Corporal Welch was a medic with the Medical Company, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action near Musu-Dong, North Korea, while tending his wounded comrades in North Korea on 3 July 1952.

Welch was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Medical 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.