Airman Apprentice Harrell was a member of the crew of the carrier USS Essex (CV-9). On 16 September 1951, a damaged F2H Banshee fighter tried to land on the aircraft carrier. The tail hook could not engage and the aircraft bounced over the barriers, struck other aircraft and burst into flames. The pilot and four crew members were killed.

Harrell was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, 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.