As soon as Box graduated, he went to basic training in Blanding, Florida. He then went on to complete his training in Fort Indianatown, Pennsylvania. On August 2nd, 1942 he was sent off the England and straight into WWII.
He was in the First Infantry Division, which is famously known as the "Big Red One" for their attacks in North Africa, Sicily, and Normandy. He served as the 1st Engineer Combat Battalion and continued to train in England until they were sent to North Africa.
The First Infantry Division led the assault on D-Day.
A timeline of the 1st Infantry Division attacks:
1. They led the invasion of French North Africa in 1942. They fought their way towards the east into Tunisia and Algeria.
2. In July of 1943, the division had their second operation during the invasion of Sicily. They fought across the center of Sicily and had a victory against the Germans at the battle of Triona.
3. In June of 1944, they led the assault on Omaha Beach in Normandy on D-Day, where they were able to overcome enemy forces.