James K. Vardaman served in the Spanish American War from June 23, 1898 until June 2, 1899.  He received his commission as Captain in the Water Valley Rifles, Fifth Regiment of the U.S. Volunteer Infantry from Mississippi Governor A. J. McLaurin and was later promoted to Major on Feb. 25, 1899.  His entire service was with the Judge Advocate Corps in the forces occupying Santiago, Cuba.  There he presided over a board of claims and sat as a judge of a general court martial.  While his military service was less then exciting it did allow him to formally proclaim his candidacy from an active war zone on November 6, 1898, for the upcoming Mississippi gubernatorial race of 1899.  A political advantage none of the other five gubernatorial candidates could match.