Arthur was born on February 1, 1919, in Fargo, North Dakota, and enlisted in the United States Navy, rising to serve as an engineering officer.

On June 6, 1944, he was positioned offshore at Omaha Beach as part of the massive naval armada supporting Operation Overlord. While Allied troops fought and died on the sands below, Arthur commanded a fleet of 36 vessels responsible for delivering provisions to Army forces ashore, navigating the chaos of the world’s largest amphibious invasion. The logistical operation he helped manage was as critical as the assault itself; without a sustained flow of supplies, ammunition, and equipment from sea to shore, the hard-won beachhead could not be held or expanded. His role demanded precision, composure, and leadership under extraordinary pressure. Arthur’s contribution to D-Day represents the essential, often unheralded work of the men who kept the fighting force alive and moving inland.

He was honorably discharged in September, 1946.