THE WALL OF FACES

Distinguished Flying Cross

Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Major John Smith Hamilton (AFSN: 0-2228034), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an A-1E Pilot in Southeast Asia on 6 and 7 January 1967. During this period, Major Hamilton, flying a mission in support of a friendly outpost being overwhelmed by a numerically superior hostile force, braved accurate and intense automatic weapons fire to make repeated low level attacks in close proximity to friendly forces. His flight of A-1E Skyraiders operated in mountainous terrain and hazardous weather conditions to destroy hostile weapons emplacements and troops within fifty meters of friendly positions, forcing them to break off their attack, and continued strikes along their live of retreat over a two day period. Numerous casualties are known to have been inflicted upon the hostile forces, despite repeated battle damage to strike aircraft. As a result of these devastating attacks, the hostile forces ceased to function as a unit. The key outpost, vital to the entire search and rescue alert posture in Southeast Asia, survived solely as a result of these A-1E attacks during the two day period. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Major Hamilton reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
Action Date: January 6 & 7, 1967

Service: Air Force

Rank: Major

Company: 602d Fighter Squadron (Commando)

Division: Udorn Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand

Dear Colonel John Smith Hamilton, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter

Photo

LAS CRUCES SUN NEWS

2 November 1997

MISSING IN ACTION IN VIETNAM FOR 30 YEARS, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE PILOT IS FINALLY LAID TO REST

By Kathy Sykes Howell


FORT BAYARD -

It was a cloudless blue sky Friday morning - the type of New Mexico sky that goes on forever.

Against that sky flew U.S. Air Force F-4F fighter jets in the missing man formation, with the lonely sound of tape piercing the silence in the Fort Bayard National Cemetery.

It was an occasion tinged with tears and triumph as a long overdue funeral service was conducted for a Vietnam War era pilot coming home for the very last time.

A casket draped with the American flag contained the remains of Colonel John Smith "Jack" Hamilton, who was listed as missing in action for 30 years.

Hamilton was shot down while flying a search and rescue operation near Hanoi on 19 April 1967.

Recently, the Vietnamese government turned over Hamilton's remains to the United States government and Hamilton's positive identification was made through DNA testing.

Friday's funeral marked the end of decades of uncertainty for Hamilton's family and friends.

Fort Bayard was chosen as Hamilton's final resting place because he was born there on 3 September 1926, and was also raised there.

Later, Hamilton moved to Silver City, where he attended high school and eventually graduated from what was then New Mexico Western College .

Wearing crisp blue and white dress uniforms, a military honor guard unit comprising young men and women from Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo gave Hamilton his final salute.

Family, friends, former classmates and local and state political officials attended the service.

"Jack's wife said that he was a fighter pilot first," said the officiating chaplain. "He loved to fly and was very proud to serve his country. That meant the world to him."

Honor guard pall bearers precisely folded the flag and then one held it to his chest with folded arms, kneeling while presenting it to Hamilton's widow, Jane.

Seated next to their mother were Hamilton's two children, Jill and John.

"It was like a big bang to see the hearse drive up," said Rheba Grauten, Hamilton's sister. "His was a very moving ceremony and we're especially appreciative of the efforts the Air Force gave to make this possible today."

Several local officials attended the funeral, including State Rep. Murray Ryan.

"My friendship with the Hamiltons dates back to the 1930's," he said. "It's been a long time since I've been so inspired. The full military honors were very appropriate today. What an emotional jolt after 30 years."

Also present at Hamilton's funeral were many Vietnam War veterans.

"It reminds us that there's still people unaccounted for and missing in action," said James Nemec, president of Vietnam Veterans of America in Luna County.

He and many other Vietnam veterans from the area traveled to the service to pay respect to a fallen hero.

"Miracles can still happen," Nemec said. "I honestly believe that others will be found like this on today. The ceremony was very touching and brought back heartbreaking memories."

The names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Moving Wall have either a diamond shape or a plus sign next to each name. A diamond indicates the person is confirmed dead, while a plus sign means the person remains missing or is a prisoner of war.

Of the 1,300 that are designated by a plus sign, there will be one less after Friday's funeral.

After a lifetime of unanswered questions, the plus sign next to Colonel John Smith "Jack" Hamilton may finally be replaced with a diamond.

