First Lieutenant Sormrude was a member of the 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in North Korea on 28 November 1950 and returned to duty on 12 December 1950. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in South Korea on 22 May 1951.

Sormrude was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.