Seaman Brantigan was member of the crew of the landing ship tank (USS LST 611) in Korean waters. He suffered severe injuries from a fall aboard his ship, evacuated to a hospital in Japan, and died on 4 November 1952.

Brantigan 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 and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.