World War II Honoree

Dowd Hamaker

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Grand Junction, Colorado

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank Aviation Ordnanceman Third Class. He was inducted into the United States Navy September 4, 1943 at Denver, Colorado, with recruit training at the U.S. Naval Training Station San Diego, California. Upon his graduation from boot camp and Aviation Ordnance Schooling, he was transferred to the USS Hornet VII Aircraft Carrier, CV-8 for duty, responsible for maintenance on an aircraft’s ordnance systems, assigned to Torpedo Squadron 11. The Seagoing airbase and her shipmates participated in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands against the Imperial Japanese Naval Aviators October 26, 1942 in the South Pacific Theater of Operations. The Carrier sustained two aerial torpedo strikes, and one enemy bomber pilot crashed on the flight deck, after being hit by the Carriers Anti-aircraft fire Gun batteries. The Ship’s Captain gave the order to abandon ship, and she was later sunk by two Japanese destroyers. Reported missing in action, lost at sea on the day of the battle. In remembrance of the brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at the American Cemetery at Fort William-McKinley in Manila, Philippine Islands. This American Patriot, a Naval Aviator received the following decorations posthumously: Air Medal and the Purple Heart. The Air Medal was awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight and the Purple Heart was awarded for his ultimate sacrifice.