Famous Veterans Celebrating Birthdays Today (April 2nd):

Famous Veterans Born April 2, 1996:

Zach Bryan – Country Music Singer – (Petty Officer 2nd Class – US Navy 2013-2021 – honorably discharged from service to pursue his music career). “If it was my decision, I would never get out of the world’s greatest Navy, but here I am and they kindly honorably discharged me to go play some music.”

Famous Veterans Born April 2, 1939:

Marvin Gaye – Singer – (Air Force – discharged after faking a mental illness) – Died: April 1, 1984

Famous Veterans Born April 2, 1920:

Jack Webb – Actor: Joe Friday in Dragnet – (Army 1942-1945) – Died: December 23, 1982

Famous Veterans Born April 2, 1908:

Buddy Ebsen – Actor: Jed Clampett The Beverly Hillbillies – (Coast Guard Officer) – Died: July 6, 2003

During a contract dispute with MGM, Ebsen took up sailing and became so proficient in seamanship that he taught the subject to naval officer candidates. He applied several times for a commission in the Navy in 1941, but was repeatedly turned down. The United States Coast Guard accepted his application for a commission, and he was promptly given the rank of lieutenant, junior grade. This wartime rank was one step up from the rank of ensign, the usual rank given newly appointed naval officers in peacetime. Ebsen served as damage control officer and later as executive officer on the Coast Guard-crewed Navy frigate USS Pocatello, which recorded weather at its “weather station” 1,500 miles west of Seattle. These patrols consisted of 30 days at sea, followed by 10 days in port at Seattle. Ebsen was honorably discharged from the Coast Guard as a lieutenant in 1946.