Songs and Unexpected Inventions: Fascinating Trivia About America’s Army

The 4th of July holiday is a great time to think about the freedom we enjoy in America and the brave men and women over the years who helped us to live in a country that’s truly free. Every branch of the military helped to secure our way of life and the Army was a big part of that. In order to truly appreciate everything the folks in this branch do for us every day, you should know the history. While you may know the major points, there are likely many facts you didn’t know about the Army.

There are many amazing tidbits on this list, like the fact that the Army was responsible for creating Ray-Ban sunglasses and that the Army draft was created during World War I. Did you know that the first woman to serve in the Army disguised herself as a man? How about the fact that there are enough people currently serving in the Army to start a city or that the Army helped to create one of the first submarines? Those fascinating answers are just the tip of the iceberg on this list.

To determine the facts you didn’t know about the Army, 24/7 Tempo checked out many historical and military-based websites, including Army.mil, the Army National Guard, History.com, the United Service Organizations, and more. We think you’ll find this list to be very educational. (If you want to continue learning about the other branches of the military, check out this list of the 12 things you didn’t know about the Marines .)

The Army Fight Song

There are likely a couple of facts that you didn’t know about the Army, including the official song. You may not have even realized that they had a song. They do, and it’s called “The Army Goes Rolling Along.” Look it up on YouTube if you want to hear it. Another interesting fact is that the Army was the last military branch to get its own song, and they got it on Veterans Day, 1956. The song was perfected by John Philip Sousa.

The Army Created Your Favorite Sunglasses

Many years ago, Army Lieutenant General John MacCready wanted to find a way that his pilots could keep the sun out of their eyes while flying because it was causing headaches and nausea. He asked Bausch & Lomb to create some sort of glasses that would block the rays of the sun, and hence the company Ray-Ban was created.

The First Female Soldier Disguised Herself as a Man

Though there are still some debates about this fact, it’s widely believed that the first female soldier, Deborah Sampson, who served during the Revolutionary War, disguised herself as a man and named herself Robert Shurtleff. During her service, she fought against the British. She kept up the ruse for a year. She was able to pull it off by treating her own wounds and keeping to herself. Her secret was discovered when she was injured on the battlefield and lost consciousness. Still, she was a brave woman, and she was later awarded an honorable discharge and a military pension.

George Washington was Responsible For the Army

Though it makes sense, a fact you likely didn’t know about the Army is just how much former President George Washington had to do with the creation of this branch of the military. Washington led the measure to create a unified Continental Army way back in 1775. He also chose the dress colors that Army members continue to wear to this day.

The Draft was Created During WWI to Increase the Size of the Army

It was during World War I that the military draft was created as part of the Selective Service Act of 1917. We were entering the war and we needed more people to fight on our side. Prior to this war, there was a draft. However, the person who was drafted had the option to hire someone to fight in their place. This new draft eliminated that possibility. Prior to the new draft, there were 121,000 members. After the war, there were 2.7 million in the Army.

There Are Enough People in the Army to Start Their Own City

According to recent numbers, there are currently over one million people serving in the U.S. Army, and that number will likely grow. That’s higher than the population of Austin, Texas, Beverly Hills, California, Denver, Colorado, and many other popular cities around the world. That million soldiers is made up of both active-duty soldiers and reserve soldiers in the National Guard and Army Reserve.

There are over 1,600 Dogs in the Armed Forces

While there are many human soldiers in the Army and the rest of the armed forces, there are also many dogs who help to protect our nation. They’re called Military Working Dogs (MWD) and they have various functions. Some are trained to attack, while others are trained to sniff out drugs. Many dogs also use their senses to find explosives. In order to stay up to date on current protocols, WMDs must train for 16 hours every month.

Celebrities Who Were in the Army

There have been many Hollywood entertainers, singers, and movie stars who have served in the US Army. For instance, singer Tony Bennett joined the Army in 1944, and he helped the military fight their way across Germany. Actor Robert Duvall joined the Army in 1953 and served two years before being honorably discharged. Actor Clint Eastwood served in the Army as a swimming instructor for several years. Other famous Army veterans include Gene Wilder, singer Elvis Presley, baseball player Jackie Robinson, illustrator Charles Schulz, musician Ice-T, and actor Mr. T.

A Branch of the Army Used to Wear a Swastika

A fact you probably didn’t know about the Army is that for the first 15 years of its existence, members of the 45th Infantry Division wore a patch with a yellow swastika on a red background. This was before World War II. Back then, it was not a symbol of hate. Instead, before the Nazis used it on their uniforms, the swastika was an Indian symbol of good luck. It was worn to recognize the Native American soldiers who served in the 45 Infantry Division. Once the Nazis started using it, the swastika had a negative connotation, and the Army ditched it.

The Army is Everywhere

One fact you probably didn’t know about the Army is just how much space and land this branch of the military covers. When you combine all of the space owned by the Army, it would equal about 24,000 square miles. The Army has the most military bases in the world. While there are bases in America, many bases are in Germany, Japan, South Korea, and other countries. Currently, there are about 750 military bases around the world.

The First Army Submarine

Back in its infancy, the Army had many incredible inventions to help them protect the United States. One of them was a submarine that took its first mission in 1776. The sub was called the Turtle, and it was operated by a single person operating a hand and foot crank. That first mission was to help the fleet sink the HMS Eagle, an enemy ship. However, though everything was set, the pilot, Ezra Lee, became frightened and aborted the mission. Army generals tried to use the sub for a few other missions, but ultimately, it was decommissioned.

There are Only Five Five-Star Generals

Though casual observers may hear the term “five-star general” thrown around a lot, a fact you likely didn’t know about the Army is that there were only ever five of these high-ranking generals. The rank was created in 1944 to allow officers to command Allied officers who were technically a higher rank. The five generals were Henry H. Arnold, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Douglas MacArthur, George C. Marshall, and Omar N. Bradley. The rank has not been used since Omar Bradley. The President of the United States is the only one who can give an officer this rank with Senate approval.

The Army Hires More Musicians Than Anyone Else

One fact you likely didn’t know about the Army is that this branch is the largest employer of musicians in the entire world. The musicians are active-duty servicemen and women and they’re always busy. They either play music at ceremonial performances or during special concerts that are meant to boost the morale of soldiers.

Politicians Who Were in the Army

Many noteworthy politicians also served their country in the Army. Many of these politicians served during World War II , including Bob Dole, Scoop Jackson, Strom Thurmond, and Ralph Yarborough. Various American presidents also served in the Army, such as William Harrison, Zachary Taylor, Andrew Johnson, Rutherford B. Hayes, and James Garfield, among others. Congressmen who fought in the Army include Reps Mike Carey, Jason Crow, Brett Guthrie, Cory Mills, Bill Pascrell, and Hal Rogers. Many politicians also served in the Navy. You can learn about them with this list of the things you didn’t know about the Navy .

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