He was a proud serving flyer with the US Army Air Corps who suffered grave injury during a forced landing of the bomber he was aircraft commander of during World War II. His dates of service were FEB 1943 to MAY 1947. As his dates of service were prior to the official creation of the US Air Force, his discharge is listed as "Army, Honorable." All subsequent care and benefits since, have been provided to him as a retired officer of the US Air Force.