On Dec 31, 1941 the USS Astoria set sail with the USS Saratoga Task Force 11. He participated in the battle of the Coral Sea, and Midway and supported the landings on Guadalcanal, Tulagi and the ...

Immediately after graduation in 1944, Bob reported to the USS Astoria (CL-90) as a gunnery officer and saw action at Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

During his naval career he served aboard the USS Astoria, USS Dionysuss, USS Glennon, USS Meredith and the USS Yelowstone. He retired as a warrant officer.