Gorgal left the Browns after the season to serve in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was stationed back home in Peru and ran background checks for the Army's Counterintelligence Corps. Gorgal was discharged and returned to the Browns in 1953, helping bolster a defensive backfield that had been depleted by players' military service and Lewis's retirement. The Browns again advanced to the NFL championship game in 1953, but lost to the Detroit Lions. Gorgal had four interceptions during the regular season and two in the title game. Sportswriters named him a first-team All-Pro after the season.