“Jackie excelled early at all sports and learned to make his own way in life. At UCLA, Jackie became the first athlete to win varsity letters in four sports: baseball, basketball, football and track. In 1941, he was named to the All-American football team. Due to financial difficulties, he was forced to leave college, and eventually decided to enlist in the U.S. Army.” (1)
Throughout his two years in the Army, he was promoted all the way up to second lieutenant. Jackie was court-martialed with regards to his run-ins with incidents of racial discrimination but in the end, Jackie honorably discharged from the Army.