Thank You To Our Veterans- A Country Music Military History Lesson

Young Johnny Cash

By K.F. Raizor

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).

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)

Doug Kershaw

Rusty Kershaw

Kris Kristofferson

Charlie Louvin (World War II and Korea)

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)

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)

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.

Independent scholar and free-lance writer since 1989, K.F. Raizor's work has appeared in "Lefthander" magazine and "Hard Country Beat", and hosted a column from 1994 until the magazine ceased publication in 1998. You can look forward to an upcoming project on Country Music Hall of Famers Homer and Jethro. Check out the country blog at Raizor's Edge.