Joseph McCarthy was elected as a County Judge after practicing law for only a brief stint. However, McCarthy decided in 1942 to volunteer for the army. McCarthy's status as a judge would have deferred military service, but McCarthy chose to serve. McCarthy became a marine, and through his service in the Pacific was later promoted to the rank of Captain. McCarthy would later use his military service record for political gain, when some of his service would be called into question. McCarthy eventually left the Marines, claiming that he could had suffered "war wounds." The wound turned out to be a broken foot- broken during a hazing ceremony by fellow US officers. When McCarthy would later run for office, he would criticize his opponent, Bob LaFollette Jr., asserting that he was a "coward" for not having served during the war.
Joseph McCarthy also served as an intelligence officer, briefing pilots before missions, and debriefing them afterwards.
