Private Murchison was a member of the 8227th Joint Unit, Military Assistance Group, Korea (KMAG). He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in South Korea on 13 January 1951.

Murchison was awarded the Purple Heart, 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.