Private First Class Brooks was a member of Company D, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in South Korea in August 1950 and returned to duty shortly thereafter. He was seriously wounded again by enemy small arms fire in South Korea on 19 September 1950 and died of those wounds at the Osaka Army Hospital, Japan, on 1 October 1950.

For his leadership and valor, Private First Class Brooks was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, 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 and the Army of Occupation Medal.