In college, he was a member of Army ROTC unit and also played three years for the varsity football team, which was one of the Big Six Champions at the time.

Many of his classmates would gain renown or general's rank: Gregory Boyington, Hugh M. Elwood, Carl J. Fleps, Edward H. Hurst, Charles J. Quilter, Donn J. Robertson and Alvin S. Sanders.

English was subsequently attached to the Marine detachment aboard the battleship USS Nevada and participated in the patrol cruises in the Pacific Ocean.

[2] After one year of sea duties, English was ordered to the Marine Corps Base San Diego, California where served as a recruit training officer until December 1940, when he joined the new 7th Defense Battalion under Lieutenant Colonel Lester A. Dessez.

During this time, he married Eleanor R. McCallum on February 24, 1941, and their marriage would last until his death and produce three children: Loellen Kay, Bruce Browning and Becky Lynne.

In March 1941, he sailed as platoon leader to Tutuila, American Samoa, where he participated in the Rainbow Five plans; helped train 1st Samoan Battalion, a native reserve unit; and was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant.

[2] The units of 3rd Marine Division moved to the staging area on Guadalcanal during August 1943 and began with the preparations for upcoming task – Bougainville in the North Solomon Islands.

The 3rd Marine Division units were ordered to combat at the end of October and English participated in the Landing at Cape Torokina on November 1.

English was subsequently promoted to major and transferred to 21st Marine Regiment, where he was appointed executive officer with 2nd Battalion under Lieutenant Colonel Eustace R. Smoak.

English held that command until early 1946, when he was ordered to the academic staff at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, as a military psychology and leadership instructor.

After three years in that capacity, he was transferred to the same position within United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, and remained there until fall of 1952.

English was then ordered to the instruction at Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, Virginia, which he completed in January 1953 and immediately left for Korea.

[2][9][10] Following his return to the United States in May 1954, English was promoted to colonel and appointed chief of staff, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego under Major General John C. McQueen.

[2] He graduated in June 1961 and joined the Office of Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs under Paul Nitze and served in that capacity until his promotion to brigadier general in August 1963.

He shared this responsibility with Brigadier General Jonas M. Platt, who served as second assistant division commander with headquarters at Chu Lai.

[11] The Operation Hastings was commenced on July 15 with the task to pushed the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) forces back across the Demilitarized Zone and the combats lasted until August 3.

The Operation Prairie, a series of actions in defense of the demilitarized zone, began on August 3, 1966, and English again led Task Force Delta.

He was active in the Marine Corps Historical Foundation, where he received a Certificate of Appreciation by then-Commandant Robert H. Barrow for his contributions to the Oral History Program.