Hospitalman Third Class Babbick served with the U.S. Navy, attached to Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. While tending his wounded comrades near O-Bong-ni, South Korea, he received a severe head wound and died shortly thereafter.

Babbick was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Korean War Service Medal.