He received his bachelor of science degree in 1953 from the University of Georgia, and as a distinguished military graduate of the ROTC program, was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force.

While the plane was burning, he brought the aircraft under control and crawled back to pull out two of his crew members.

He was awarded the Soldier's Medal for valor[citation needed][2] (the Air Force Cross[3] had not yet been instituted).

While there he was active in the pilot training programs as an instructor in soaring and he served as president of the aero club.

He served as commander of the 340th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Wing at U-Tapao Royal Thai Naval Airfield, Thailand, until December 1973.

He led the wing charged with maintaining a strategic strike force of B-52 bombers and a global air refueling commitment with KC-135 tankers.