Corporal McQuerry was a member of the 503rd Field Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division. He was seriously injured in Korea on 14 September 1950 and returned to duty on 6 October 1950. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy near Kunu-ri, North Korea on 1 December 1950.

McQuerry was awarded the Purple Heart, 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.