As a teenager he and his older Brother, Ted, left home to work in areas where the pay was better. They worked wherever jobs were to be found and finally settled in California where they were when Doug decided to return to Arkansas to enlist.

Active duty began 03 June, 1963 and was completed 02 June, 1967. Doug was selected for sea-school and was in training there when Kennedy was killed. He joined a Nuclear Security Detachment aboard the USS Constellation (CVA-64) and spent the next two years there.

His MOS was 0311 so, when his shipboard tour was over he requested, and was granted, transfer to "WestPac Ground Forces" in Okinawa and arrived in Viet Nam in early 66. He served, first as a Fire-Team Leader and then a Squad Leader with an infantry squad until he was medevaced back to a hospital in California, in August.

By this time Todd was a Sgt-E5 and, upon release fro the hospital, was assigned to Infantry Training Regiment at Camp Pendleton until release from active duty.

In February of 67 he and Marjorie were married near her home in Washington.