World War II Honoree

Charlie Winston Hampton

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Naples, Texas

Honored By

American Legion Post 92, Douglas M. Alford, USN

HE WAS WORKING ON THE FAMILY FARM WHEN THE JAPANESE ATTACKED PEARL HARBOR. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY ON FEBRUARY 9, 1942 AND TOOK BASIC TRAINING AT FORT SILL, OKLAHOMA. HE RECEIVED ORDERS TO CAMP HOOD, TEXAS WHERE HE TRAINED IN TANK DESTROYERS BEFORE BEING TRANSFERRED TO CAMP PITTSBURG, CALIFORNIA FOR MORE TECHNICAL TRAINING. HE RECEIVED ADDITIONAL COMBAT TRAINING AT FORT STONEMAN, CALIFORNIA. ATTACHED TO THE 43RD INFANTRY DIVISION AND TRAVELED ACROSS THE PACIFIC OCEAN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LANDINGS AT LINGAYEN GULF ON THE ISLAND OF LUZON IN THE NORTHERN PHILIPPINES. ON JANUARY 9, 1945 HE DISEMBARKED ONBOARD A HIGGINS LANDING CRAFT AND HIT THE BEACHES AMID FALLING MORTAR SHELLS. HE WAS INJURED AND SPENT FIVE DAYS IN AN ARMY HOSPITAL. HE FOUGHT IN THREE MORE LANDINGS AND WAS IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AT THE TIME OF THE SURRENDER OF JAPAN. AT THE END OF THE WAR HE WAS PLACED ON A TROOP SHIP BACK TO THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE AT SAN FRANCISCO. THERE HE WAS PLACED ON A TROOP TRAIN BACK TO SAN ANTONIO WHERE HE WAS RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY. DURING HIS TOUR HE RECEIVED THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE STARS, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, PURPLE HEART WITH 1 OAK LEAF CLUSTER AND PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE STAR. HE WAS PROUD OF HIS PARTICIPATION IN THE WAR EFFORT IN SUPPORT OF HIS COUNTRY.