Arlo left for the service on May 4, 1951 and was sent to Jackson, South Carolina for basic training. He left Seattle, Washington October 1951 for Etajima, Japan on the General M. M. Jackson. He took mechanic school and went on to Taegu, Korea, where he served from January 1952 to March 1953 and was discharged in April 1953. He received a 50th anniversary war medal from Korea for his service.