A native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Stroh was raised and educated in Washington, D.C. and graduated from Michigan State University in 1915.

Stroh completed his initial training in August, when he effected a transfer to the army and was appointed a second lieutenant of Cavalry.

After completing the course for Infantry officers in 1922, Stroh advanced through the ranks in command and staff positions, including postings to the Philippines.

After the war, he commanded the Replacement Depot at Camp Pickett, Virginia, followed by the presidency of the Army Personnel Records Board.

[2] He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture in 1915 and began a civilian career in sales with the Sunkist Fruit Company in New York City.

[2] Assigned to the 3rd Provisional Battalion, Stroh completed the Army Service School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in October, then joined the 17th Cavalry Regiment at Camp Harry J. Jones in Douglas, Arizona as commander of the regiment's Troop H.[2][4] The 17th Cavalry maintained border defense between the United States and Mexico for the duration of the war.

[2] In June 1940, was assigned to the Presidio of San Francisco, where he was appointed aide-de-camp to the commanding general of the Fourth United States Army and assistant chief of staff for Intelligence (G-2).

[5] With U.S. entry into World War II imminent, in April 1941, Stroh was one of four officers selected to visit the United Kingdom to study the British military intelligence system.

[2] Assigned to command the 339th Infantry Regiment at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, he led this unit during its initial organization and training and he remained in this position until July 1942.

[2] In July 1943, the 9th Division was part of the Allied invasion of Sicily, where Stroh was commended for his organizational and leadership skills in combat.

[2] The division was credited with cutting the Cotentin Peninsula, which prevented the surrender of German soldiers, and played a key role in the battle for the port of Cherbourg.

[2] Throughout February and early March, the 106th Division fought on the right flank of First U.S. Army, which culminated when it breached the Siegfried Line.

[2] After refitting in France in April, the division returned to Germany, where it guarded prisoners and took part in occupation duties until it was inactivated in September 1945.

[6] Upon returning to the United States, Stroh was assigned to command of the Replacement Depot at Camp Pickett, Virginia.

[2] In retirement, Stroh resided in Washington, D.C. and also maintained a cottage on the Eastern Shore of Maryland which his wife and he called "Crozon" after the French location of an 8th Infantry Division attack during the Second World War.

With tireless energy and keen foresight, he directed the operations of his division in the Normandy breakthrough and the campaign in Brittany culminating in the capitulation of the fortress of Brent.