World War II Honoree

Pierpont M. Hamilton

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Tuxedo Park, New York

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

HE WAS AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR. MAJOR, U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS. PLACE AND DATE: NEAR PORT LYAUTEY, FRENCH MOROCCO,NOVEMBER 8, 1942. ENTERED SERVICE AT: NEW YORK, NEW YORK. BORN: AUGUST 3, 1898, TUXEDO PARK, NEW YORK. GO # 4, JANUARY 23, 1943. CITATION: FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY AND INTREPIDITY IN ACTION ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY. ON NOVEMBER 8, 1942, NEAR PORT LYAUTEY, FRENCH MOROCCO, LIEUTENANT COLONEL HAMILTON VOLUNTEERED TO ACCOMPANY COLONEL DEMAS CRAW ON A DANGEROUS MISSION TO THE FRENCH COMMANDER, DESIGNED TO BRING ABOUT A CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES. DRIVEN AWAY FROM THE MOUTH OF THE SEBOU RIVER BY HEAVY SHELLING FROM ALL SIDES, THE LANDING BOAT WAS FINALLY BEACHED AT MEHDIA PLAGE DESPITE CONTINUOUS MACHINE GUN FIRE FROM 3 LOW-FLYING HOSTILE PLANES. DRIVEN IN A LIGHT TRUCK TOWARD FRENCH HEADQUARTERS, THIS COURAGEOUS MISSION ENCOUNTERED INTERMITTENT FIRING, AND AS IT NEARED PORT LYAUTEY A HEAVY BURST OF MACHINE GUN FIRE WAS DELIVERED UPON THE TRUCK FROM POINTBLANK RANGE, KILLING COLONEL CRAW INSTANTLY. ALTHOUGH CAPTURED IMMEDIATELY, AFTER THIS INCIDENT, LIEUTENANT COLONEL HAMILTON COMPLETED THE MISSION.'