 He married Ora Lee Cleland during his flight training.After graduation he was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS "Wasp" flying the Vought SB2U Vindicator and Douglas SBD dive bombers, providing close air support for the initial Guadalcanal landings.Cleland was on the "Wasp" when she was sunk in September 1942, spending over 4 hours in the water, waiting for rescue.