He Served His Country Before Ruling the Stage

ROCK & RANK: This Classic Rock Legend Served His Country Before Ruling the Stage

Think all rock stars were just long-haired rebels dodging the draft and thumbing their noses at authority? Think again. One of classic rock’s most iconic frontmen once wore combat boots before he ever laced up a pair of platform shoes.

We’re talking about Jimi Hendrix, yes, that Hendrix. The man who made guitars wail like banshees and played “The Star-Spangled Banner” like no one else before or since. Before he became a psychedelic guitar god, Hendrix served in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division. That’s right, before he was shredding on stage at Woodstock, he was jumping out of airplanes.

Enlisting in 1961 at just 18 years old, Hendrix completed basic training at Fort Ord, California. He was sent to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he trained to become a paratrooper. He made 26 jumps in total, earning his Screaming Eagles patch. Not exactly the typical path to rock ‘n’ roll superstardom.

Hendrix wasn’t exactly Private of the Month material, fellow soldiers described him as constantly strumming a broom or air-guitaring instead of cleaning or drilling. His passion for music was undeniable, even in a military barracks.

His military stint didn’t last long. By 1962, he was honorably discharged. Reportedly due to an ankle injury from a jump, but rumors swirled about his lack of discipline and obsession with music playing a role too.

After trading his rifle for a guitar full-time, Hendrix rocketed to fame with his explosive playing and psychedelic style, but the military never really left him. That precision? That intensity on stage? You better believe some of that was forged on a training ground.

So next time you blast “Purple Haze” or get lost in one of his solos, remember: Jimi Hendrix wasn’t just a rock star, he was a soldier first. Now that’s a real American riff hero.