lˈɪɾəl wʌz ˈɛvɚ lˈɜːnd ɐbˌaʊt hɪz pˈæst, bˌʌt ɪn sˈɛvɹəl ˈɛpɪsˌoʊdz hiː mˈɛnʃənz vˈɛɹiəsli hˌævɪŋ sˈɛvɹəl ʃˈɪps blˈoʊn ˈaʊt fɹʌm ˈʌndɚ hˌɪm, ænd hɪz vˈɛɾɚɹənz stˈæɾəs, ɪmplˈaɪɪŋ ðæt hiː hæd sˈɜːvd ɪn wˈɜːld wˈɔːɹ ɹˌoʊmən tˈuː.
Little was ever learned about his past, but in several episodes he mentions variously having several ships blown out from under him, and his veteran's status, implying that he had served in World War II.