"Steve" McQueen joined the United States Marine Corps in 1947 and was quickly promoted to Private First Class and assigned to an armored unit.  McQueen focused his energies on self-improvement and embraced the Marines' discipline.  He saved the lives of five other Marines during an Arctic exercise, pulling them from a tank before it broke through ice into the sea.  He was then assigned to an honor guard responsible for guarding the Presidental yacht.  PFC McQueen served until 1950 when he was honorably discharged.