 At age twenty-seven after purchasing part of the company he had accumulated a net worth of over one million dollars which with inflation would be around $15 million.Following his success in the food service industry he served in the United States Navy from November 1942 until his discharge as a lieutenant commander in January 1946, having been commanding officer of Underwater Demolition Teams in the Pacific Theater for two years.He was awarded the Silver Star Medal at Okinawa following his honourable discharge.