Jimmy Hendrix

Medic has obtained the complete Official Military Personnel Records of Jimmy Hendrix from the National Archives in Saint Louis. They are divided into the following categories: Service Records 1; Service Records 2,  Service Records 3Disciplinary Medical Records; Reference Correspondence 1; Reference Correspondence 2.

His FBI files are here.

James Marshall “Jimi” Hendrix (1942 –1970) was an American musician,singer,and songwriter widely regarded as one of the most influential electric guitarists in the history of popular music,and one of the most celebrated musicians of the 20th century. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame describes him as “arguably the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music.”

Before Hendrix was 19 years old, the police had twice caught him riding in stolen cars. Given a choice between prison or the Army, he enlisted on May 31,1961.

Medic has obtained the complete Official Military Personnel Records of Jimmy Hendrix from the National Archives in Saint Louis. They are divided into the following categories: Service Records 1; Service Records 2,  Service Records 3Disciplinary Medical Records; Reference Correspondence 1; Reference Correspondence 2.

His FBI files are here.

Assigned to the 101st Airborne after boot camp and jump school, soon after arriving Hendrix wrote to his father: “There’s nothing but physical training and harassment here for two weeks, then when you go to jump school … you get hell. They work you to death, fussing and fighting.”  In his next letter home, Hendrix asked his father to send him his guitar as soon as possible, stating: “I really need it now.” His father obliged.

Obsessed with playing music, Hendrix neglected his duties. He was often caught napping while on duty and failed to report for bed checks.  An officer stated, “This is one of his faults, because his mind apparently cannot function while performing duties and thinking about his guitar.”  His platoon sergeant, James C. Spears,filed a report which stated: “He has no interest whatsoever in the Army … It is my opinion that Private Hendrix will never come up to the standards required of a soldier.  I feel that the military service will benefit if he is discharged as soon as possible.” A year later, after an alleged ankle injury during a parachute jump, Captain Gilbert Batchman offered  Hendrix an honorable discharge,which he was happy to accept.

Before stardom and fame, Hendrix met Lithofayne Pridgon, the only woman he truly loved, and for whom he wrote the song Foxy Lady.