Before starting their careers in Hollywood and often while building their path to fame, many celebrities decide to enlist in the US military. This trend gained traction during World War II, when well-known figures such as Clark Gable and Henry Fonda responded to the nation’s need for service following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
The tradition has persisted through many subsequent wars, including the Vietnam War, during which many stars took on different roles, both overseas and at home.
Oliver Stone
Commencing our compilation of celebrities who served in the Vietnam War is director Oliver Stone, renowned for his three films centered around the conflict. Upon enlisting in the US Army in 1967, Stone actively sought combat duty and found himself assigned to the 2nd Platoon, Company B, 3rd Battalion, 25th Infantry Regiment, stationed along the Cambodian-South Vietnam border.
Stone’s military journey took a turn after he was transferred to the long-range reconnaissance platoon attached to the 21st Cavalry Division. During a patrol, he and his comrades were ambushed by a sizable contingent of North Vietnamese Army (NVA) troops. He recounted a harrowing experience during the engagement when a McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II dropped a 500-pound bomb over the area. He credited a nearby foxhole with saving his life, as without it, he might not have survived.
In recognition of his service in Vietnam, Stone was honored with the Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for Valor. Upon returning to the US, he shifted his focus to filmmaking, delivering notable features like Midnight Express (1978) and Scarface (1983). Among his most celebrated works are the films comprising his Vietnam trilogy: Platoon (1986), Born on the Fourth of July (1989) and Heaven & Earth (1993).
James Avery
James Avery, best known for his role as Philip Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-96), had a career filled with notable performances in both television and film. His portrayal of General K’Vagh on Star Trek: Enterprise (2001-05) is especially memorable for many.
While his television achievements stand out, Avery’s service in the US Navy during the Vietnam War is often under appreciated. He enlisted shortly after graduating high school and served from 1968 to 1969.
After his military service, he settled in San Diego, California, where he started a writing career, creating poetry and scripts for PBS. The rest, as they say, is Hollywood history, with Avery joining the ranks of numerous stars who served in various roles both abroad and domestically.
Dennis Franz
Few celebrities can claim to have served in the Vietnam War, let alone with one of the US Army’s most renowned divisions. Dennis Franz is one such person, having served with the 101st Airborne Division. As well, during his 11-month deployment overseas, he also spent time with the 82nd Airborne.
While serving in Vietnam, Franz and his comrades frequently took part in combat, which left a mark on him. Speaking about his deployment, he said, “I was curious about the military service and went into the Army. [It] was a very traumatic, life-changing experience… I’m not as frivolous as I once was. I experienced death over there, and losing friends. I got as close to being shot as I care to. I could feel and hear bullets whizzing over my head, and that shakes you up quite a bit.”
After completing his military service, Franz transitioned to the stage and made guest appearances on various television shows. His breakthrough came when he secured a starring role on NYPD Blue (1993-2005), with his character, Andy Sipowicz, earning him four Emmy Awards. Among his other notable credits are Die Hard 2 (1992), where he appeared alongside Bruce Willis, as well as Mighty Ducks (1996-97) and Beverly Hills Buntz (1987-88).
Jesse Ventura
Jesse Ventura, known for his multifaceted career spanning professional wrestling, acting and, later, politics, had a lesser-known chapter as a member of Underwater Demolition Team (UDT) 12. Born James George Janos, Ventura’s connection to the military ran deep, with both his parents having served in the Second World War.
Despite Ventura’s openness about his Vietnam-era service, controversy arose over his assertion of being a Navy SEAL. While he completed Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) school, he fell short of the additional 26 weeks of training required for SEAL qualification. His claim stemmed from the integration of UDTs into SEAL teams post-conflict.
Ventura’s military tenure from 1969-75 saw no combat action. Transitioning from the Navy, he moved to professional wrestling and acting, before venturing into politics. His political journey included a stint as mayor of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, and, later, the governor of the state.
In a highly publicized legal battle, Ventura sued Chris Kyle, an Iraq War veteran, for defamation over an alleged altercation. After Kyle died in an unrelated incident, Ventura redirected his legal action toward his widow and estate executor. Initially awarded $1.85 million in damages, the verdict was later overturned by the US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, drawing widespread attention.
