Second Lieutenant Simmons was the pilot of a F-80C Shooting Star fighter interceptor with the 80th Fighter Bomber Squadron, 8th Fighter Bomber Group. He was in an aircraft accident on 5 September 1953 and was taken to the 121st Evacuation Hospital where he died the following day.

Simmons was awarded the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.