True story is the singer and songwriter Kris Kristofferson was a Rhodes Scholar who studied at Oxford University’s Merton College, earning a master’s degree in English literature. He went on to serve as a captain in the U.S. Army, where he became a helicopter pilot, in addition to having completed U.S. Army Ranger School.
Source:americanrhodes.org
Among his songwriting credits are the songs “Me and Bobby McGee”, “For the Good Times”, “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down”, and “Help Me Make It Through the Night”, all of which were hits for other artists. Wikipedia
I liked him as the bad guy in the Steven Seagal movie Fire Down Below.
If I remember correctly, Kristofferson’s dad was a captain in the USN.
How interesting! I never knew that, thanks! I had crush on him way back when
Heard him on a talk show years back. Vin Skelsa I believe. He said when his last term was up, they offered him a promotion to Major to stay in.
He said “No thanks. I’m gonna give this singer/songwriter gig a chance”.
6 months later his unit was one of the first sent to Vietnam.
Wow, I had NO IDEA about Kristofferson’s background and accomplishments. That is truly incredible. I never cared much for his songs, but I’ll look at him completely differently now.
Yes and Kristofferson came from the little old Pomona College in California.
I always thought Rita Coolidge had it goin on.