Private First Class Valdez was a member of the 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in North Korea on 28 April 1952 and returned to duty on 8 May 1952. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in North Korea on 20 September 1952.

Valdez 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, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.