served as Captain of the Infantry Rifle and Pistol Teams during the years 1937-1939. He was subsequently ordered for studies at U.S. Army War College in Washington, D.C. and graduated in 1940. World War II After his graduation, Easley remained in Washington, D.C., because he was assigned to the War Department General Staff, where he was responsible for the Storage Section of Requirements and Distribution branch of the Supply Division. He stayed there until February 1942, when he was transferred to Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, where he was appointed as commander of the 325th Infantry Regiment, which later became the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment when the regiment's division, the 82nd Infantry under Major General Omar Bradley, became the U.S. Army's first airborne division and was redesignated the 82nd Airborne Division. In September 1942 Easley was transferred to Camp Adair, Oregon, where he was appointed Assistant Division Commander (ADC) of the 96th Infantry Division, commanded by Major General James L. Bradley. He was also promoted to the one-star general officer of brigadier general. Brigadier General Easley personally supervised the 96th Division's marksmanship training and helped to keep the high level of marksmanship. Thus division gained the nickname "Deadeyes". Easley also participated in the Oregon Maneuver during the fall of 1943. The 96th Division was sent to Hawaiian Islands in July 1944 for preparation for landing in Philippines. Brigadier General Easley subsequently went ashore during the Battle of Leyte and was wounded by enemy sniper fire. He was later decorated with the Legion of Merit for meritorious conduct and leadership and the Bronze Star for gallantry in action. Easley remained in command and later participated in the Battle of Okinawa, where he was decorated with the Silver Star for gallantry in action. On June 19, 1945, during the final phase of the battle, Easley went to the front to check the progress of his troops as they cleared the last Japanese positions. After a Japanese machine gun opened fire and wounded one of his aides, Easley crawled to the top of a knoll to try to locate its position. As he peered over the edge of the knoll, the machine gun fired a burst in his direction, and two rounds hit him in the forehead, killing him instantly. He was the second general officer killed in action during one week on Okinawa just a day after US Army Lt. Gen. Simon Bolivar Buckner