Born in Eastland, Texas on 4 January 1925, graduated from Brownwood High School. His experiences of growing up in Brownwood, Texas were documented by his boyhood friend John Eugene Clardy in the book titled "Confessions of the Willis Creek Gang." Enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1943 and served aboard the USS Makassar Strait (CVE-91) in the attached Squadron VC-97. Rear gunner on a Grumman TBM Avenger. Beheaded by the Japanese after being shot down while flying a bombing mission over Ishigaki.