[2] During World War II, he was an aide to Brigadier General Maxwell Taylor, commander of the 101st Airborne Division, with whom he parachuted into France the night before the Normandy landings.

White Contracting helped build the Charles River Dam, Foxboro Stadium, Park Plaza Hotel, and part of Boston's MBTA subway system.

[4] After ensuring his family's financial stability, White resolved "to die as close to penniless as possible" by giving away his wealth to charity.

[2] He estimated a few years before his death that he had given away more than $75 million to various philanthropic causes; he also kept a stack of bills in his pocket which he would distribute to random strangers he met.

[2] In 1987, he co-founded Partners In Health with Paul Farmer, Ophelia Dahl, Jim Yong Kim, and Todd McCormack.