Corporal McCartney was a member of the 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy near Kunu-ri, North Korea on 27 November 1950 and returned to duty on 3 December 1950. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in South Korea on 12 February 1951.

McCartney 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, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.