“Stars” and Stripes: Prominent People in the Military Records
Yesterday was Veterans Day, a day when we show our gratitude for those who have served in defense of our country. We have picked a few veterans in the World War I draft records, from famous authors to sports legends. You might be surprised by the faces you find in the stacks.
Buster Keaton on the poster for Doughboys, 1930
Only a year after painting his first Saturday Evening Post cover, 23-year-old Norman Rockwell submitted his draft registration. You can even see in the middle of his card that he noted his occupation as a freelance artist. Rockwell went on to prominence as an illustrator, notably helping design posters to aid the war bond efforts in World War II.
Eventually representing the state of Illinois as governor and the United States in the U.N. General Assembly, Adlai Stevenson submitted his registration in 1918.
Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton was a pioneering silent film actor and director renowned for his physical comedy. Often called "the Great Stone Face" because of his iconic deadpan expression, he starred in many classic, slapstick films. Unlike some others in this list, Keaton, at just 22 years old, did serve with the Army in France. In fact, Keaton went on to star in a film called Doughboys in 1930, a “talkie” that depicted the life of American “doughboys,” a nickname for Americans on the World War I western front.
Robert Frost was an American poet renowned for his use of natural imagery to explore the human condition. His work, which includes iconic poems like The Road Not Taken, earned him four Pulitzer Prizes and solidified his place as one of the most influential poets of the early 20th century. When he submitted his draft registration, he was teaching at Amherst College in Massachusetts.
George Herman "Babe" Ruth, one of baseball's greatest legends, was known for his remarkable hitting ability and larger-than-life persona. Like many other baseball players in the league at the time, he registered for the draft. At the time, he played for the Boston Red Sox, noted by the inclusion of “Fenway Park” as his place of employment.
You can learn about many more notable draft registrants of World War I by following this link. Interested in digging deeper into military records? Start by visiting the National Personnel Records Center’s webpage.
