Corporal Harrell was a member of the 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in South Korea on 15 September 1950 and returned to duty later that day. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in South Korea on 9 October 1950.

Harrell 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.