Here’s why Andre The Giant was declared unfit for military service
Andre the Giant is one of professional wrestling’s most beloved figures.
André René Roussimoff was born in 1946 in Molien, France. In his early teens, he exhibited signs of gigantism though he was not diagnosed with acromegaly until his twenties. He began his training in Paris at 17 and eventually became known in wrestling circuits around the world. In 1973, Andre joined the organization now known as World Wrestling Entertainment, where he became a superstar and rival of WWE legend Hulk Hogan.
But did Andre the Giant ever serve in the military?
According to biographics.org, “In 1965, Andre received a notice to report the Army’s draft board. When he turned up for his physical exam, the recruiters could hardly believe what they saw – a 19-year-old who stood over 7 feet tall and weighed 350 pounds. Despite his incredible strength and good health he was deemed unfit for service for the simple reason that the Army did not have uniforms or shoes that were big enough for him.”
Not to mention, it would be hard for Andre to quickly maneuver in and out of military vehicles and hide in the trenches on the battlefield.
