 He was sent to Corregidor and later to Australia along with a million pesos of Philippine government funds.Promoted to commander, he became part of Admiral William F. Halsey's Third Fleet staff and part of its unofficial "Dirty Tricks Department," which also included Rear Admiral Robert Bostwick Carney, Commander Harold Stassen, Captain Ralph E. Wilson, Captain Leonard J. Dow, and Commander Horace D. Moulton.During his time with the Third Fleet he was awarded the Legion of Merit twice, and the Bronze Star.