He entered the service as a private on 18 January 1943 from Fort Devens, Massachusetts. He had four years of high school education, was married, and his civilian occupation was listed as: "Office machine operators".

We have Sergeant Bigelow listed on the 437th TCG Special Orders #195, dated 27 December 1943. These were the orders generated at Pope Field (Fort Bragg, NC) for the first phase of movement by air and by rail of the 437th personnel to their eventual overseas deployment.

Chester was a member of the 437th TCG Association and appeared on their rosters in 1974 and 1976.