Fireman E3 Kircher was a crew member of the hospital ship "USS Repose" (AH-16). He developed poliomyelitis and died aboard ship off Inchon, South Korea, on 16 November 1952.

Kircher was awarded 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.