William “Bill” Hummel was honored Friday, December 30th during the monthly Humboldt Heroes celebration. The ceremony was held at Scott Hammond’s State Farm office on the corner of 7th and G Streets in downtown Eureka. Members of the public gathered at the office to honor this great local hero!
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William Hummel entered the US Navy in Des Moines, Iowa in September 1962, and traveled by train to Naval Training Center in San Diego, California to begin his maritime service. He was originally assigned to the USS Ernest G Small (DDR 838) and served aboard her for nine months. They escorted carriers in the Western Pacific.
After completing Electrician Mate “A” School in San Diego, he became an Electrician’s Mate and served aboard the USS Lenawee (APA 195) for a year, operating offshore from Camp Pendleton Marine Base, landing Marines on the beach. Later they transported 1200 Marines and their equipment to the Western Pacific and Vietnam.
His next assignment took him aboard the USS Eldorado (AGC 11), where he served from December 1964 to the end of his enlistment in September 1966. They were deployed for eight months in the Western Pacific and Vietnam, including operating off the coast of Vietnam conducting amphibious operations.
Bill Hummel completed his four years in the US Navy as a Second Class Electrician’s Mate. His military decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary medal, the Navy “E” Ribbon, and Vietnam Service medal with one Bronze Star.
After his Navy service he worked for Western Union Telegraph Company for ten years. For two years, he worked in Washington, DC; two blocks from the White House at T&R Tech. After being promoted to supervisor, he was assigned to work on government contracts for the Military overseas. He served two tours in Kwajalein Marshal islands, San Miguel, Republic of the Philippines and in Honolulu, Hawaii.
While in Hawaii his brother Hal called to see if he wanted to go into partnership owning a tire shop in Fortuna. In 1976 they bought a retail tire shop and named it Hummel Tire & Wheel. He married “a wonderful woman from Nebraska” in 1983, and they owned and operated the shop for 30 years until his retirement. The business is still owned and operated by family members to this day.
You’re invited each month on the last Friday of the month at noon! Come down to Scott Hammond’s State Farm office located at 537 7th Street in Eureka. If you have a Humboldt Hero you’d like to see honored, please contact Scott Hammond at 1-707-444-2504.
Lost Coast Populist is a Patriot owned News Publication. We truly appreciate what Scott Hammond and other great local business owners are doing to honor veterans in our community.
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