Staff Sergeant Borkowski a veteran of World War II, serving in the Pacific. In Korea, he was a was a member of Headquarters Squadron, 1st Marine Air Wing at Pohang Air Base (K-3), Korea. He died of other causes on 28 October 1952.

Borkowski was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon, 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, the Asia-Pacific Theater of Operations Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.