If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Contact Info
Last Address my sons and myself at son Scott,s ret.from the USMC 23,nov.2009 (same dress blue I wore on active duty 20,yrs.ago)
Date of Passing Mar 15, 2013
Location of Interment Barrancas National Cemetery (VA) - Pensacola, Florida
Wall/Plot Coordinates 54 0 747
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Tony Summerlin, United States Navy (Ret) 72, of Ponce De Leon, Fla passed away on March 15, 2013. He was born November 21, 1940 in Montgomery, AL. Tony proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy for 30 years. He was a veteran of the Vietnam Conflict where he served multiple tours as a boat captain with the Riverine Force. Following his retirement from the Navy, he served as a heavy equipment operations engineer instructor at the Vocational Technical Institute in Chipley, FL.
Tony was a loving father and grandfather. Survivors include his wife Thelma of Ponce De Leon, FL. His son Mark (Shannon) Brinton of Killeen, TX, son Scott (Chris) Brinton of Spring Hill, FL, daughter Lee (Joey) Lindsay of Destin, FL, son Tony (Amy) Summerlin of Atlanta, Ga, sons Anthony and Major Summerlin of home. 11 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. His sister Dora Bias of Elba, Al.
Tony lived life to the fullest and is a true "American Hero", earning 2 Silver Stars, 2 Bronze Stars with Combat "V", Two Navy Commendations with Combat "V" and 2 Purple Hearts in Vietnam. He loved being outdoors as he had been all his life with the Navy and Teaching jobs.
Tony was buried March 19, 2013 in Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, FL
Laid down, 8 November 1941, as Fleet Tug(AT-67) at Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Charleston, S.C.
Launched, 8 May 1942
Commissioned, USS Apache (AT-67), 12 December 1942, LTjg. Clyde S. Horner USN, in command
Reclassified Fleet Ocean Tug(ATF-67), 15 May 1944
During WWII USS Apache was assigned to Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:
Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
Campaign and Dates
Campaign and Dates
Treasury-Bougainville operation Treasury Island landing, 27 October 1943
Occupation and defense of Cape Torokina, 1, 6, and 8 November 1943
Marianas operation Capture and occupation of Saipan, 17 to 19 July 1944
Capture and occupation of Guam, 21 July to 2 August 1944
Consolidation of Solomon Islands Consolidation of northern Solomon Islands, December 1943 to March 1944
Leyte operation Leyte landings, 13 October to 29 November 1944
Bismarck Archipelago operation Emirau Island, 17 March 1944
Luzon operation Lingayen Gulf landings, 4 to 18 January 1945
Decommissioned, 3 December 1946
Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Columbia River Group
Recommissioned, 20 July 1951
During the Korean War USS Apache participated in the following campaigns:
Korean War Campaigns
Campaign and Dates
Campaign and Dates
Second Korean Winter 19 December 1951 to 4 January 1952
19 January to 18 February 1952
20 March to 13 April 1952
26 to28 April 1952
Korean Defense Summer-Fall 1952 9 to 12 May 1952
16 to 28 June 1952
During the Vietnam War USS Apache participated in the following campaign:
Vietnam War Campaign
Campaign and Dates
Vietnamese Counteroffensive 4 January to 6 February 1966
3 to 5 March 1966
Decommissioned, 24 February 1974
Struck from the Naval Register, 30 March 1974
USS Apache earned six battle stars and the Navy Unit Commendation for service in Salvage, Fire Fighting, and Rescue Unit, Service Force, 7th Fleet - Philippine Islands area, 6 January to 15 February 1945, two battle stars for Korean service and one campaign star, the Navy Unit Commendation, and the Meritorious Unit Commendation for Vietnam War service
Sold under the Security Assistance Program to the Republic of China, 1 June 1974, renamed Ta Wan
Final Disposition, fate unknown
Specifications: Displacement 1,235 t.(lt) 1,675 t.(fl) Length 205' Beam 38' 6" Draft 15' 4" Speed 16.5 kts (trial) Complement Officers 5 Enlisted 80 Largest Boom Capacity 20 t. Armament one single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mount two single 40mm AA gun mounts two single 20mm AA gun mounts Fuel Capacity Diesel 2,265 Bbls Propulsion four General Motors 12-278 Diesel-electric main engines single Fairbanks Morse Main Reduction Gears Ship's Service Generators two 100Kw 120V D.C. one 60Kw 120V D.C. three General Motors 3-268A auxiliary services engines single propeller, 3,000shp
