Private Ellis was a member of Company I, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy near Chochiwon, South Korea, on 10 July 1950 and returned to duty on 18 August 1950. He died of other causes in Korea on 30 September 1950.

Ellis 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.