13 Familiar Names with Vietnam Service on Their Resumes

While we admire the talents of famous people on screen or in the public eye, many of these individuals carry a past marked by their commitment to their country. 

Here are unexpected veterans that have often-unnoticed service in the Vietnam War.

1. Jesse Ventura

Ventura served in the U.S. Navy Underwater Demolition Team (UDT), a precursor to the SEALs, from 1969 to 1975. He did not see combat in Vietnam but served during the war years. While his UDT service didn’t involve combat, Ventura’s military background played a role in his later career as a pro wrestler and politician. 

2. Richard Kline

Best known for his role on “Three’s Company,” Kline served in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1969, including a tour in Vietnam as an information specialist. Kline’s Vietnam experience likely shaped his perspective and added depth to his acting career. 

3. Al Gore

Before his political career, Gore served in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1971, including five months in Vietnam as a military journalist. Gore’s time in Vietnam influenced his views on war and foreign policy throughout his political career.

Gore’s military service adds another layer to his complex public persona and influences his commitment to public service.

4. Richard Chaves

An actor known for his roles in Westerns, Chaves served in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1968, including a tour in Vietnam as an infantryman.

Chaves’s combat experience in Vietnam undoubtedly influenced his portrayal of soldiers and veterans in his acting roles.

5. Wes Studi

A renowned Native American actor, Studi served in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1969, including a tour in Vietnam as an infantryman.

Studi’s service in Vietnam, along with his Cherokee heritage, has enhanced his powerful performances in films like “Dances with Wolves” and “The Last of the Mohicans.”

6. Oliver Stone

The acclaimed filmmaker served in the U.S. Army infantry from 1967 to 1968, earning a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart for his actions in combat.

His Vietnam experiences profoundly influenced his films like “Platoon” and “Born on the Fourth of July.”

7. R. Lee Ermey

Best known for his role as the drill instructor in “Full Metal Jacket,” Ermey served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1961 to 1972, including 14 months in Vietnam as a staff sergeant and drill instructor.

His firsthand experience lent authenticity to his iconic performance.

8. Dennis Franz

Before his role on “NYPD Blue,” Franz served in the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division from 1968 to 1970, including 11 months in Vietnam as a paratrooper.

His service also included time with the 101st Airborne Division.

9. Rocky Bleier

A former Pittsburgh Steelers running back, Bleier served in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1969. He was wounded in combat in Vietnam and received a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. 

Bleier’s overcoming his war wounds to succeed in professional football shows his resilience and determination.

10. Dale Dye

This actor and military advisor served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1964 to 1984, including multiple tours in Vietnam as a combat correspondent and reconnaissance Marine.

His experience lends realism to his roles and his work training actors for war films.

11. John Musgrave

This poet and anti-war activist served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1965 to 1967, including a tour in Vietnam as an infantryman.

His experiences shaped his powerful poetry and his advocacy for veterans. 

12. James Avery

Avery served in the US Navy during the Vietnam War. Details of his service remain scarce, but we know he enlisted after high school and was deployed from 1968 to 1969. Upon his return, he settled in San Diego, where he embarked on a new path of writing poetry and scripts for PBS.

13. Tom Selleck

Best known for Magnum P.I., Tom Selleck served in the California National Guard from 1967 to 1973, while his acting career was on hold. He enlisted with the 160th Infantry Regiment during the Vietnam era but did not see combat.

Despite Fox Studios dropping him while he served, Selleck went on to become a Hollywood icon. He remains active in military-related causes, notably working with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund​.

These individuals, whose faces we recognize from the screen or the stage, once wore the uniform of their nation, facing challenges and sacrifices few of us can fully comprehend.

Let us honor their service, their dedication, and the profound impact their experiences had on their lives and the world around them.