Private First Class Brooks was a member of Company I, 3rd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He lost control of his jeep on a sharp curve and fractured his skull. He was evacuated to the 44th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) where he died on 16 February 1953.

Brooks was awarded 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.