It was front page news on March 24, 1958, when Elvis Presley was inducted into the U.S. Army at the draft board in Memphis, Tenn., before boarding a bus for Fort Chaffee, Ark.

When Sgt. Presley completed his service and returned home from Germany two years later, the Evening Tribune published a three part series on his life and career. This is from the beginning of that series.

From The Evening Tribune, Wednesday, March 2, 1960:

Army at Peace as Elvis Goes

Fraulein War Ends At Post in Germany

EDITOR’S NOTE—This is the first in a three-part series about Elvis Presley, who arrived home today after two years’ service in the Army, most of which was spent in Germany.

By Dave McIntyre

In bad Nauheim, German, where kings once fled to restore shattered nerves, today commanders of the U.S. army’s 3rd Armored Division, drew their first calm breath in more than a year.

Elvis was gone.

With him went the need for double guards at the gates to keep out the young frauleins eager for a glimpse of Sgt. Presley.

As his escort disappeared over the horizon, trailed by a line of German jalopies, gone, too, was the necessity of a special detail in the army post office to handle incoming mail for the rock ‘n roll idol.

The press information department was relieved of a time-consuming duty—turning down requests for Presley interviews.

The military police found themselves free of a big worry—teen-agers constantly under foot.

The division commanders began planning the next training exercise with a major problem—what might happen to jeep driver Presley.

Wheels Start Turning

But as the Army in Germany returned to normalcy, the wheels of another intricate organization began turning within our borders.

Commanded by “Col.” Tom Parker (his rank, though used always, is purely honorary), Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc., a multimillion dollar corporation, got ready to greet its property.

Actually, the Presley organization had never ceased functioning while its exclusive product was doing Army duty.

Picture Deal Made

The “colonel” had negotiated such juicy plums as a deal for a string of pictures with Hal Wallis at Paramount studios, extended Presley’s recording contract with RCA Victor, and bargained with the biggest Hollywood agents to to het his boy a top television spot.

But the “colonel” had a problem.

Go back for a moment to the days when Elvis was doing his first work in movies in Hollywood.

This experience had a profound effect on Presley, then just 2.

Nature Takes course

As a knee-quaking singer he had had things pretty much his own way. He opened his mouth, twanged his guitar, got those gyrating knees going full speed and let nature take its course. It was as simple as that. And the result invariably sold a million or more records.

Acting was a different proposition He tried, he really did, but the words just didn’t come out the way e wanted them to.

“I just don’t understand it,” Presley once confided to me on the set of “Jailhouse Rock.”

“It looks so doggone easy wen someone else does it. but I cain’t seem to get it right.”

Actor Aim told

“Some day I’m gonna be a good actor, though,” he said. “There isn’t anything I’d admire to do more.”

During the quieter moments of Presley’s Army service, he had the opportunity to reflect more on this resolve.

Reports sifting back from those who observed to talked to him over there indicate that it grew stronger than ever. He switched his reading habits from comic books to plays.

He kept close track of his idol, Sinatra, who had progressed from popularity as a singer to some stature as an actor. He even hinted to friends that he might enroll in an acting school.