A Kansas farm boy who served in the Civilian Conservation Corps during the 1930's where he learned to be a Jeep mechanic. When drafted he trained in Tennessee, Ft. Lewis, Washington and in the Mojave Desert prior to being shipped out to the Hawaiian Islands and then on to Luzon, Philippines and New Guinea where he served as a combat infantryman and Jeep driver. He earned the following medals: American Service medal, Asiatic Pacific Service medal, Philippine Liberation medal with a Bronze Star, Good Conduct medal, and a World War II Victory medal.