Private First Class Michel was a member of the 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded in South Korea on 3 September 1950 and returned to duty on 10 September 1950. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in South Korea on 15 September 1950.

Michel 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.