He served as a naval physician in the United States Navy and was co-founder of the International Committee of Military Medicine (ICMM) located in Liège.

In his youth he enlisted in the cadet corps of the 13th Regiment of the National Guard of the United States, became corporal and visited Mohegan Lake Military Academy in Peekskill, New York.

In his wish to become a surgeon, he was influenced and supported by Eliza Maria Mosher, who introduced him to Jay Webber Seaver, a pioneer of anthropometry.

During the Spanish–American War, he served as a volunteer in the VII Army Corps under General Fitzhugh Lee.

Due to this idea the permanent committee of International Congresses of Military Medicine and Pharmacy (ICMPM) was founded on May 21, 1952, which was renamed in 1990.