How many years did Uncle Si serve in the army? All we know amid reality star’s health concerns

Television actor Silas "Si" Robertson, commonly referred to as “Uncle Si,” was hospitalized after a fall during duck hunting last week, according to reports.

According to the actor’s friend, Justin Martin, the incident occurred when he got off a boat in a hurry. Explaining how it took place, Martin spoke during an episode of the Duck Call Room podcast on January 23, 2025:

“Typical Silas Robertson, he’s in a dang hurry to get out of the boat and into the Polaris, he fell,” Martin said. “He fell trying to get out of the boat…it’s steep right there. He went to take a long step instead of waiting on us.”

Robertson is best known for playing the role of “Uncle Si” in Duck Dynasty, a reality show which aired between 2012-2017 on TV Arts and Entertainment Network.

Before becoming a reality TV star, Uncle Si reportedly served in the Vietnam War. According to a report in the U.S. Department of Defense, Robertson served in the U.S. Army for 25 years, from 1968 until his retirement in 1993. Here are more details on his life as a soldier.

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When did Silas Merritt Robertson join the U.S. Army?

Silas Robertson joined the U.S. Army two weeks after he dropped out of Louisiana Tech in 1968, stated a report in the U.S. Department of Defense. After the boot camp, he was deployed to Vietnam.

During a Q&A session with Hook & Barrel in August 2023, Silas Robertson spoke about the time he served in the Army.

“They sent me to Vietnam.” He said. “People who weren’t there can’t imagine the horror that was going on over there, okay. That gets working on your mind, and I got into drinking heavily. There were things I saw and heard that are still hard to forget.”

Few reports indicated that when Robertson was in Vietnam, his mother sent him a care package containing two jars of jalapeno peppers, a can of rice and beans, a pair of boots, and a Tupperware cup. The famous cup was also featured on Duck Dynasty.

Another report in the U.S. Department of Defense stated that in 1969, Robertson met his wife, Christine, while he was stationed at Fort Devens, Massachusetts. The couple has been reportedly married for 54 years. He retired in 1993 with the rank of sergeant first class. He shared that he was forced into retirement after serving in the army for 25 years.

Uncle Si further added that he joined his brother Phil at Duck Commander who was “making reeds for the duck calls he was selling.” The famous reality TV series Duck Dynasty revolves around the lives of the Robertson family who rose to fame with their family-operated business.

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Is Duck Dynasty making a comeback?

As per several reports, Duck Dynasty is making a comeback with a new series titled Duck Dynasty: The Revival, which is set to premiere in the summer of 2025. The original series ran for 11 seasons on A&E.

The show will feature the famous Robertson family, including the original cast members, as well as the next generation. According to a statement from Willie and Korie Robertson mentioned in a report in Today:

“Going back on A&E feels a little like going back home. We’re thankful for all who have followed along as our family has grown and expanded and can’t wait to get cameras rolling again on all our new adventures, or perhaps misadventures.”

During the recent episode of Whoa, That’s Good podcast, Korie Robertson and her daughter Sadie confirmed that Uncle Si will be reprising his character in the revival.

Currently, fans are concerned about Uncle Si’s health, which is recovering after a hunting incident. It was reported that while returning from a duck hunt, he became overanxious and stepped off the boat too quickly, resulting in a fall that caused him to land on his oxygen device, leading to bad bruising. Fortunately, he suffered minor injuries.