He taught at St. John's College from 1939 to 1942 and served in the United States Navy as an ensign from December 1941 to October 1945, serving in the Pacific.
From 1939 to 1942, he was an instructor at St. John's College; during his naval career from December 1941 to October 1945, he served as an ensign and participated in operations in the Pacific theater.