Fireman (E3) Thierfelder served aboard the destroyer USS Barton (DD-722) in Korean waters. He was listed as Missing in Action while engaged with the enemy when his ship struck an enemy mine on 16 September 1952.

Thierfelder 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.