Second Lieutenant McGovern was a member of the 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. On 11 February 1951, he was leading his platoon in an attack near Kumwang-ni, South Korea, when he was wounded. He reorganized his platoon and continued the attack until he was mortally wounded.

For his leadership and valor, Second Lieutenant McGovern was awarded the Silver Star Medal, 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.