ʃˈɔːɹtli ˈæftɚ ɡɹˈædjuːˌeɪɾɪŋ mˈæɡnə kʊmlˈaʊdi wɪð ɐ bˈætʃəlɚɹ ʌv sˈaɪəns dᵻɡɹˈiː ɪn fɹˈɛntʃ ɪn dʒˈuːn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi wˈʌn, hiː ɛnlˈɪstᵻd ɪnðə jˈuː.ˈɛs. mɚɹˈiːn kˈɔːɹ.
Shortly after graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in French in June 1941, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps.