Aviation Machinist's Mate Third Class Wilkes was a crew member of a PBM-5 patrol bomber with Patrol Squadron 46, U.S. Navy. He was Killed in Action on 5 November 1950. His remains were not recovered.

Wilkes was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, 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.