Private Sims was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was a member of the 538th Engineer Maintenance Company, U.S. Army. He developed coronary heart disease and was evacuated to the 3rd Station Hospital at Pusan, South Korea where he died on 24 December 1950.

Sims was awarded the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.