Private Washington was a member of the 223rd Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in North Korea on 13 June 1953 and died of those wounds on 20 June 1953.

Washington 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.