Hollywood’s Hidden Heroes: You Won’t Believe Which Celebrities Served in the Military!
Johnny Carson – Ensign, Navy
Before when “The Tonight Show” lit up late nights, Johnny Carson served his country as Ensign Carson in the US Navy during World War II. The 18-year-old college student traded textbooks for a uniform in 1943, joining the V-12 officer training program. Though he yearned for pilot wings, destiny had other plans.
After Columbia University, he was commissioned onto the mighty battleship USS Pennsylvania, sailing the Pacific. No monologue prompts or celebrity guests on this ship, just decoding encrypted messages and witnessing the war’s harsh realities. The “King of Late Night” might never have traded barbs with Ed McMahon if it weren’t for his early days as a Navy ensign.