Private Aiken was a signalman with the 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy at "Bloody Ridge" near Tanggok, North Korea, on 28 August 1951 by enemy sniper fire.

Aiken was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Good Conduct Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal and the New York State Conspicuous Service Cross.