After surviving 30 harrowing bombing missions over the flak-filled skies of Europe in World War II — including once when a German fighter pilot got close enough for their eyes to meet — machine-gunner William A. Summerlin of Acworth figured he’d had enough of air combat.
So when the Korean War began five years later, he joined the Marines — and was promptly sent to Korea.
Mr. Summerlin was a sergeant in both wars, but never talked about the medals for heroism he received, his son, Gary Summerlin, 57, of Acworth, said.
“I found a stash and was quite surprised he had all these medals, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, since he didn’t talk about them,” Gary Summerlin said. “He just came back and went to work for Georgia Power.”
Mr. Summerlin, a gunner in a B-24 Liberator, died Aug. 11 of congestive heart failure. He was 88. His Saturday funeral was held at Medford-Peden Funeral Home in Marietta with burial in Oaknoll Memorial Gardens in Rome.
Just before the Korean conflict erupted in 1950, Mr. Summerlin married his wife of 48 years, Ann, but soon bumped into a Marine recruiter while on a walk in downtown Atlanta, and duty called.
“The next thing he knew he was headed to Korea,” said Steve Miller, 53, his son-in-law.
Gary Summerlin said his father “never got rattled or irritated, and that when his children would ask about the war, he’d give a short answer. We’d say, ‘Dad, did you shoot down any planes?’ and he’d say, ‘I might have nicked one or two.'”
On another occasion, “He said once he was in his position and Plexiglass fell in his lap,” Mr. Miller said. “He realized they’d been hit.”
A German fighter shot off part of his plane’s wing on another mission. Mr. Summerlin also participated in the war in Africa.
“He talked about flying over the English Channel and then dropping bombs, dealing with flak and fighters,” Mr. Miller said. “He told me a German fighter was once right over him, 10 feet away, and was being chased by a U.S. P-51 Mustang shooting at it.”
Mr. Summerlin worked for Georgia Power for 39 years, starting as a day laborer and retiring to supervisor.
Joada Miller of Woodstock said her dad was the consummate family man, and never raised his voice or lost his temper. She said her parents “had a remarkable love right to the end. He’s said he’s been ready to go since she did.”
Elder Langdon Huffman, pastor for 42 years of the Rome Mid Way Primitive Baptist Church, said Mr. Summerlin was “one of my favorite people.” After his wife died, Mr. Summerlin for a time would drive up to Rome to attend services.
“He had a good sense of humor,” Huffman said. “If you said, ‘Glad to see you,’ he’d say with a twinkle, ‘I’m glad to be seen.’”
Mr. Summerlin also is survived by son Randy Summerlin, 55, of Griffin, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
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