He enlisted in the Navy in December 1927, rising to the rank of Chief Torpedoman during the next decade. Trained as a diver in 1932-33, he served with the Experimental Diving Unit from 1933 to 1937 and then as a member of the crew of USS Falcon (ASR-2) into 1941. While serving in the Falcon, he played an important role in the rescue of survivors of  and the subsequent salvage of that submarine in 1939.
He enlisted in the Navy in December 1927 and became Chief Torpedoman within ten years. Trained as a diver from 1932 to 1933, he worked with the Experimental Diving Unit between 1933 and 1937 before joining the crew of USS Falcon (ASR-2) until 1941. During his time on Falcon, he was crucial in rescuing survivors and salvaging that submarine in 1939.