World War II Honoree

Donald Pharis 'Don' Hamilton

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Beggs, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE WITH THE OKLAHOMA NATIONAL GUARD. SERVED WITH THE 179TH INFANTRY, 45TH DIVISION, UNTIL HIS UNIT WAS INDUCTED INTO FEDERAL SERVICE AT OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA ON SEPTEMBER 16, 1940. SERVED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER WITH THE 179TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 45TH DIVISION AT FORT SILL AT LAWTON, OKLAHOMA, AND WITH THE 179TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 45TH INFANTRY DIVISION AT CAMP BARKELEY AT ABILENE, TEXAS, FORT DEVENS AT AYER, MASSACHUSETTS, PINE CAMP AT WATERTOWN, NEW YORK, AND CAMP PICKETT AT BLACKSTONE, VIRGINIA. STAGED WITH HIS UNIT AT CAMP PATRICK HENRY AT ORIANA, VIRGINIA ON MAY 25, 1943, AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. SAILED FROM THE HAMPTON ROADS PORT OF EMBARKATION ON JUNE 8, 1943, LANDED IN NORTH AFRICA ON JUNE 22, 1943, AND WENT INTO TRAINING AT ARZEW, ALGERIA. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER, IN THE NORTH AFRICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (NATOUSA), WITH COMPANY E, 2ND BATTALION, 179TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 45TH INFANTRY 'THUNDERBIRD' DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE SICILY, AND NAPLES-FOGGIA CAMPAIGNS. HIS REGIMENT ASSAULTED SCOGLITTI, SICILY ON JULY 9, 1943, AND FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE OF MOTTA HILL. WOUNDED IN ACTION DURING OPERATIONS IN SICILY, WHEN HIS RIFLE WAS SHOT FROM HIS HANDS. HIS REGIMENT ASSAULTED SALERNO, ITALY ON SEPTEMBER 9, 1943, AND ENGAGED IN HEAVY FIGHTING AT PONTE SELE AND THE TOBACCO FACTORY. WOUNDED IN ACTION A SECOND TIME DURING OPERATIONS IN ITALY, WHEN HIS PLATOON WAS ENGAGED BY ENEMY TANK FIRE. ONE OF THE ROUNDS LANDED CLOSE TO HIM AND HE WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS. HIS FIRST RECOLLECTION AFTER THIS ENGAGEMENT WAS BEING AWAKENED ON A BRITISH HOSPITAL SHIP IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA. HE SUFFERED A PERMANENT HEARING LOSS INJURY TO HIS RIGHT EAR DURING THIS COMBAT EPISODE. SUBSEQUENTLY SERVED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER IN WASHINGTON, D.C. UNTIL THE WAR ENDED. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART WITH BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BRONZE ARROWHEAD (AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT LANDING), AND BRONZE SERVICE STARS, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON SEPTEMBER 28, 1945, AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.