Desi Arnaz, US Army, 1943-1945

Desi Arnaz (2nd from left) plays the Soldier Bowl in 1944 along with Lucille Ball (center)

Desi Arnaz  (Actor, Musician)
(Desiderio Alberta Arnaz) 
b. 2 Mar 1917  – d. 2 Dec 1986
US Army 1943-1945 (World War II, Special Services)

Dashing Desi Arnaz received his draft notice in 1943, but before reporting he dislocated his kneecap in an army baseball game. He completed his recruit training, but was classified for limited service during World War II. He was assigned to direct United Service Organization (U.S.O.) programs at an army hospital in Birmingham, California. 

Desi was quoted as saying, “The way the Army does things is sometimes a little strange.” Seeming to prove his own point – after discovering the first thing the wounded soldiers requested was a glass of cold milk, Desi used his connections and arranged for movie starlets to meet them and pour the milk for them.