Bud' like many other young men rushed to enlist upon hearing of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Battles included Bougainville, Guam and Iwo Jima. He was proud to have ben part of the USMC and declared more than once that being a marine and fighting for his country was one of the best things he had done in life. He claimed the only exception to that was marrying 'Baby Doll' as he affectionaltely referred to Norma, his wife of 62 years.