most famous entertainer in the world, was also stationed there after being drafted. Elvis is shown browsing through a baseball records magazine that Rottenborn had with him that Elvis had asked to look at. Elvis autographed the cover. Saturday was the 37th anniversary of Elvis’s death. (Photo courtesy of Joe Rottenborn)

John, his father's namesake, was a radio operator with the 2nd Armored Division's "Hell on Wheels" which was awaiting transfer to West Germany where the army maintained a large post-World War II presence in the North American Treaty Organization.

"So my parents and I got on a Greyhound at North Jackson for the trip to Fort. Hood," Rottenborn said. The trip was at least two days he recalled.

"I remember it vividly ... lying on the large, furthest seat inthe back when mom said we were going to move forward. We were now in Arkansas and all seating was segregated. We moved forward of the white line painted on the floor," Rottenborn explained, noting it was about 60 percent white to the front and the remainder for blacks.

He noticed a similar situation at the Dallas bus terminal where a much smaller room was attached to the terminal for blacks.

"We were in a different place," Rottenborn recalled as they proceeded to Fort Hood.

"The weather was hot and I remember seeing soldiers marching in the sun and swimming in the base pool. We were going to be there all week."

The family also knew that another soldier aside from their son and brother, the most famous entertainer in the world,