“ After the show , Sammy Davis Jr. took us backstage to Elvis’ dressing room . The room was filled with all
sorts of people --- fans , friends , members of his entourage , and showgirls . Eventually Joyce and I became separated in the crowd . After a while , she spotted me in what had to have been an unexpected place --- standing in a corner of the room talking intently with the King of Rock and Roll .
After Sammy introduced us , Elvis pulled me aside . He wanted to discuss what I thought was an unlikely subject -- the United States Army .
Some years earlier he had served with the Third Armored Division in Germany for seventeen
months . He wanted to share his thoughts about the armed forces and the pride he had in his service . Something of
an admirer of Nixon , he was also interested in discussing the administration . Around that time , Presley had
sent a letter to Nixon asking to help with the illegal narcotics trade . This led to the famous meeting between Elvis and the
President in the Oval Office of the White House .
I imagine there were not a lot of people in Elvis’ normal circle with whom he could have a serious conversation about the military . I was impressed that years after his service he still cared so much about the Army . It certainly was not the sort of conversation I expected to have when I walked into his dressing room , but it was a welcome reminder that Patriots can be found everywhere . “
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