Veterans Day on Friday is a time to honor the men and women who have put on a uniform and taken up arms to protect America. They're our parents, siblings, friends and neighbors. But among those everyday heroes are some very famous names who have also answered the call to serve. Here are 15 celebs you might be surprised to learn are military veterans.
Photo: Getty Images
Elvis Presley, U.S. Army
He might be the most famous star to ever don a military uniform. The crooner spent two years posted overseas in Germany as part of the 1st Medium Tank Battalion, 32nd Armor.
Photo: Getty Images
Alan Alda, U.S. Army Reserve
Proving that art imitates life, the M*A*S*H star served a six-month tour as a gunnery sergeant in Korea in the late 1950s.
Photo: Getty Images
Montel Williams, U.S. Marine Corps
The former talk show host won numerous awards and medals during his military career, and received degrees in engineering and Russian from elite service academies. As a Special Duty Intelligence officer, Williams specialized in Cryptology.
Photo: Getty Images
Julia Child, OSS
You know her as the lovable and charming kitchen genius who introduced French cuisine to Americans. But did you know that during World War II she was an intelligence officer with the wartime Office of Strategic Services?
Photo: Getty Images
MC Hammer, U.S. Navy
Before he donned his notoriously baggy Hammer Pants, the Bay Area-bred rapper served three years in the Navy.
Photo: Getty Images
Mel Brooks, U.S. Army
Before he was famous for making generations of Americans laugh, Corporal Mel Brooks fought at the Battle of the Bulge in World War II.
Photo: Getty Images
Drew Carey, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve
Want to get the host of The Price is Right's attention at the next taping? Wear a USMC T-shirt. The funnyman spent six years in the Marine Corps Reserve.
Photo: Getty Images
Steve McQueen, U.S. Marine Corps
Maybe McQueen learned how to play the rebel during his three-year stint in the Marines? The "King of Cool" was thrown in the brig for more than a month when he went AWOL for two weeks.
Photo: Getty Images
Sunny Anderson, U.S. Air Force
A self-described Army brat, the Food Network star served in the Air Force from 1993-1997. Her military service even inspired some of her signature dishes, like Airman Anderson's Chicken, a revamped version of the Chinese takeout staple General Tso's Chicken.
Photo: Getty Images
Joe Louis, U.S. Army
The legendary boxer was drafted into the Army when his career was red hot—he had already been world heavyweight champ for five years when he was inducted in 1942. And it looks like the Army was a good fit for Louis, since a superior praised Louis for his "incalculable contribution to the general morale sustaining program within the Army."
Photo: Getty Images
Bill Cosby, U.S. Navy
After enlisting in the Navy in 1956, the legendary comedian trained as a hospital corpsman, and worked with Korean War vets. He also played on the Navy's track, basketball and football teams. After the Navy, Cosby used the GI Bill to finance his education at Temple University.
Photo: Getty Images
Chuck Norris, U.S. Air Force
Norris first learned about martial arts while stationed in Korea with the Air Force. He now devotes much of his time to veterans' issues and charities.
Photo: Getty Images
Tony Bennett, U.S. Army
Bennett, who served during World War II, saw his military career take him to Germany and France.
Photo: Getty Images
Kris Kristofferson, U.S. Army
An Army captain and a helicopter pilot, the 1970s music legend was also a Rhodes Scholar. He even turned down a job offer to teach at West Point.
Photo: Getty Images
James Earl Jones, U.S. Army
Before he was Darth Vader, the man with one of the most recognizable voices in Hollywood trained to be an Army Ranger (though he admits he washed out of the program). Jones rose to the rank of First Lieutenant before he was discharged.
