Private First Class Frye was a member of the 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in South Korea on 14 September 1950 and returned to duty on 7 November 1950. He was seriously wounded again on 9 February 1951 and returned on 23 March 1951. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in South Korea on 8 May 1951.

Frye was awarded the Purple Heart with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Combat Infantryman's 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.