Dan Blocker was born on December 10, 1928, in De Kalb, Texas. After graduating from Sul Ross College in Alpine, Texas, with a bachelor's degree in dramatics, he enlisted in the U.S. Army on November 8, 1950, and completed basic training at Fort Polk, Louisiana, in January 1951. Pvt Blocker was assigned as a light weapons infantryman with Company F, 179th Infantry Regiment at Fort Polk for basic training and then for regular service from November 1950 to April 1951. Cpl Blocker deployed to Japan with his unit in April 1951, and he then deployed with his unit to Korea for combat from December 1951 to August 1952. During this time he was promoted from Corporal to Master Sergeant. M/Sgt Blocker returned to the United States in August 1952, and served at Fort Lawton, Washington, until his honorable discharge from the U.S. Army on September 24, 1952. He served with the U.S. Army Reserve from September 25, 1952 until he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force Reserve as a Master Sergeant on November 6, 1952. MSgt Blocker served with the 9816th Air Reserve Squadron at Midland, Texas, from November 1952 to July 1954, and then with the 9827th Air Reserve Squadron at Lubbock, Texas, from July 1954 until his honorable discharge from the Air Force Reserve on September 24, 1957. After leaving active duty, Dan Blocker began acting in films and television, and he was most famous for playing Hoss Cartwright in the television series Bonanza from 1959 until his death on May 13, 1972. He was buried at Woodmen Cemetery in De Kalb, Texas.