Hospitalman Cressman served with the U.S. Navy attached to Headquarters and Service Company, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. He was Killed in Action near Seoul, South Korea while tending his wounded comrades on 24 September 1950 from wounds to his head.

Cressman 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.