LAS CRUCES SUN NEWS
New Mexico

TEL: 1-505-541-5400

26 October 1997

REMAINS OF PILOT KILLED IN VIETNAM RETURNED HOME

By Shawn Ankrom


FORT BAYARD -

One of Grant County's native sons, lost in the Vietnam War, will come home to a final resting place this week.

Colonel John Smith "Jack" Hamilton, U.S. Air Force, will be buried with full military honors in Fort Bayard National Cemetery at 11 a.m. Friday.

Hamilton, who was listed as missing in action (MIA) for almost 30 years, was shot down while flying a search and rescue operation near Hanoi on April 19, 1967.

When shot down, Hamilton was flying the lead "Skyraider", a propeller-powered aircraft, while attempting to recover two downed jet aircraft pilots.

His aircraft was hit by fire from enemy jet aircraft while flying at a low altitude.

Hamilton's remains were discovered and identified through DNA testing in recent months.

The military's classification of Hamilton as MIA and the description of the crash left family members at a loss.

"From the descent of the crash, there wasn't a lot of hope," said Sheba Grauten, Hamilton's sister who now lives in California. "We didn't really expect anything."

According to Grauten, DNA testing required a match between Hamilton and a living relative from the female side of the family. Grauten was the only hope for successful identification of the remains believed to be Hamilton.

"It was really nice to find these remains and have them identified," Grauten said of the positive identification.

According to Grauten, the loss had its most profound effect on Hamilton's widow, Jane, who never remarried and lives a private life away from the attention associated with the return of a fallen soldier.

Grauten and Hamilton were born at Fort Bayard, Hamilton on 3 September 1926.

They and their brother, Bob, were raised in quarters there until the family moved to nearby Silver City in 1941.

Hamilton attended school in Silver City.

He was active as a youth, playing high school football and basketball and teaching himself golf at the local course.

He also took flying lessons while still in high school.

"I tell you, he was very gung-ho," Grauten said of her younger brother. "If he decided to do something, he did it. He loved golf, but his first love, of course, was flying."

Grauten said for her and her family, living in the area was memorable.

"We were very happy in Silver City," said Grauten, who has not been back since her mother's funeral in the 1960's.

"It was just one big, happy family as far as I'm concerned. When I think of New Mexico, I think of the
wonderful smell. There's something that grows there that has a such a wonderful smell. I have fond memories, and Jackie did too, I'm sure."

Hamilton graduated from high school in 1944 and enlisted in the U.S. Army for four years as World War II wound to a close.

He returned to Grant County after his service and attended what was then New Mexico Western College.

He graduated with a degree in secondary education with thoughts of becoming a math teacher.

Instead, he joined the Air Force, earning his wings and second lieutenant bars in 1953 after attending pilot training and earning honors as a distinguished graduate. Hamilton flew jet fighters and interceptors in the U.S. and overseas.

While stationed in California, he married Jane Watson. They had two children, Jill and John.

The Air Force sent Hamilton to the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he graduated in 1965 with a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering.

Following an engineering assignment at Wright Patterson AFB,Ohio, and with the growing intensity of the conflict overseas, Hamilton volunteered for combat duty in Vietnam.

"He just had to fly again and he volunteered," Grauten said of her brother's decision.

Hamilton was assigned to the 602nd Fighter Squadron in Vietnam and volunteered for the hazardous search and rescue missions.

He led many Skyraider missions in heavily defended areas and was awarded the Air Force Cross, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart.

The latest reward for dedicated service, burial in a national cemetery, holds a special place in the hearts of Hamilton's family.

"I think it's quite an honor, " Grauten said. "I feel very proud that they're doing this."

Grauten is pleased Hamilton's burial will coincide with the arrival of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Moving Wall.

Hamilton is listed on the wall as missing in action, and his children will lay a wreath at the wall during opening ceremonies.

The Moving Wall will be on display Friday through November 4.

Opening ceremonies begin at 9 a.m. Saturday in Gough Park in Silver City, where the wall will be available for public view 24 hours a day.

Hamilton's burial service will be attended by family members, friends, veterans and current military service personnel.

A military color guard from Holloman AFB in Alamogordo will conduct the service, including the playing of "Taps", a 21-gun salute and presentation of the flag to the family.

Hamilton's widow, Jane, their children, Jill and John, John's wife Carlo,
Grauten and her husband Henry are scheduled to be present for the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested memorial donations be made to the
Military Order of the Purple Heart
Box 985
Hurley New Mexico 88043