Private First Class Aguilera was a member of the 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in North Korea on 24 October 1951 and died of those wounds on 26 October 1951.

Aguilera 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.