Kenneth Warren Hamilton, 95, passed away Tuesday, April 27, 2010 in White Oaks Rehabilitation Center in Mt. Vernon.
Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 29 at St. Mary';s Catholic Church in Sesser with Father Mike Arockiam officiating. Interment will follow at Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser with military rites. There will be no visitation. Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser is handling the arrangements.
He was born in Jefferson County on April 16, 1915, the son of Walter W. Hamilton and Lela (McConnaughey) Campbell Hamilton. He married Annabelle Tucker on Sept. 27, 1941, and she preceded him in death on April 1, 2006.
Mr. Hamilton is survived by his daughter Sylvia and her husband Richard Czerwinski, one granddaughter Lisa and her husband Allen Wisniewski, and one great-granddaughter Caitie Wisniewski, all of Scheller. He is survived by one brother Walter Ray Hamilton and his wife Margie of North Carolina, and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his wife of 64 years, his parents, two brothers, one sister and one nephew Pfc. James Hamilton, who was killed during the Vietnam Conflict, preceded him in death.
Mr. Hamilton was a member of the VFW post of Mt. Vernon and St. Mary';s Catholic Church in Sesser.
Mr. Hamilton moved from his family';s farm in Scheller as a young man to work as a machinist in Chicago Heights.
In 1942 he was drafted and inducted into the United States Army. He was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action, which resulted in the rescue of four comrades who were pinned down by enemy fire near Hellmitzheim, Germany. At the risk of his own life, Sgt. Hamilton returned with his half-track through hostile machine gun and automatic rifle fire to the area where the men were pinned down.
His actions reflected the highest tradition of the Army of the United States. The Silver Star was the second medal won by Mr. Hamilton for heroism in the battle. Early in the European campaign, he was awarded a Bronze Star. Additionally the French government cited him for extraordinary service in the liberation of the country as a member of a secret military unit. After the action near Hellmitzheim, which was known as the Battle of the Little Bulge, his unit took part in the liberation of a German prison camp.
Near the war';s end, his division was attached to General Patton';s 3rd Army Spearhead Division. After serving bravely with the 12th armored division, he returned home to Chicago Heights in October 1945.
In 1955 he bought a farm in Bald Hill Township. He was a grain and cattle farmer until 1975 and 1985, respectively. In 1972 he became manager of the Waltonville Grain Company, which he co-owned with eight other farmers, and where he lost his left arm in a grain auger accident in October 1972.
The Hamilton';s have been long-time residents of Bald Hill and Blissville townships in Jefferson County. Orange Hamilton, his great-great-grandfather, was awarded bounty land in Blissville Township for military service in the Ohio cavalry militia during the War of 1812.
Orange Hamilton cut the timbers for the beams under the present Methodist Church in Waltonville from his land.
Two of Mr. Hamilton';s ancestors Joseph Hartley II and John McConnaughey fought during the Revolutionary War.
Two ancestors were Civil War veterans.
His great-grandfather Josiah Hamilton and Joseph Marion Hartley served in Company K, 32nd Illinois volunteer infantry. His uncle Waymen Campbell served during World War 1, while his brother Walter Ray Hamilton served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict.
Mr. Hamilton enjoyed reading, woodworking and history. Above all he loved his Catholic faith, his family and his country.
