Upon the United States entry into World War II, he was named chief-of-staff, 43rd Infantry Division, 1941-1942. His next assignment, in August 1942, was as the deputy commander, for the newly formed 101st Airborne Division, at the rank of brigadier general.
He was appointed chief-of-staff for the 43rd Infantry Division when the US joined World War II in 1941. Two years later, he became deputy commander of the newly formed 101st Airborne Division in August 1942, at the rank of brigadier general.