[1][2] He studied at Western High School, before enlisting as a private on November 1, 1917, during World War I in the United States Army Ambulance Service, where he participated in the Second Battle of the Somme, during which he was awarded the Croix de Guerre.
[12][13] He also worked to ensure U.S. access to military bases and airfields in the French controlled territories of Northern and Western Africa.
[1][14][15] During his tenure, he faced the challenge of negotiating with Francisco Franco's government in the aftermath of World War II.
[22] Another was negotiating with Franco's regime over the allocation of foreign aid, the government did not want to be included under the Marshal Plan and would push back against Culbertson's attempts to liberalize the economy of the country and expand personal liberties.
[27] He would occasionally join, then Spanish Foreign Minister, Alberto Martín-Artajo for hunting trips.