WASHINGTON — Before Tom Selleck appeared on American television screens in “Magnum P.I.” and as Frank Reagan in “Blue Bloods” he served in the Army National Guard.
Selleck enlisted as an infantry Soldier in the California Guard during the Vietnam War.
As a member of Company C, 1st Battalion, 160th Infantry, Selleck attended the California Military Academy, and served six months of active duty.
Although Sgt. Selleck never deployed to Vietnam during his time in the Guard from 1967-1973, he became a spokesperson for the Guard and the U.S. military. About seven years later, Selleck landed what would become arguably his career defining part as Thomas Magnum in the popular CBS prime time show.
Due to a scheduling conflict, Selleck turned down the iconic role of Indiana Jones that would later go to Harrison Ford.
After a recurring spot on the NBC comedy Friends as Monica Geller’s love interest, Selleck earned an honorary officer’s commission from Army in 2002. Later Selleck took the role of spokesperson for the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Fund, advocating for the construction of an educational center near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C.
In 2010, the Sherman Oaks, California native joined the cast of Blue Bloods as New York police Commissioner Reagan, starring alongside Donnie Wahlberg and Bridget Moynahan.
Blue Bloods would become the longest running television series of Selleck’s career, concluding in December 2024 after 14 seasons.
Pat Sajak
Pat Sajak became a staple in American television as host of the popular TV game show “Wheel of Fortune.”
But he got his start as a radio host for Armed Forces Radio and Television while stationed in Vietnam. As a U.S. Soldier, Sajak served in Vietnam from 1968-1970, originally training as a finance clerk.
Sajak said that he remains proud to be one of the [6 million] Vietnam War veterans. He became an advocate for his fellow Vietnam veterans, pushing for the former troops to receive more respect in the media.
“When our troops returned home from war, many were greeted with insults, not cheers, and all too often were portrayed in the media and in Hollywood films as drug addicts, misfits, perpetrators of atrocities and losers,” Sajak wrote in a public letter posted on the American Veterans Center website. “The reality is that the Vietnam Veterans compiled an outstanding record of courage, service, and patriotism. They should be proud of their record and we should be proud of them.”
Following his Army service, Sajak took a job as a DJ for a Nashville-based radio station before relocating to Los Angeles as a weather reporter.
Finally in 1981, American media mogul Merv Griffin asked Sajak to take on what would become his most renowned role as host of Wheel of Fortune. Sajak would serve as host alongside hostess Vannah White until 2024. He still supports the show as a creative consultant.
Betty White
American comedian Betty White, known for her longtime role as the witty Rose Nylund on the Emmy Award winning series “Golden Girls,” never officially served as a member of the U.S Army.
But she directly supported Soldiers during World War II. The Army honored White for her work as a member of the American Women’s Voluntary Services where she began serving at age 19.
White joined the AWVS in 1941 at time when the Army did not allow women to enlist. White drove a supply and food truck to different military installations in California. She also performed and spent time at military recreation centers and interacted with Soldiers.
White would go on to star in the Mary Tyler Moore Show and later in the popular NBC sitcom Golden Girls from 1985-1992.
Hollywood credits White with having the longest career of any female actress spanning over 90 years. She went on to star in the feature film “The Proposal” alongside Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock in 2009. She earned an Emmy for her performance as host of Saturday Night Live in 2010, before landing another part as Elka in Hot in Cleveland from 2010-2015.
White won eight Emmys, one Grammy, three Screen Actors Guild awards and three American Comedy Awards before passing away on Dec. 31, 2021 at 99 years old.
Joe DiMaggio
Seven years into his major league career, New York Yankees legend Joe DiMaggio took a hiatus to compete for the U.S. military baseball teams as a Soldier. DiMaggio enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces in 1943, before the start of the war. Although he never saw combat, DiMaggio played the important role of boosting the morale of Soldiers in the war. He also became a physical education instructor for the service.
According to DiMaggio’s website, the Yankees star gave up his $43,750 annual baseball salary for $50 a month in the Army.
As a member of the Special Services, DiMaggio competed for the Seventh Army Air Force baseball team in Hawaii. He received a medical discharge in September 1945. Dimaggio resumed his MLB career in the 1946 season.
Carly Schroeder
Millennials may remember Capt. Carly Schroeder’s recurring role on the popular Disney Channel series “Lizzie McGuire.” There, Schroeder played Melina Bianco alongside lead actress Hilary Duff, as the love interest of title character’s brother.
She also starred on the soap opera General Hospital.
Schroeder earned her start in acting while growing up in the Chicago suburb of Valparaiso, Indiana. Schroeder went on to land starring roles in films that include the sports drama, “Gracie” where Schroeder plays a female soccer player in the early years of Title IX.
In July 2019, Schroeder decided to join the U.S. Army. She earned her commission in officer candidate school after attending basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
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