After his second year of college, White began his World War II service from 1942 to 1945 in the United States Marine Corps as a rifleman and Japanese-English interpreter in the Pacific Theater.

[2] During his first term, White represented a monstrous district stretching from El Paso all the way to the Permian Basin—an area of over 42,000 square miles.

However, after Texas' congressional map was thrown out in Wesberry v. Sanders, his district was cut down to El Paso and a few inner-ring suburbs.

[3][4] He also chaired the Democratic Research Organization, a group within the party that distributed information from the leadership relevant to pending votes.

[5] Having Fort Bliss in the 16th Congressional District made White a natural choice for his place on the House Armed Services Committee.