Private First Class Powe was a member of Company B, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division. He was Killed in Action while defending his position against a determined Chinese counter-attack on "Bunker Hill" in Korea on 12 August 1952.

Powe was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Naval Unit Citation, 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.