1958 Would Be A Year Elvis Would Never Forget

Elvis wasn't happy in the Army. Elvis was missing his mother and father.It was the year 1958. Elvis knew he was different and struggled to fit in with the other soldiers. His sergeant Bill Norwood, felt sorry for Elvis and would allow him to make private phone calls from his own home. Phone calls that would have Elvis in tears as he spoke with his mother.

Elvis slowly would fit in. But he would still be homesick, he made some friends. He was adamant that he receive no special treatment from Navy officials. That's why he rejected offers from Navy and the Air Force to make his life easier in the following two years. He really wanted to be like everyone else. He finished his basic training in May, he received his marksman medal and was the leader of the squad.

Elvis was always surrounded by strangers but one day he was visited by Eddie Fadal, a Texas businessman who Elvis had met on tour in 1956 and he was so excited to see a familiar face. Fadal lived with his family close by and offered Elvis to visit. Elvis took the offer and visited with his girlfriend, Anita Wood, who would come on the weekends to visit Elvis. They both would regularly visit Fadal's home.

Elvis took some home leave on the 31th of May and when he arrived at Graceland, thousands of fans flocked the house to see Elvis. Elvis promised them he would see them later on and sign autographs. He arrived together with Army buddy, Rex Mansfield.

Two weeks of leave was like heaven for Elvis. Elvis took off his army suit and wore normal clothes. Graceland was full of family and friends and Elvis spent a lot of his time rollerskating at the fairgrounds or in the cinema, he even took his parents to a special showing of King Creole.

In order for the Presley family to be closer to Elvis they rented out a house in Killeen. Elvis's life would be easier with his mum closer to him. During the week Elvis would be doing his Army training and on the weekends he would spend time at Eddie Fadal's house singing, playing football or just eating and talking. Elvis spent most of his time with Lamar and Rex, sometimes Anita would visit. Colonel was working constantly to keep Elvis's name on top and would show up to talk business.

Gladys was happy to be near her son and cook for everybody. But in the summer of 1958, Gladys began feeling unwell. It got so bad that she couldn't hold down her food. She made a call to her doctor in Memphis, Dr. Charles Clarke and the next day was taken into hospital. Elvis was granted leave, Elvis and Lamar arrived in Memphis on 12 August and Elvis went straight to the hospital to be my his mother's side. The doctors had no idea what was wrong with Gladys. Elvis left the hospital to arrive back the next day but he received a phone call that his mother passed away at 3.30am.

Elvis and his father Vernon were devastated, reporters showed photos of both of them weeping on the steps of their home. Gladys body was returned to Graceland that afternoon and placed his mother's body in the music room. The following day the house was filled with grieving friends and family. Elvis was given a sedative and while he was asleep, they took Gladys body to the funeral home.

The funeral was at the Memphis Funeral Home, with The Blackwood Brothers, Glady's favourite gospel quartet, they were flown in to provide the music in the chapel. Elvis and his father would be near collapse as the service was being read. The streets were filled with mourners as the funeral procession reached Forest Hill cemetary. When his mother was laid to rest, Elvis screamed out, "Everything I have is gone."

The most important person in Elvis's life had died and he would never fully recover from the loss.