Pvt. Elvis Presley holds a Stars and Stripes newspaper as he looks from a troop train window on his departure from Bremerhaven, Germany, to duty at Friedberg, near Frankfurt. (Lloyd Borguss/Stars and Stripes)
This article first appeared in the Stars and Stripes Europe edition, Oct. 2, 1958. It is republished unedited in its original form.
BREMERHAVEN, Germany — Singer Pvt. Elvis Presley arrived here Wednesday aboard the Randall, an all-Navy military sea transport, with 1,381 other soldiers.
He was quickly processed at the dockside here and put aboard a special troop train bound for Friedberg, Germany, near Frankfurt.
Presley will be assigned to Co D, 1st Medium Tk [Tank] Bn, 32d Armd (Patton), 3d Armd Div, an Army spokesman said.
Pvt. Elvis Presley holds a Stars and Stripes newspaper as he looks from a troop train window on his departure from Bremerhaven, Germany, to duty at Friedberg, near Frankfurt. (Lloyd Borguss/Stars and Stripes)
Hundreds of screaming teen-age Presley fans greeted their khaki-clad hero who, with duffel bag on his shoulder, walked off the gangway.
Despite foggy threatening weather by 7:30 am the dockside was already crowded with fans although the Randall was not due in until 8:30 am.
While MPs roped off the docking area, the Presley fans soon broke through the barricade.
A new rope barrier was hastily set up closer to the Randall’s wharf.
Despite foggy weather, by 7:30 a.m. the dockside was already crowded with fans although the USS Randall, with Pvt. Elvis Presley aboard, was not due in until 8:30. (Lloyd Borguss/Stars and Stripes)
Sailors cram onto the fantail of the MSTS vessel the USS H.W. Butner, in the hopes to catch a glimpse of Elvis Presley, who was to arrive shortly onboard the Randall. The Butner docked just ahead of the incoming Randall. (Lloyd Borguss/Stars and Stripes)
USS Randall arrives in Bremerhaven, Germany. On board is Pvt. Elvis Presley and 1,381 other soldiers. (Lloyd Borguss/Stars and Stripes)
Hundreds of screaming teenage Presley fans greeted their khaki-clad hero who, with duffel bag on his shoulder, walked off the gangway. (Lloyd Borguss/Stars and Stripes)
Already docked just ahead of the incoming Randall was the MSTS vessel USS H.W. Butner, its fantail jammed with blue-clad, white-hatted sailors waiting to see Presley.
The Randall docked to the tune of “Molasses Trombone” and “in München Steut Ein Hofbräuhaus” played by the 61st Army band with MSgt. Willie Coxx conducting.
Presley was not among the scores of troops lining the rails of the ship.
Sp4 Sam Shelby, of the Bremerhaven Personnel Movement Section, checked Presley off as the youthful singing star became the 96th soldier to leave the Randall.
Prior to the debarkation, Brig. Gen. J.D. Alger, assistant CG of the 3d Armd Div, welcomed the replacements in a dockside address.
Pvt. Elvis Presley walks off the gangway of the USS Randall in Bremerhaven, Germany, to the sound of hundreds of screaming teenage fans. (Lloyd Borguss/Stars and Stripes)
Pvt. Elvis Presley boards a troop train on his departure from Bremerhaven, Germany, to duty at Friedberg, near Frankfurt. (Lloyd Borguss/Stars and Stripes)
Pvt. Elvis Presley looks from a troop train window as he waits for the train to depart from Bremerhaven, Germany. The singer just arrived in Germany to begin his military service. (Lloyd Borguss/Stars and Stripes)
A troop train with Pvt. Elvis Presley on board leaves Bremerhaven, Germany, heading for Friedberg, near Frankfurt, as throngs of fan stand around hoping for one last glimpse of the famous soldier. During the half-hour wait before the train left, Presley appeared at the window several times to sign autographs and acknowledge the cheers of troops and sailors from the USS Randall that brought them and Presley to Bremerhaven. (Lloyd Borguss/Stars and Stripes)
Meanwhile, MPs, SPs and German police locked arms to hold back the surging youngsters whose view of Presley was blocked by distance, a band stand and crowds of reporters, cameramen and radiomen.
Presley, with duffel bag on his shoulder, was surrounded by a crowd of reporters as he moved about 40 feet to board the special troop train.
During a half-hour wait before the train left, Presley appeared at the window several times to sign autographs and acknowledge the cheers of troops and sailors from the Randall.
Said Navy chief petty officer aboard the Randall:
“Presley is one of the best.”
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