An overseas veteran of World War I; he had been a member of the New York State National Guard at the time the United States entered the war; he entered active service in Brooklyn, N.Y. on June 27, 1918 and served in Company A, 53rd U. S. Pioneer Infantry Regiment. He served overseas from August 6, 1918 to February 2, 1919, and was honorably discharged on the 13th of February following. Records indicated that he was "slightly wounded" on October 17, 1918; his 1942 draft card registration states that he had a "scar on the palm of his right hand." He was promoted to Corporal on August 16, 1918 and served at the rank until the end of his enlistment.