Private Garnett was a Light Weapons Infantryman with Company A, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. On 30 July 1952, near Suim-myon, North Korea, his bunker collapsed on him while he was sleeping.

Garnett was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, 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.