Scott's View: Don Rickles Represented Golden Era for Entertainment and Celebrities Who Served

Highlighting the passing of comedian and Navy vet Don Rickles and several of his old pals from the famed "Rat Pack" no doubt will prompt a "Wow, I did not know they were vets!" reaction from our readers. As many from my generation will remember, service was so pervasive at a time when the country was knee deep in international conflict - between WWII, Korea, and Vietnam - over the course of three decades.

Others from the Rat Pack who served were Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Joey Bishop, all three of whom served in the Army during World War II.

But Rickles's sharp wit had a remarkable ability to stand the test of time. He was beloved by generations, and became a bit of a cult hero in his later years, appearing on late night talk shows. The way news of his passing spread on social media is a testament to how influential he was for so many Americans.