. He married shortly after enlisting and was stationed at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, Calif. While serving, he auditioned for ‘American Idol.’
Craig Morgan
Craig Morgan‘s service in the U.S. Army includes 10 years of active duty and seven years with the Reserves. He was stationed in Panama during the operation that led to the ousting of Manuel Noriega in 1989.
To all the brave individuals who have served our great country and protected our freedom, and to those still fighting today, we thank you for your service.
Source: Taste of Country