World War II

To stimulate his political career, McCarthy quit his job as circuit court judge and joined the Marines during World War II.McCarthy became a marine, and through his service in the Pacific was later promoted to the rank of Captain. McCarthy would later use his military service record for political gain, when some of his service would be called into question. McCarthy eventually left the Marines, claiming that he could had suffered "war wounds." The wound turned out to be a broken foot- broken during a hazing ceremony by fellow US officers. When McCarthy would later run for office, he would criticize his opponent, Bob LaFollette Jr., asserting that he was a "coward" for not having served during the war.