Good for him.

Dole was born in Russell, Kansas on July 22, 1923. While studying at the University of Kansas, Dole enlisted in the Army Reserve and was called to active duty six months later. Dole earned the rank of second lieutenant in 1944 and served in the 85th Mountain Regiment, 10th Mountain Division while deployed to Europe.

Dole was severely injured in Italy when his company became trapped in an exposed area and was hit with enemy fire, according to Dole’s archived 1996 campaign website. After helping a fellow soldier, Dole was hit in the shoulder by a German bullet, injuring his collarbone and spine. Dole was given a shot of morphine, marked on the forehead with a letter “M” in his own blood, and taken to a military hospital where he was not expected to live.