Submitted by Mary KeefeU.S. Navy veteran William Summerlin died in his home Nov. 11. He served in World War II as a fireman. 

NASHVILLE — Family members of the late William “Bill” Summerlin sat patiently and peacefully as they awaited the U.S. Navy veteran’s Victory Cross ceremony Tuesday afternoon. 

Summerlin, who passed away Nov. 11, Veterans Day, in his home, died never being afforded the opportunity to receive this accolade for his participation in World War II as a fireman’s apprentice in the boiler room. 

True to the veteran’s nature, this is a secret that the 89-year-old withheld from his family and one that was eventually buried with him until his daughter, Mary Keefe, discovered his DD214.

The DD214 lists everything that military veterans have done while in service, including medals earned, according to Eugene Molisee, commander of American Legion Otranto Post #115.

Keefe was digging through some papers after Summerlin’s passing and learned her father had earned the World War II Victory Cross during his tour in the Navy as a fireman.

“We were reading on it, and it had it listed on there that he had received a medal when he was in service, and he never ever talked about that to any of us children; he never told us,” she said.

She showed the DD214 to Molisee, who conducted research and confirmed that Summerlin wasn’t presented the medal after his discharge. This is when Molisee decided to extend the U.S. Victory Cross in Summerlin’s honor to the family.

Summerlin’s wife Betty Summerlin, Keefe and daughter Bernice Summerlin Brown received the medal on his behalf at Hayley’s Coffee, Tea and Sweets Tuesday evening.

“I feel OK with it, and I do my best to make it through all of it because I do miss him a lot,” Betty Summerlin said.

Summerlin, who served in the Korean War after WWII, filled the position as service officer in the American Legion under Molisee post-war for about seven years.

Molisee said the veteran was awarded the medal because of the length of time he spent in the war.

He described Summerlin as a superman and said that he’s deserving of the cross.

“He was a nice person; he worked well with everybody, (and) didn’t cause no fuss,” he said. “… Anything we did in the American Legion, he was part of. He was there all the time.”

Summerlin attended American Legion meetings even though he couldn’t drive to them due to health issues, Molisee said.

Members would give Summerlin rides to the meetings, and when he could no longer get in the vehicle, Molisee said Summerlin still participated in the American Legion from his home by sending out birthday cards, get-well cards and more.

“The post came not first on his line but maybe second,” Molisee said. “He was dedicated to the American Legion; his wife and family came first.”

Keefe said her father was a private person, not one to “pat himself on the back” or “give himself roses.” People who knew him best characterized him as humble.

“He was just a humble, quiet man who served his country, was proud of his country, and he loved his family, and he cherished his family,” Brown said. “He loved our mother. Sixty-five years they were married. He was not a man of a lot of means, but he was comfortable, and he was happy.”

As Brown spoke about her father, her voice softened.

“He didn’t have a whole lot, but he didn’t want a whole lot,” she said. “If he was a millionaire, he would have never lived in a mansion; that was just his thing.”

Keefe added that Summerlin would’ve preferred to reside in an old farmhouse. She said she believes exhaustion contributed to his passing.

“The biggest thing with daddy was he was just tired,” she said. “He had worked in the public since he was 14. He was the oldest of 10 children, and he helped raise those other nine children.

“His daddy passed when (Summerlin) was 14, so he finished helping raise his brothers and sisters, and then he married mama and had three girls, and he raised those three girls, and he would help with the grandkids whenever he wanted to or felt like he needed to.”

Brown said he assisted others quietly and privately, and Keefe said if her dad told someone that he was going to do something, he made sure he did it.

Summerlin worked until he was 83 years old, according to his family, and held positions in the City of Nashville for more than 30 years.

According to Berrien County Sheriff Ray Paulk, Summerlin fulfilled positions as a jailer and dispatcher for the sheriff’s office.

“He worked very local,” he said. “He stayed within his community, done a lot of things to help the community. His whole career was being involved in helping folks.”

Paulk characterized Summerlin as selfless and said he would “put everybody else before himself.”

“I want to remember him in the highest light because, like I said, he was a true to the core great man,” Paulk said.

Summerlin is survived by his wife, three daughters, eight grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren, according to his obituary.

Amanda Usher is a reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times. She can be contacted at 229-244-3400 ext.1274.