Private Sewell was a member of the 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in South Korea on 19 September 1950 and returned to duty on 2 October 1950. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in North Korea on 29 May 1951.

Sewell was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.