Private Simmons was a member of Company H, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He was captured, bound and murdered at Hill 303 near Waegwan, South Korea, on 17 August 1950.

Simmons was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.