Corporal McAfee was a member of Headquarters Battery, 78th Anti-Aircraft Battalion, U.S. Army. On 14 June 1951, at Kimpo Air Base (K-13), he was securing a telephone line to a pole when he accidentally touched a high voltage line and was electrocuted.

For his leadership and valor, Corporal McAfee was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal with 5 Battle Stars, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Korean War Service Medal.