Jesse Donald Knotts was born July 21, 1924 and was an American Actor and comedian known as Don Knotts. He joined the US Army and spent most of his service entertaining troops. He toured western Pacific Islands as a comedian as part of a GI variety show called  "Stars and Gripes". His ventriloquist act included a dummy named Danny which Knotts grew to hate and eventually threw it overboard. Knotts served in the US Army from June 21, 1943 to January 6, 1946 in the 6817th Special Services Battalion. He was discharged as Technician Grade 5 equal to that of corporal. Courtesy of Military.com