First Lieutenant Summerlin was the pilot of a F-51D Mustang fighter with the 45th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing. On 3 March 1951, while on a combat mission, his aircraft suffered engine trouble one and a half miles northwest of Sesari, South Korea. He was not able to bailout successfully.

Summerlin awarded the Purple Heart, the Korean Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.