His award citation reads: Symmonds was born in Holland, Michigan in 1866 and appointed to the United States Military Academy from Wisconsin in 1886.

Promoted to lieutenant colonel and reassigned to the 6th Cavalry Regiment, he served as commander of the Big Bend District at Marfa, Texas from February to October 1917.

[7] Symmonds received a temporary promotion to colonel in August 1917 and was deployed to France in February 1918, where he served as commander of the General Intermediate Storage Depot at Gièvres until July 1919.

He was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal in March 1919 and made an officer of the Legion of Honour by Marshal Philippe Pétain in April 1919.

[7] After the war, Symmonds held various staff positions and also served as commander of the 7th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Bliss, Texas from April to December 1920.

[11] In May 1931, he was briefly recalled to active duty at the Jeffersonville Depot in Indiana where they were manufacturing tables according to his design.