10 Famous Marines | Military.com
With more than 200 years of service, the Marine Corps has trained hundreds of thousands of men and women who embody honor, courage, and commitment. over the years, a handful of them have moved into civilian careers that catapulted them into the eyes of the American public. Take a look at these 10 famous Marines and the ways they’ve contributed to the Marine Corps and the United States.
drew carey: comedian and actor. Drew Carey served in the Marine Corps Reserves from 1980 to 1986. He attributes his distinctive haircut and glasses to his time in the Marines. While in the Marines, Carey tried his hand at stand-up comedy, earning $10 per joke. He found success in show business, but maintains close connections with the military through use.
Montel Williams: You may know him as a talk show host and public speaker, but Montel Williams built a solid foundation for his life in the US. uu. marine corps. Williams joined the entry level right out of high school, impressed his superiors, and was recommended and accepted for placement at the Naval Academy Preparatory School. After completing the one year course, he entered and graduated from the USA. uu. naval academy. After a successful career in the Navy, he discovered his talent for public speaking in 1988.
Rob Riggle: Rob Riggle has achieved success as a comedian and Hollywood star, but he spent his early years serving in the Marine Corps. after earning a bachelor’s degree in theater and film from the university of kansas, he served nine years on active duty in the corps. he then went into the reserves and became a public affairs officer. Even when his entertainment career took off, he was still a Marine reservist. he officially retired from the corps in 2013.
Shaggy: Jamaican-born hip-hop artist Shaggy came to the United States. when he was 18 years old and he started his musical career at the same time. Two of his singles, “Mampie” and “Big Up,” reached the top of the New York reggae charts shortly after he emigrated. However, in need of income, Shaggy joined the Navy on his 20th birthday. Two years after his service, he endured the Gulf War and recommitted to making music.
gene hackman: struggling through a troubled home life, gene hackman enlisted in the navy at the age of 16 despite being a minor. he ended up working as a radio operator in china and tried his luck as a disc jockey and newscaster. after separating from the army, he used the gi bill to study journalism and television production. He began acting when he was 30 years old and won praise for his strong portrayal of everyday man characters.
steve mcqueen: the king of cool steve mcqueen claims to have joined the marines simply because he was bored of watching girls walk by in the sun. After enduring a difficult childhood, McQueen joined the Marines in 1947. He served in an armored unit and was demoted to private seven times. His behavior reached a breaking point when he skipped a weekend to turn into a two-week date with a girlfriend. His unit was later on a training exercise in the arctic when a sandbank caused McQueen’s ship to knock several tanks off the deck. mcqueen jumped into the water and saved five lives.
adam driver: if you’ve seen any recent star wars trailers, you’ve seen adam’s former navy driver sporting a black robe and a red lightsaber. the host credits the September 11, 2001 attack as a major influence on his decision to join. When he graduated from high school, he enlisted and easily acclimated to life as a Marine. however, before he had a chance to deploy, he injured his sternum in a mountain bike accident. after two years in the corps without deployment, he was medically discharged. his time in the navy helped him to be clear about what he wanted to do in life: work as an actor.
ted williams – baseball star ted williams embraced the game early in his life, receiving offers from the new york yankees and st. cardinal louis. At 19, he found himself with the Boston Red Sox and became a sensation early in his career. Despite his success as an athlete, he joined the Army in 1942 after he left the US. uu. entered the second world war. he spent two years as a navy aviator, then earned a commission in the marine corps and served until 1946 in a reserve aviation unit. As soon as he returned to the civilian world, he went straight back to playing baseball, but was later called up to serve during the Korean War. During the course of his service, he flew 39 missions.
ed mcmahon: fans of tonight’s show will remember the iconic “heeeeere’s johnny!” which featured johnny carson every night. What you may not know is that the man behind that introduction, Ed McMahon, started out in the Marine Corps. McMahon fulfilled his childhood dream of becoming a Marine Corps pilot in the early 1940s. He worked as a flight instructor and was about to join the Pacific Fleet, but World War II ended before to embark McMahon later served as a reserve officer, but returned to active duty during the Korean War, where he searched for batteries and fighter-bombers in a Cessna O-1. he flew 85 combat missions and retired in 1966 with the rank of colonel.
Harvey Keitel: Renowned actor Harvey Keitel joined the Marine Corps right out of high school. his experiences there helped shape his view of his world. Keitel credits an instructor who taught him how to overcome his fear of the dark with developing his conviction to overcome and persevere against the unknown. He served in Lebanon during Operation Blue Bat and won a medal as a firefighter team leader.
