Son of Walter and Arlene Rohner; brother of Kathleen. Enlisted in the US Army, National Guard, on March 3, 1941 at Camp Flint in Auburn, California. He was attending Placer Junior College at the time but withdrew when the Guard became an active part of the US regular army. He was a member of Company E, 184th Infantry of the California National Guard. In April 1942 he transferred to the US Army Air Corps. He was commissioned May 28, 1943 after an intensive course of study, following specialized training from engine pilot school at Columbus, Ohio.

He won his silver wings as pilot of a B17 Flying Fortress and was sent overseas to a base in England in November 16, 1943. The plane he was piloting was shot down by the enemy, following a bombing attack against an aircraft manufacturing factory at Brunswick, Germany. Word of his death came from the German government through the International Red Cross in a telegram to his mother in Auburn. Posthumous award of the Purple Heart was made in July 1944.

Shot down during bombing mission over Brunswick, Germany 30 Jan 1944 in B-17G #42-37856 'Fancy Nancy III. ' Killed in Action (KIA).