Sergeant Sumner was a member of Master Ground Controller Interception (Radar) Squadron 1, Marine Air Control Group 2, 1st Marine Air Wing. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in Korea on 10 August 1951.

For his leadership and valor, Sergeant Sumner was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.