In his youth, Red served in the U.S. Navy (in the season 3 episode, "Jackie Bags Hyde", he is shown wearing the dress-blue uniform of a Chief Petty Officer for Veterans Day) and often brings up memories of his service in Korea. Red was a Boatswain Mate in the Navy during World War II and Korea. He served on a destroyer but also saw land combat in Guadalcanal (August 1942 – February 1943) and Korea (1950 – 1953). As evidenced in Season 8, Episode 6 "Long Away," Red is wearing Submarine Warfare (Dolphins) on his garrison cap during the Veterans reunion.