His father served as freight auditor and postal inspector in Des Moines County, and young William attended high school in Ames, Iowa.

Battell served in this capacity until June 1929, reached the rank of sergeant and received Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal for his exemplary behavior and efficiency.

[1][2] Battell was then stationed at Mare Island Navy Yard until July 1933, when he was attached to the Marine detachment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga and participated in the Fleet Problem XV in the Gulf of Panama and the Caribbean in April–May 1934.

Battell served in Philadelphia under Brigadier General Maurice C. Gregory as signal supply officer until September 1941, when he was transferred to Washington, D.C., for service with the Navy Department.

[1][4] While in this capacity, Battell took part in the several inspection tours in combat areas and directed his subordinate units during the support of Palau Islands Campaign and Iwo Jima Operation.

He was promoted to the rank of colonel in March 1948 and left San Francisco in August 1951 in order to attend the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.

[1] He completed the instruction in June 1952 and assumed duty as supply officer at the staff of Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, under Lieutenant General Clifton B. Cates.

Battell then sailed for Japan and assumed duty as commanding officer, 3rd Service Regiment, 3rd Marine Division under Major General Thomas A. Wornham.