He was awarded the medal for heroic actions "above and beyond the call of duty" on March 15–16, 1945, while assigned to a Marine Corps infantry battalion during the Battle of Iwo Jima.

There, he married a young woman named Lorraine who he had been communicating with during the war and joined the Grand Rapids Police Department.

On June 25, 1948, he was presented the Medal of Honor by President Harry S. Truman during a ceremony held in the White House Rose Garden.

He served a long distinctive career in the police, carrying out many duties such as being the head of the vice squad and being a bomb disposal expert.

A special memorial scholarship was established by the Marine Corps in his name to honor navy hospital corpsmen.