PORT ANGELES — David Kummer never really knew his father.
Kummer, a volunteer at the Clallam County Veterans Center, was just 2 when his father, Marine Sgt. Maj. Harry J. Kummerer, died in combat aboard the USS Nashville in the Solomon Islands during World War II.
Thanks to the efforts of others in the local veterans’ community, Kummer on Wednesday received a shadowbox containing his father’s wartime medals and combat ribbons.
“It means quite a bit because I had, really, no contact,” said Kummer, after receiving the shadowbox at the Clallam County Veterans’ Association meeting in Port Angeles.
Kummer, who dropped the last “-er” from his name when he was serving in the Army during the Vietnam era, knew his father had earned a Purple Heart, but he wasn’t aware of all of the medals.
“I grew up without a father,” he said.
“I had to kind of catch my mom and ask her about him. So he was kind of a stranger to me, but I always wondered about it.
“And Jake [Fish] was good enough to research it.”
Fish, a service officer with the Fleet Reserve Association, reached out to the National Personnel Records Center to piece together the story of Harry Kummerer and obtain a list of his awards.
Robert Mingham of the Marine Corps League assisted Fish in pinning down the various medals and ribbons.
Clallam County veterans coordinator Tammy Sullenger organized the surprise ceremony.
Gary Velie, president of the Clallam County Veterans Association, presented the shadowbox to Kummer amid a round of applause from association members.
“It was great,” Kummer said later.
“I don’t know what else to say. It was certainly a shock.
“It’s beautiful to see all those [medals] because the medals were all gone when I grew up.”
Clallam County Commissioner Jim McEntire was among those who attended the special ceremony.
Harry Kummerer’s awards include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, China Service Medal, Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal and a World War II Victory Medal.
Sgt. Maj. Kummerer was serving on the Nashville, shelling Japanese bases in New Georgia and Kolombangara in the central Solomon Islands, when one of the gun turrets blew up, killing him along with 17 others in the overnight hours of May 12-13, 1943.
Later in the war, the Nashville was hit by a suicide raid that killed more than 130 members of its crew.
After his own service in the military, David Kummer has lived in Port Angeles on and off, working as a volunteer handyman at the veterans center at 261 S. Francis St.
“You have to look at what’s happened since he’s been here,” Velie said.
“I mean, this place is just magnificent.
“He’s got it all painted, cleaned up, the walls are all done. It’s clean all the time. All the tables are always put away. And this is up to Dave,” Velie continued.
“He does all of this work, and he doesn’t even ask for a thank-you from us.”
Sullenger added: “This is our way of honoring him, by honoring his father.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
