Steve McQueen-Military Service

 

In 1947, McQueen joined the United States  Marine Corps. He was quickly promoted to Private First Class.  He was assigned to an armored unit.  He reverted to his prior rebelliousness ways. As a result McQueen was demoted to private seven times. He went UA (unauthorized absence) by failing to return after a weekend pass had expired.  He stayed away with a girlfriend for two weeks, until the shore patrol caught him. He resisted arrest as a result spent 41 days in the brig.

 

After this, McQueen resolved to focus his energies on self-improvement,  embracing  the Marines' discipline. He saved the lives of five other Marines during an Arctic exercise. He pulled them from a tank before it broke through ice into the sea.  He was also assigned to an honor guard responsible for guarding the U.S. President Harry Truman's yacht.  McQueen served until 1950 when he was honorably discharged.