Private First Class Spidal was a member of the 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in North Korea on 15 September 1951 and returned to duty on 17 September 1951. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in North Korea on 8 October 1951.

Spidal was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.