Sergeant Hirsch was a crew member of Air Force RB-29 "Sunbonnet King" of the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron. His aircraft was on a photo mission over Northern Hokkaido and was shot down by two Soviet LA-11 fighters near Yuri Island on 7 October 1952.

Hirsch was awarded the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Korean War Service Medal.