Master Sergeant Harrington was the radar observer of a F7F-3N Tigercat fighter with Marine Night Fighter Squadron 513, Marine Air Group 12, 1st Marine Air Wing. On 12 October 1951, while on a combat mission, his aircraft failed to return. His pilot was taken prisoner and released during Operation Big Switch. He was listed as Missing in Action and was presumed dead on 18 February 1954. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

Harrington was awarded the Purple Heart, 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.