How did the army change Elvis Presley life?

Answer 1

Elvis was at the height of his career when he was officially notified that he was drafted into the US Army (note: he received the notification in person while at his home in Memphis Tennessee known as Graceland during December of 1957).

Elvis had never been out of the United States other than for a brief period of time when he appeared in Canada.

Elvis had a unique relationship with his beloved mother (i.e. Gladys Love {Smith} Presley) and she was very upset when he was drafted and her health deteriorated rapidly. in fact while Elvis was in the US Army she was hospitalized and died on August 16, 1958 at the age of 46. However, Elvis never knew that she was 46 as he always believed that she was 42. Her death made Elvis question everything and he went into a deep depression. He never stopped loving her and her death left a void on Elvis' heart.

Elvis decided to go through basic training and be apart of the US Army instead of taking the route of 99% of other entertainers who opted to go on tours and perform live appearances. Elvis did his basic training at Fort Hood Texas where he lost weight and improved his physical strength. He was ultimately stationed in Germany where he was allowed to rent a home and have his Father and Grandmother, along with friends, as the US Army allowed for "persons having dependents" to (a) stay off base and (b) have their dependents with them.

During this time Elvis had time to self reflect, and mourn the loss of his mother, as well as plan for his "comeback". Elvis was worried about "if" he would be able to rebuild his career as a; recording artist, performer, and movie actor.

During his time in the US Army, in early 1960, he met Priscilla who would become his wife on May 1, 1967.

Elvis time in the US Army moulded Elvis, and changed him in immeasurable ways, and the by-product of his serving in the US Army earned him the respect of Americans, and the World, and expanded his fan base well past the teenagers/teeny boppers/etc.