Before George Strait became the “King of Country Music,” he wore a very different kind of crown.
Long before “Amarillo by Morning” or “Check Yes or No” ever hit the radio, Strait was serving his country in the U.S. Army. Decades later, the proud veteran still looks back fondly on those years, crediting his military experience for shaping both his discipline and his destiny in country music.
After graduating high school in the early 1970s, Strait enlisted and served from 1971 to 1975, ultimately earning the rank of Corporal.
“I spent three years in the service,” Strait recalled to UMG Nashville in 2024. “I had basic training at Fort Polk, Louisiana, then went up for AIT [Advanced Individual Training] in Fort Ben Harrison, Indiana. And then my final duty station was at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. And I spent two and a half years in Hawaii, two years in the Army, and then I stayed there six months after I got out.”
It was during his service that Strait discovered his lifelong calling. While stationed in Hawaii, he began performing as part of a military band.
“The last year I was in the Army is when I started singing country music,” Strait shared. “And the General, the Post Command and General started bands out of military personnel. And I got the job as the singer in the country band. And so that’s what I did. I sang country music for the Army.”
When he left the military in 1975, Strait pursued a degree in agriculture at Southwest Texas State University. But his love of music only grew stronger. Around that time, he formed the Ace in the Hole Band, which became a local favorite.
By 1981, Strait released his debut album Strait Country. His first single, “Unwound,” broke into the Top 10, officially launching one of the most successful careers in country music history. To date, he’s earned more than 60 No. 1 hits, along with multiple CMA and ACM Entertainer of the Year awards, a Grammy and induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Beyond his musical legacy, Strait’s respect for veterans has remained a constant theme throughout his life. The country icon has partnered with the Military Warriors Support Foundation (MWSF) for over 14 years, helping provide mortgage-free homes to combat-wounded veterans and Gold Star families (those who have lost loved ones in military service).
According to the foundation’s website, “During his sold-out concerts, George Strait stops his performance to recognize and honor our country’s combat-wounded veterans and Gold Star spouses. These Heroes are brought on stage to meet George and are celebrated by thousands in the crowd as they are presented with a mortgage-free home. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these Heroes and their families,” the website reads.
To date, Strait has helped present over 120 homes, valued at around $61 million, through this ongoing partnership.
Earlier this year, his generosity moved country fans when a video went viral from a concert in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, showing Strait gifting a home to Purple Heart recipient Sgt. Derek Austin. Austin sustained severe injuries in Afghanistan when his convoy was attacked by enemy fire, resulting in a traumatic brain injury and PTSD.
This is just one of the many times Strait has made a lasting impact on veterans, and he’s sure to continue supporting those who served for years to come.
