Pat graduated from Newton High School in 1939. He was at K-State when the war broke out. It was clear the war effort was going to need a lot of trained pilots and Pat's prior training made him a valuable asset. He entered the war in 1942. Pat was fortunate to spend his war service in the United State ferrying troops, supplies and equipment form one end of the country to the other. Near the end of the war, Pat's unit was converted to B-17's and were preparing to ship out overseas. Pat's wife Mary was pregnant and he was granted three days of leave to be with har in Kansas City. When Pat returned to his base in Nebraska his unit had shipped out without him. As a married man with a child, pat was allowed to stay and continue his service in the States.