Major Potter was the pilot of a F7F-3N Tigercat night fighter with the Marine Night Fighter Squadron 513, Marine Air Group 33, First Marine Air Wing. On 12 June 1952, while on a combat mission of dropping napalm near Sinmak, Korea, his aircraft received a direct hit by anti-aircraft fire, crashed and exploded. He was listed as Missing in Action and was presumed dead on 5 January 1954. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

Potter was awarded the Air Medal with 2 Gold Stars, 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.