He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on 15 December 1924 and, in the course of a career which spanned 18 years, achieved the rank of platoon sergeant.

Returning to active duty in late 1931, Private First Class Traw served in China from August 1936 until February 1938, during which time he was promoted to Corporal and then Platoon sergeant.

Following a posting to Guantánamo Bay between December 1940 and April 1941, Platoon sergeant Traw deployed with the First Marine Division for service in the Pacific in early 1942.

On 7 July, the new destroyer escort got underway in company with sister ships Leland E. Thomas and Jesse Rutherford for her shakedown cruise to Bermuda.

Exercises out of Great Sound occupied the remainder of the month as Traw's crew drilled and brought the new ship to battle-readiness.

Following repairs and trials at the Boston Navy Yard, the destroyer escort steamed independently to Norfolk, Virginia, arriving on 28 August 1944.

Daylong cruises to the Chesapeake Bay, with a balance crew on board for training, occupied Traw until late in September.

Her repairs completed, Traw rendezvoused with the destroyer Cowie and submarine Barracuda on 19 November in Block Island Sound for antisubmarine exercises.

Traw completed overhaul at New York; then set her course for Norfolk, arriving on 10 January to prepare for the long voyage to the Pacific.

Prepared for use in Operation StrikEx 3-68, her hulk was sunk as a target by gunfire from the destroyer Bausell off Baja California, Mexico, on 17 August 1968.