Private First Class Cork was a medic in the Medical Company, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He was listed as Missing in Action while tending his wounded comrades in North Korea on 28 November 1950 and returned to duty on 1 December 1950. He was listed as Missing in Action near Chipyong-ni, South Korea on 15 February 1951. He was presumed dead on 31 December 1953. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

Cork was awarded the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.