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 joined the Navy in December 1927 and rose to Chief Torpedoman within a decade. Trained as a diver between 1932 and 1933, he served with the Experimental Diving Unit from 1933 to 1937 before joining the crew of USS Falcon (ASR-2) until 1941. During his service on Falcon, he played a significant role in rescuing survivors and salvaging that submarine in 1939.