Private First Class Friedman was a medic with the Medical Company, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He was Killed in Action while tending his wounded comrades in South Korea on 2 August 1950.

Friedman was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Medical 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.