World War II Honoree

Weldon C. Hamilton

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Salina, Kansas

Honored By

Audrey Hamilton

Relationship

Wife

SURVIVOR OF BATAAN DEATH MARCH. POW FOR 41 MONTHS. BASIC TRAINING AT JEFFERSON BARRACKS, MISSOURI. FROM BASIC ASSIGNED TO THE 34TH PURSUIT SQUADRON HAMILTON FIELD, CALIFORNIA. TRANSFERRED ALONG WITH HIS UNIT TO THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AS A COOK AND PROVISIONAL INFANTRY. WHILE FIGHTING IN THE WAR AND RETREATING INTO BATAAN HE WAS CAPTURED, BECAME A PRISONER OF WAR AND MADE THE INFAMOUS DEATH MARCH. INTERNED AT CAMP O’DONNELL, LATER TRANSFERRED AND DETAINED AT CAMP CABAUATAN, ANOTHER POW CAMP. IN JULY 1944 WAS SHIPPED TO JAPAN ON A 'HELL SHIP'. UNTIL HIS LIBERATION, WORKED AS A FORCED LABORER IN A COAL MINE, LOCATED UNDER THE SEA. AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL, POW MEDAL, PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH 2 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, ARMY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN THEATER RIBBON, ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER RIBBON, AMERICAN DEFENSE RIBBON WITH THREE BRONZE STARS, PHILIPPINE DEFENSE RIBBON WITH ONE BRONZE STAR, PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE RIBBON AND THE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT AWARD MEDAL.