John Finley Sommer, Jr.
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John Finley Sommer, Jr., 74 of Round HIll, Virginia, was called home to the Lord on March 11, 2022. Born August 19, 1947 in Columbus, Ohio to John F Sommer Sr. and Grace June Sommer (Rumfield), John made his parents, family and nation proud serving God and Country in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. A Combat Medic in B Company 3d Battalion, 12 Infantry, 4th Infantry Division, John's courage and gallantry were recognized with the Bronze Star Medal for Heroics with "V" Device. John could be defined by his servant heart and humble nature, however the gratitude and devotion from his brothers in arms spoke volumes about the bravery he displayed and the care he provided under a barrage of enemy fire on January 19, 1968 in Dak To, Vietnam.
Always a buckeye at heart, John moved to the D.C. Metropolitan area in 1974 when he began working for The American Legion, first in the claims department, then the Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Division, and eventually as the Executive Director of the Washington office of The American Legion. He retired in 2009 as the Senior Executive Director of the Washington office of The American Legion. A self-described workaholic, John worked tirelessly in service to his fellow veterans, serving in various volunteer roles including Chairman of the Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee on the Readjustment of Veterans. He traveled extensively to Vietnam, including on a Presidential Delegation, to advocate for the discovery and return of United States Prisoners of War. A pioneer in the diagnosis and treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in veterans, John contributed to numerous publications and studies, including Handbook of Post-Traumatic Therapy and Simple and Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Strategies for Comprehensive Treatment in Clinical Practice. In retirement, John continued his assistance to wounded, injured, and ill veterans on the Advisory Board of the Aleethia Foundation. Ever passionate and steadfast to his career, John's most notable and foremost contributions were to his family. A loving husband, proud father, caring brother, and doting grandfather, John's key role in retirement was providing care during the day to his grandchildren until they reached school-age, when he could be found volunteering in classrooms, walking in Veteran's Day parades, and coordinating pick-ups and drop-offs along with his loving wife, Nancy.
John loved his Harley Davidson, Washington Nationals baseball, grilling on his Big Green Egg, fishing, spending time in his native Ohio and Mason County, West Virginia, and above all, his family. Once profiled in the Washington Times, John shared that he hoped to leave this world a little better than he found it, and serve as an inspiration to his children. May he rest peacefully knowing he far exceeded his own expectations.
He is survived by his wife and best friend, Nancy, his children Johnny and Kaitlin (Michelle), grandchildren Colton, Peyton, and Mackenzie, siblings Dick Sommer (Libby), Joyce Rush (Mark), and Janet Sommer, and a number of loving nieces, nephews and cousins. John is preceded in death by his parents and his brother Karl Joseph.
Arrangements by Hall Funeral Home in Purcellville, Va. Visiting hours Tuesday, March 15, 6-8PM, and funeral service March 16, 1:00pm at the funeral home, with burial to follow at Ketoctin Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Aleethia Foundation, 4401A Connecticut Avenue, NW #264, Washington, DC 20008.