Graduate of University of Florida, Bryson enlisted as a private in the US Army 10 Nov 1942 at Camp Croft, SC. Upon completion of his basic 
training he was selected to attend OCS (Officers Candidate School). He graduated as a 2nd Lieutenant thus joining General George S. Patton's 3rd Army, 6th Armored Division, 69th Tank Battalion, as a maintenance officer and tank commander. He participated in the 'break-out' along the coast road to free Brest and later at the Battle for Nancy, France. He participated in General Patton's "race across France"; and was at the battle for Metz, France. Shortly afterwards he was with the group that headed North to free Bastogne, Belgium and was wounded during the Battle of the Bulge, in late 1944, where he received the Purple Heart.