REPOST: 20 People You Didn’t Know Were United States Marines

Serving in the US Marine Corps is a character-enriching experience one carries throughout his or her lifetime. This article enumerates various celebrities and public figures who were enlisted US Marines at some point in their youth.

The Marine Corps bills itself as a career-building experience, and we've found lots of successful people who confirm this.

You probably had no idea that these men served, but you know their other work.

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Drew Carey

Drew Carey enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve in 1980 and served for six years. Since then, he's had his own successful sitcom, hosted the improv show Who's Line Is It Anyway? and currently is the host of The Price Is Right.

Montel Williams

Montel Williams joined the Marines and went to boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina right after high school. He was groomed for leadership and sent to the Naval Academy Preparatory School and went to the Naval Academy. Williams spent several years aboard submarines and working in the intelligence sphere.

He started the successful talk show The Montel Williams Show in 1991.

Rob Riggle

Daily Show Corespondent Rob Riggle served in Kosovo, Liberia and Afghanistan

Rob Riggle is currently a Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve. He's a public affairs officer with the NYC unit, and has received the Combat Action ribbon.

Right now, he's an active comedian, he's been in multiple comedies, and he remains a corespondent for the Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

Shaggy

Orville Burrell served in Operation Desert Storm before he became rapper Shaggy.

Shaggy — best known for his 2000 hit single "It Wasn't Me" — is originally from Kingston, Jamaica. He joined the Marine Corps as a Field Artillery Cannon Crewmember

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Glen Bell

Businessman Glen Bell served in the Marines in the second world war. After, he opened his first restaurant, a hot dog stand. He later sold tacos for 19 cents each, and opened his first Taco Bell in 1962. He sold the 868-restaurant chain to Pepsi in 1978 for $125 million in stock.

James Carville

James Carville served two years in the Marines after graduating from Louisiana State University. He would later go on to work as a political consultant, eventually successfully running Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton's campaign for President.

Bob Parsons

Self-made businessman Bob Parsons enlisted in the Marines and served as a rifleman in the Delta Company of the 1st Battalion, 26th Marines in the Quang Nam Province of Vietnam.

He was wounded and spent two months recovering. He received the combat action ribbon, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross, and the Purple Heart.

He would go on to found GoDaddy.com, a major domain registrar.

Gene Hackman

Gene Hackman left home at sixteen and signed up for the Marine Corps, serving more than four years as a Field radio operator.

Hackman would go on to star in dozens of films, playing Lex Luthor in the Superman films as well as sustaining a forty year career.

Harvey Keitel

Harvey Keitel joined the Marines at sixteen and served during Operation Blue Bat in Lebanon in 1958.

He's since been an iconic and prolific actor, working multiple times with directors Martin Scorsese, Paul Auster, and Quentin Tarantino.

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Rev. Jeremiah Wright

The Reverend Jeremiah Wright, whose remarks proved a complex and controversial event in the 2008 presidential campaign, served in the Marine Corps in the 2nd Marine Division from 1961 to 1963. He later served in the Navy as a cardiopulmonary technician.

He's currently the Pastor Emeritus of the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago.


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Thomas Anthony Zampetti is a US Marine Corps veteran who served from 1968 to 1970 and during the Vietnam War. Learn more about Mr. Zampetti’s professional background and career by subscribing to this Facebook page.