The U.S. Navy is now investigating the service record of Cap’n Crunch. From Col. Sanders to Captain Kangaroo, the stories behind some old soldiers.
Cereal Liars?: Cap’n Crunch and 9 Other Fake Military Titles
Owen Franken / CORBIS
Colonel Sanders
The founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken, Harland Sanders, did not earn his title “Colonel” in the military, though he did serve. In 1906, Sanders lied about his age to enlist in the Army at fifteen and he was honorably discharged after a few months. More than two decades later, Sanders moved to Kentucky and opened a restaurant that became so popular that Governor Ruby Lafoon made him an honorary Kentucky colonel for his contribution to state cuisine. Fourteen years later, Sanders was re-commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel and began using the honorific title. Colonel Sanders also began wearing his signature white suit, black string tie, and goatee—an image that can still be found on a bucket of KFC chicken.