He had been in the military for about 25 years. When asked why he did not wear his service bars, which would have been several inches thick, he said too many people bothered him when he wore them. He had held the rank of Master Hospital Sergeant prior to WW I. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant of the Sanitary Corps on 9/4/1917.When asked what was his most exciting experience, he could not narrow them down, but he did express interest in his 4 years in the transport service on the Pacific coast.