Private First Class Potratz was a member of the 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy near the Chongchon River in North Korea on 9 November 1950.

Potratz was awarded the Purple Heart, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Combat Infantryman's 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.