[2] He then went on to receive a bachelor's degree in political science from The Citadel in 1958 and was commissioned as an infantry officer through the school's Army ROTC unit.

He was senior aide-de-camp to the Commanding General of Allied Land Forces Southeastern Europe at Izmir, Turkey, and an instructor and department director at the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

As a colonel he was chief of staff for the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado, and after promotion to brigadier general in 1980 moved up to assistant division commander; he next served as deputy director of the Joint Deployment Agency at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.

Upon advancement to major general in 1982 he became deputy commander of the XVIII Airborne Corps; in this capacity he was the senior ground commander of the U.S. military forces who invaded the Caribbean nation of Grenada in October, 1983 in response to a worsening political situation, the presence of Cuban troops and fears over the safety of numerous American citizens which included students at the St. George’s University School of Medicine.

He earned the Combat Infantryman Badge and Master Parachutist Badge, his military awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, 3 awards of the Legion of Merit and Purple Heart.