Dale Dye
Dale Dye exemplifies a Vietnam War veteran whose path intersected with Hollywood post-service. Before venturing into the entertainment industry, Dye dedicated himself to his military career, completing three tours in South Vietnam with the US Marine Corps. His interest in military service was sparked upon his learning about the Battle of Iwo Jima, prompting him to enlist once he was eligible.
Deployed early to Vietnam, Dye’s adeptness caught the attention of his superiors, leading to a recommendation for him to become a combat correspondent. In this capacity, he participated in the Tet Offensive and accompanied the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment during Operation Ford, witnessing skirmishes with the NVA. Displaying bravery, he even filled in for a fallen assistant machine gunner during one encounter, facing enemy fire.
By the war’s end, Dye had participated in 31 combat missions and earned several commendations, including the Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat “V.” He continued his military service as well, serving in Beirut from 1982-83.
Following his retirement, Dye moved into military journalism, working for Soldier of Fortune and KFI AM 640. He also founded Warriors, Inc., a firm dedicated to ensuring authentic military depictions in Hollywood productions. His subsequent involvement in war releases, such as Saving Private Ryan (1998) and Band of Brothers (2001), solidified him as a respected figure who works tirelessly to bridge the gap between the military and entertainment worlds.
Richard Kline
Richard Kline may be most recognized for his portrayal of Larry Dallas in the television sitcom Three’s Company (1977-1984), but did you know he served during the Vietnam War? Not only that, but he experienced an unexpected event during his deployment: he was struck by lightning!
Following his completion of a Masters of Fine Arts at Northwestern University, Kline enlisted in the US Army. After undergoing basic training and Officer Candidate School (OCS), he was deployed to Vietnam as a lieutenant with the 101st Airborne. Although stationed north of Saigon, he didn’t engage in combat; instead, he was assigned to boost troop morale through a program known as Recreation, Welfare, and Morale.
Kline has since shared the inner turmoil he experienced about his service in Vietnam, which led him to keep it concealed until the resolution of the Iran hostage crisis. “I had what they called a sense of ‘double guilt,’ because I was in theater, and all my friends were extremely liberal and anti-war, and I was anti-war. By going into the Army, I felt guilty, and then, by not serving in combat, I also felt guilty, so go figure,” he told Priscilla Barnes on her podcast.
An interesting tidbit about Kline’s time in Vietnam is that he suffered a lightning strike while at a rural airport in Phu Bai. While taking shelter beneath the wing of a Lockheed C-130 Hercules during a storm, lightning struck, causing him and his companions to be propelled eight feet across the tarmac. Miraculously, everyone involved survived the incident.
Tom Selleck
Tom Selleck may not have been sent overseas during the Vietnam War, but he was one of a number of future celebrities who were drafted. He subsequently enlisted with the California National Guard, serving with the 160th Infantry Regiment from 1967-73. At the time, he’d been under contract with Fox, and only learned after being discharged that he’d been fired by the studio.
As it turns out, the setback didn’t impact Selleck’s career all that much. He later went on to star in a string of popular films and television shows, most notably Magnum P.I. (1980-88), Three Men and a Baby (1987), Friends (1994-2004) and Blue Bloods (2010-present).
Selleck has continued his work with the military, with his image being used in promotional posters for the California National Guard and California Military School. He’s also a spokesperson for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.
Demond Wilson
Best known as his portrayal of Lamont Sanford in the television sitcom Sanford and Son (1972-77), Demond Wilson has largely kept out of the public eye for the past decade, opting instead to focus on his religious beliefs. His emphasis on spirituality dates back to his childhood, when an appendix rupture almost took his life. From then on, he’d promised to serve God.
From 1966-68, Wilson served in the US Army and was deployed to Vietnam with the 4th Infantry Division. Little is known about his service overseas, other than he was wounded in combat and discharged as a Sergeant E-5. Upon his return to the US, he acted in Broadway and off-Broadway productions, before landing guest roles on a number of TV shows.
