Private First Class Congleton was a medic with the Medical Company, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He was Killed in Action while tending his wounded comrades in North Korea on 19 October 1951.

Congleton 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.