 In 1916, at the age of 16 and after completing his junior year in high school, he was appointed to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis in Maryland, along the Chesapeake Bay.Because of World War I, his Class of 1920 was graduated a year early – on June 6, 1919.Cunningham was commissioned an ensign in the United States Navy and his first assignment was on the naval transport , which brought troops home from France.