He was drafted, and entered into the U.S. Army on January 20, 1942. He went to basic training at Camp Wolters in Texas, and afterwards was assigned to the infantry. Next, he was transferred to the Officer Candidate School at Camp Carson in Colorado where black soldiers were sent to be officers in the 614th Tank Destroyer Battalion. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on March 11, 1943, and was assigned to be the commander of Company C, 614th Tank Destroyer Battalion at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas. On August 27, 1944, he deployed with the 614th to England, arriving on September 7. On October 8, the 614th was on Utah Beach in Normandy, France. The 614th led by Lieutenant Colonel John P. Blackshear, then would join General Patton's Third Army in Metz, France. The 614th saw its first combat on November 28. On December 5, the 614th was attached to 411th Infantry Regiment, and on December 6, the 614th was attached to the 103rd Infantry Division..