Earl joined the service at 17 and served in World War 1 as a Waggoner with the Battery B of the 11th Field Artillery. He served in France and was present in the Mense-Argonne Offensive from 26 Oct 1918 to 11 Nov 1918. Earl collected a penesion for most of his life from injuries received while in the military service. He was (mustard?) gassed.

Earl owned a truck and did hauling after the war. He worked on road crews making roads in east Lancaster. Later he worked for the DeWalt Product Corp as a skilled laborer.

In later years Earl spent time in veterans hospitals for mental disorders. Earl never drove in his later years but spent his time walking the local roads. Gehmans Diner, a trucker diner along route 30 was a favorite spot to find him.