Corporal Hummel was a light weapons infantryman with the 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He was Killed in Action while defending his position near the Naktong River northwest of Taegu, South Korea, on 14 September 1950.

Hummel was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, 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.