A graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy with the Class of 1942, Captain Vose served in the Pacific during World War II on board the USS Gamble (DM-15) and the USS Heywood L. Edwards (DD-663). He was Main Battery Officer, U. S. Naval Proving Ground, Dahlgren, Virginia, from July 1951 to June 1955. He served successively as operations officer, USS Northampton; executive officer, USS Mauna Kea; and commanding officer, USS John Hood prior to his assignment to the Staff, Commander Training Command, Atlantic (September 1958 to December 1961).