Private First Class Sullens was a member of the 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He was seriously wounded by an enemy missile in South Korea on 15 September 1950 and died of those wounds on 17 September 1950.

Sullens was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman 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.