Sergeant Powell was a member of the 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the Chinese along "Noname Line" in Korea on 16 May 1951 and returned to duty on 21 August 1951. He completed his tour, then returned to Korea to serve with the same unit. He was Killed in Action while defending the "Hook" area of North Korea from the Chinese on 6 March 1953.

Powell was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman 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.