Thank You For Your Service: Cheers To These Black Celeb Veterans On 75th Anniversary of the Military's Integration

The rapper-actor served four years in the Army’s 25th Infantry Division, according to Military.com.

The actor enlisted in the Army at 16 years old where he was sent to a hospital to provide aid to the medical staff caring for mentally ill veterans, per Veterans Advantage.

The comedian joined the Air Force as a field medic and was deployed to West Germany and South Korea, per the DOD.

The music legend joined the Navy and spent three years as an aviation storekeeper third class, per Military.com.

Hendrix had two options as a rebellious youth from Seattle: go to prison or join the Army. He chose the latter. He was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division and was discharged after the first year of his three-year contract because he distressed the captain, according to Military.com.

Quivers was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Air Force and served as a nurse. She transferred to the Air Force Reserve from her base in Texas, climbing to a captain and served there for over 10 years.

The singer was 17 years old when he dropped out of high school to enlist in the Air Force, according to his bio in Medic in the Green Time. Though, he superiors considered him uncooperative and lackadaisical. He faked being mentally ill and was given a general discharge after one year.

The comedian joined the Air Force in 1979, according to Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs. It was there that he realized his passion for making people laugh, working as a comic for Tops in Blue, a touring performance ensemble of active-duty airmen. After he won the show Star Search in the late 80s, his comedy career took off and his military career came to a close.

The former New York U.S. Representative enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of 17 and fought in the Korean War, Korean War Legacy. He served in the 2nd Infantry Division and received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for leading a troop out of the ambush of Chinese enemies. Rangel said that day was the worst day of his life but typically notes that he “hasn’t had a bad day since.”

In the early 60s, the NBA star was on active duty in the U.S. Army at the same time he was competing in professional basketball, per NBA’s website. He was drafted despite being an inch short of the maximum height and color-blind. By the time basic training began, he couldn’t fit the military uniform and was moved to be an official military medic. His performance in basketball got him a granted leave to play for the Lakers and continual leave by an order signed by President JFK.

The reggae star left Jamaica to come to the US to pursue his music career at 18 years old, per Military.com. However, he joined the Marine Corps in 1988 after struggling to find work and fought in the Gulf War. He didn’t stay in the military much longer after that and went AWOL to pursue music seriously once he returned home.

Freeman enlisted in the Air Force after high school and trained to be an automatic tracking radar repairman, per the Department of Defense.

Williams served in the Marine Corps and graduated from the Naval Academy, serving 18 months in Guam as a cryptologist officer, per the DOD.

The Food Network star was an Air Force broadcast journalist in Seoul, South Korea and worked for Air Force News Agency radio and television in San Antonio for five years, per DOD.

The legendary actor joined the Pershing Rifles Drill Team and Scabbard and Blade Honor Society in college. Then, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army. Finally, Jones was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 38th Regimental Combat Team, per the DOD.

Robinson, with the help of heavyweight champion Private Joe Louis, enrolled in the Officer’s Candidate School at Fort Riley and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army. Also, he got arrested after refusing to sit on the back of the military bus, per the Airborne and Special Operations Museum website.

The singer and activist joined the Navy during World War II and contributed to the war effort for a year, according to the DOD.

The pop culture sensation joined the Army National Guard just after the Vietnam War and later joined the Military Police corps rising to a squad leader at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, per Military.com.

The Motown Records founder enlisted in the Army and served in Korea for two years, per the Detroit Historical Society.

The NBA star enlisted in the US Naval Academy and achieved the rank of a Lieutenant, Junior Grade. After receiving his commission he was assigned to the Civil Engineering Corps, per the Defense Department.