 He left college one year prior to graduating and appeared as a laborer in New York on the census.McBryar enlisted in the 10th Cavalry on January 3, 1887 for a period of five years and requested assignment on the frontier.A Buffalo Soldier in the United States Army, he received America's highest military decoration the Medal of Honor for his actions during the March 7th, 1890 Cherry Creek Campaign in Arizona Territory while serving as a Sergeant in Company K of the 10th Cavalry Regiment.