- SURNAME
Summerhill
- FORENAME
Price Sims
- UNIT
38 Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron (3 A.R.R. Group)
- RANK
Captain
- NUMBER
- AWARD
Bronze Star
- PLACE
South East Asia
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 6.10.1931 Abbott,Texas
son of Buford Price and Mary Lillian (nee Turk) Summerhill
helicopter pilot (Vietnam)
retired as Major
married Josephine F. Berger (1931-2015) (1 daughter Dawn)
died 10.2.2015 Abbott,Texas (last residence)
Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery,Dallas,Dallas County,Texas Section 100 Site 611
Price graduated as valedictorian from Abbott High School in 1949, then attended Tarleton State College and Texas A&M University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture education. While at A&M, he was in ROTC and graduated as a second lieutenant. He married Josie in 1953. Price joined the Air Force following graduation from A&M, in which he proudly served for 20 years as a helicopter pilot in air rescue, retiring with the rank of major. Early in their marriage, Josie's younger sister, Lucy Berger (Milner), came to live with the family upon the premature death of both of her parents. Price and Josie became Lucy's legal guardians and raised Dawn and Lucy during Price's military career.
Price served tours of duty in Greenland, Vietnam and Thailand. Stateside, he was stationed in several Texas locations, Florida, Michigan and Utah. He was also stationed in France and England.
Price flew fixed wing aircraft for three years, then flew helicopter aircraft for 17 years. He loved flying; he was an instructor in the USAF Helicopter School and taught many young lieutenants to fly. He commanded Air Rescue detachments on five different military bases in the United States and overseas and served as Aircrew Standardization Officer for Helicopters in the USAF Helicopter School. He and those under his command risked their lives to save downed pilots in Vietnam in the worst imaginable circumstances. Only in recent years would Price mention the horrific scenes he and fellow helicopter pilots encountered while stationed in Vietnam. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service, Air Force Commendation Medal and Meritorious Service Medal for outstanding meritorious service. Following retirement from the USAF, his love of the land and his heritage brought Price and Josie back to Abbott. They entered agribusiness, which included both farming and raising registered Brangus cattle.
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