Private First Class Laplante was a member of the 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was seriously Wounded in Action in North Korea on 11 October 1950 and returned to duty on 15 November 1950. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in North Korea on 1 March 1953.

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