Elvis Presley’s Army Buddy Tells All In New Book

It’s been 46 years since the legendary Elvis Presley left this world, yet his influence continues to resonate, not solely among his devoted fans but also within the hearts of those fortunate enough to glimpse the person behind the musical icon.

Over six decades ago, during his service in the U.S. Army, Johnny Lang forged a remarkable friendship with the iconic singer while they were both stationed in Germany. Their camaraderie, born amidst the rigors of military life, has been keenly preserved by Lang in his captivating book, My Army Days with Elvis: Friendship, Football, & Follies.

Johnny Lang says Elvis Presley was a very jovial person

Lang revealed in his book that he initially caught sight of Elvis at a military firing range in Fort Hood, Texas, but it wasn’t until they both boarded a train heading to Germany that he mustered the courage to approach the singer. He stated that he was starstruck because he had never come in close contact with a celebrity before. “I really got to know, not the movie star, but Elvis himself,” Lang wrote. “My heart was going 40 miles an hour — I’d never met a movie star before, He looks at me and says, ‘Sit down Chief.”

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The author also stated that, unknown to many people, Elvis was very jovial and not a hugely serious guy. “We’d play football every Sunday, Elvis would come out and sign autographs for fans and then we’d go play. I’ve never seen a guy who treated everybody with so much respect. He said, ‘God gave me the talent, but without these fans, I wouldn’t have what I have today,’” Lang shared. “People don’t realize that he was funny as heck,” says Johnny, who snuck into a screening of Elvis’ 1958 musical King Creole with the star. “Elvis yelled out, ‘This guy can’t act! He can’t even sing! I can’t believe he’s on screen!’” Johnny remembers. “Someone shouted, ‘Would you mind shutting up?’ Nobody knew it was him!”

Johnny Lang says Elvis was so keen on loyalty

Lang stated that Elvis prioritized loyalty, and that was what made their friendship stick. “I asked him once how come we were friends,” he explained. “He said, ‘You’d like me if I was a janitor — and thank God I’m not — but that’s why you and I are friends.’ Loyalty was a big thing for him. If you didn’t have any loyalty, you weren’t in the group.”

However, the author expressed regret that he was unable to meet Elvis again before his death on August 16th, 1977. “I cried like a baby when I heard he died,” Lang detailed. “He’s been gone over 45 years, but people are still talking about him.”