Mezue ahịrịokwu na-esonụ: A họpụtara Durfee n'òtù ndị agha nke 17 ma debe ya na Fort D.A. Russell na Wyoming. O jere ozi na ọrụ ókè-ala ruo 1893, ma sonye na Ghost Dance War. Durfee ji nsọpụrụ jee ozi n'oge nnọchibido nke Santiago dịka onye isi ndị agha, ọ natakwara Silver Star maka ọrụ ya na
Agha El Caney. N'agbata afọ 1899 na 1905, Durfee gara Philippines ugboro atọ ma jee ozi n'ọtụtụ obere mkpọsa nakwa na njem nke atọ nke Sulu. Durfee jere ozi n'ọtụtụ ebe na U.S., gụnyere Fort McPherson, Fort Brady, Fort Wayne, nakwa na ókèala Mexico. Mgbe ọ gụsịrị akwụkwọ na United States Army War College, Durfee nọgidere na ụlọ ọrụ ahụ dị ka onye nkuzi, na 1918 ọ ghọrọ akụkụ nke General Staff wee bụrụ Chief of Staff maka Ngalaba Ndịda.