Private First Class Newell was a member of the 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. He was seriously Wounded in Action by the enemy in North Korea on 5 April 1952 and died of those wounds the following day.

Newell was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, 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.