Radarman Second Class Nowak served aboard the mine sweeper USS Ledge (AMS-277) in Korean waters. He was Killed in Action when his ship was sweeping enemy mines three miles off Sin-Do Island and it struck an enemy mine and sank on 12 October 1950.

Nowak was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, 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.