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Cpl Brigham was a barber.

He joined the National Guard in Binghamton, New York on 15 October 1940 and first trained at Fort McClellan, after which he volunteered for the paratroopers in 1942..

He participated in the D-Day landings in Normandy where he was wounded in action during the famous bayonet charge at Carentan. For this wound he was awarded the Purple Heart Medal a first time. After recovering in a British hospital, he could join his unit just in time to be part of the Operation Market-Garden.

On 22 October 1944, seven demolition men from Regimental HQ, were assembled under their section leader, Lt Richard A. Daly. About a dozen German Riegel mines (anti-tank mines) had been recovered from a dirt road where German Engineers had planted them. A table was brought out of a nearby Dutch house and the mines were placed on and near the table.

When S/Sgt Schlensker demonstrated how to open the lid and disarm one of the mines, the device exploded. Evidently, the Germans had placed an anti-tampering protection system in that particular mine which exploded, setting off all the other mines stacked nearby. Lt Daly, S/Sgt Schlensker, Pfc Edmund Ambrose, Pfc. Joseph Hill, Pvt George Sheppard, and Pvt Joe St. Clair were all killed instantly.

Only Pvt Oresti Quirici survived the explosion, although he lost one eye and part of his leg.

Cpl Brigham was fatally wounded as a result of the explosion. He died in the early morning hours of the next day.

His father was a veteran of WWI.