John Prine
Famed country-folk musician John Prine is another in a list of celebrities to have served in the Vietnam War – however, he was stationed in West Germany during the conflict, as opposed to Asia. Prior to being drafted into the US Army, Prine spent the five years after his high school graduation working as a postman with the US Postal Service.
While stationed in West Germany, Prine served as a vehicle mechanic. Once back in the US, he saw his fellow soldiers returning home from Vietnam and was struck by the struggles they faced readjusting to civilian life. This led him to write “Sam Stone,” a poignant song that not only spoke to servicemen, but changed the public perception of them as “remorseless killing machines.”
Over the course of his music career, Prine released 18 albums, and was the recipient of four Grammy Awards and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2019, just a year prior to his death, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Pat Sajak
The long-time host of one of the most popular game shows on television, Wheel of Fortune (1975-present), Pat Sajak is among the list of celebrities who also served in the Vietnam War, assigned duty as a disc jockey with the American Forces Vietnam Network (AFVN) in Saigon. Originally trained as a clerk typist, Sajak hosted Adrian Cronauer‘s popular program, Dawn Buster. He even continued the DJ’s tradition of kicking off the show with the famed phrase, “Good Morning, Vietnam!”
Speaking about his time with the AFVN with LAVA 105.3, he said, “It really was good duty. And if you have to be in Vietnam, it was a pretty good place to do it. By the way, the enemy never got one of our records the whole time I was there.”
He added in an article for the USO, “Before I was Pat Sajak of Wheel of Fortune, I was Pat Sajak Vietnam DJ. I was an Army Spc. 5th class who had joined the service, been trained as a clerk typist, was sent to Vietnam as a finance clerk. After repeated attempts, I had been transferred to Saigon to be a disc jockey, as I had been in civilian life. The Army can work in mysterious ways.”
R. Lee Ermey
The majority of readers will likely know R. Lee Ermey was as a sergeant in the US Marine Corps, but some might not realize the extent to which he served. Ermey enlisted after a judge threatened him with jail time after an adolescence of criminal mischief, and he went on to serve for 11 years.
After completing recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, Ermey served in the aviation support field, before becoming a drill sergeant in India Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion. He was subsequently sent to Okinawa with Marine Wing Support Group (MWSG) 17, before serving a 14-month deployment in Vietnam.
Ermey was medically discharged from the Marine Corps in 1972, having served a second stint on Okinawa. Speaking with the New York Times in 1987, he shared the injury was caused “by a rocket” some 18 years prior, but refused to go into more details. He did, however, carry shrapnel in his back until his death in April 2018.
Following his service, Ermey continued to be active in the Marine Crops, speaking with recruits and and even putting on a USO-style comedy routine in Afghanistan. He also moved into acting, with his first role being a helicopter pilot in Apocalypse Now (1979). Ermey’s first major film appearance was in 1987’s Full Metal Jacket. He’d initially been hired as a technical advisor, but director Stanley Kubrick later cast him as Gunnery Sgt. Hartman after watching an instructional tape he’d recorded.
Wes Studi
The final entry on our list of celebrities who served in the Vietnam War is West Studi, who is best known for portraying the title character in Geronimo: An American Legend (1993) and Magua in The Last of the Mohicans (1992). What many might not know is that the actor was a member of the Oklahoma National Guard.
Studi enlisted in the Oklahoma National Guard at just 17 years old, and received both basic combat and advanced individual training at Fort Johnson (formerly Fort Polk), Louisiana. He decided he wanted to serve in Vietnam. With only one year left with the National Guard, he volunteered for active duty, serving overseas with Company A, 3rd Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division.
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Studi’s 12-month deployment came shortly before the “Mini-Tet” Offensive, which saw the Viet Cong and NVA attack Saigon in the wake of the Tet Offensive. He was stationed at the French Fort, deep within Viet Cong-held territory. What he experienced during this assignment led him to become a veterans’ activist. He’s since become involved with the non-profit Vietnam Veterans Against the War and regularly visits Vietnam Veterans of America conventions.