World War II Honoree

Charles W. Hamilton

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Monroe City, Missouri

Honored By

Lawrence L. Schuermann

Relationship

Friend

JOINED THE ARMY IN JUNE 1942. AFTER BASIC TRAINING AT CAMP PICKETT, VIRGINIA, ATTENDED ARTILLERY TRAINING AT CAMP BLANDING, FLORIDA. PARTICIPATED IN THE TENNESSEE MANEUVERS AT CAMP FORREST, TENNESSEE. ASSIGNED TO THE 79TH INFANTRY DIVISION, HEADQUARTERS BATTERY, 312TH FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION (155MM HOWITZER). ATTENDED PATTON'S DESERT TRAINING CENTER. LEFT FOR ENGLAND APRIL 7, 1944. LANDED ON NORMANDY, UTAH BEACH ON JUNE 14, 1944. FOUGHT THROUGH THE HEDGEROWS OF NORTHERN FRANCE. CROSSED INTO BELGIUM ON FEBRUARY 17, 1945 AND GERMANY ON MARCH 3, 1945. AFTER WAR, REMAINED FOR OCCUPATIONAL DUTIES WITH THE 99TH INFANTRY DIVISION. AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 4 STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, ARMY OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH GERMANY BAR, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH 2 PALMS, 3 OVERSEAS BARS AND MARKSMAN BADGE IN RIFLE AND PISTOL. HONORABLE DISCHARGE IN OCTOBER 1945 WITH THE GRADE OF 1ST SERGEANT.