Cika wannan jumla: Key ya zauna a garin Wewoka kuma ya kafa kamfanin Key Hardware da Wewoka Gas Co. kuma ya shiga cikin Oklahoma National Guard. An sake sanya shi kuma ya ci gaba da zama na farko a ranar 12 ga Yuli, 1912, kuma ya zama kyaftin a lokacin rani na 1916. Bayan haka, Key ya zama kwamandan Kamfanin G, 1st Oklahoma Infantry Regiment da aka kafa a Wewoka kuma ya yi aiki a kan iyakar Mexico a lokacin yakin basasa.
Pancho Villa Expedition, lokacin da aka kira shi don aikin tarayya a watan Maris na 1917 a Fort Sill, Oklahoma.