http://en.wikipedia.org/w...mi_hendrix

Military service
After getting into trouble with the law via a stolen car, Hendrix traded a two-year jail sentence for enlistment in the U.S. Army, enlisting on May 31, 1961. After boot camp in Fort Ord, California, he was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division and stationed in Fort Campbell, Kentucky as a trainee paratrooper. Other paratrooper divisions would later mistakenly claim that he was part of their unit.

His letters home indicate that initially at least, he was adjusting to Army life and was very excited to be a part of the 101st Airborne, a well respected outfit after their heroic actions in World War II. His military records, however, show that Hendrix was considered an incompetent soldier, repeatedly caught sleeping while on duty and missing at midnight bed-check. Superiors noted that he needed constant supervision even for basic tasks, and lacked motivation. He was described by one supervisor as having "no known good characteristics", and by another that "his mind apparently cannot function while performing duties and thinking about his guitar"[1].At the post recreation center, he met fellow soldier and bass player Billy Cox, and forged a loyal friendship that would serve Hendrix well during the last year of his life. The two would play with other musicians at venues both on and off the post.

On May 31, 1962, after exactly one year of service, Hendrix was recommended for discharge for "behavior problems", "little regard for regulations", and for being "apprehended masturbating in platoon area while supposed to be on detail"[2]. Hendrix would later tell reporters that he received a medical discharge after breaking his ankle during his 26th parachute jump. The 2005 biography Room Full of Mirrors by Charles Cross claims that Hendrix faked being gay—claiming to have fallen in love with a fellow soldier—and was therefore discharged. According to Cross, Hendrix was an avid anti-communist and did not leave the Army as a protest to the Vietnam War, but simply wanted out so he could focus on playing guitar.

so the Army life wasnt for him then?

errr...guess not.

faking to be gay

This was talked about in Roomfull of Mirrors, by Charles Cross. Of course it was a ruse. In his application papers for the Army, next to "occupation," he wrote "student." On his dismissal papers, for "occupation," he wrote, "musician." He had become so obsessed with playing guitar at this time, that he started sleeping with his guitar on his chest every night. Before he left, he sold his guitar to another guy (some speculated to make him look crazy since they all knew how much he loved it), then after he left, he broke back in one night and stole it back.

yeah?... annnnnd?

Hendrix loved his fucking guitar

He was infact bisexual. Noel redding said jimi made a pass at him. Of course this could of been the drugs working.

So what anyway Hendrix was overall a good person who lost focus due to pressure of stardom(management, e.t.c and drugs)

+
A FUCKING GENIUS MUSICIAN!

dustysgirl said:

co - sign

yeah I just completed Room Full Of Mirrors last summer. Jimi wanted to get out because fellow bandmates Billy Cox were discharged earlier than he was and already playing local clubs. He only enlisted in the army in the first place to keep from going to prison for joy riding in a stolen car.

Meloh9 said:

i thought the book would have been crap but its sounds like its a good read. I'll have to get it