Ole Joe Clark
Absent Comrade
My wife and I do genealogy as a hobby. She is very good at it and helps people throughout the US with family history. I am the designated driver and my research mainly consists of going for coffee and related duties.
Today I was digging around in the Hampton File and came across a 2nd cousin that we didn't have much on him or his family. My Grandmother was a Hampton, and Captain Harris was a 2nd cousin, so that's my connection.
This is what I found:
Captain William Hampton Harris, 1942-1985
Obituary:
William Hampton Harris, Class of 1965, was found dead of natural causes on April 13, 1985 in his apartment in Joliet, Ill. He was born an "Army brat" in Freeport, Ill., on July 18, 1942 while his father was on active duty and he grew up in a military environment. As a youth, Bill spent many years in Europe with his family and was very interested in science and history. After returning to the United States he was involved in his high school ROTC program and was a company commander in his junior year. He was a member of the National Honor Society for two years and graduated with high honors in both academics and ROTC. Bill began his college career in 1960 at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana and was designated the outstanding freshman cadet of the ROTC infantry unit. In April 1961, he received appointments to both West Point and the Air Force Academy, choosing the latter and graduating in 1965. After graduation he entered pilot training and was assigned the F-4 Phantom. He served two tours in Southeast Asia, the first at Danang from 1967 to 1968. He flew 215 missions during this tour. He volunteered for a second tour to fly the missions for his classmates who were shot down and killed. This tour was at Udorn, Thailand in 1969. After flying 54 missions, he became critically ill. In 1970, Bill was placed on the Temporary Disability Retired List and was subsequently permanently retired with 100 percent disability. His military decorations included the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star, and the Air Medal with 17 clusters, among others.
Have a blessed day,
Leon
Today I was digging around in the Hampton File and came across a 2nd cousin that we didn't have much on him or his family. My Grandmother was a Hampton, and Captain Harris was a 2nd cousin, so that's my connection.
This is what I found:
Captain William Hampton Harris, 1942-1985
Obituary:
William Hampton Harris, Class of 1965, was found dead of natural causes on April 13, 1985 in his apartment in Joliet, Ill. He was born an "Army brat" in Freeport, Ill., on July 18, 1942 while his father was on active duty and he grew up in a military environment. As a youth, Bill spent many years in Europe with his family and was very interested in science and history. After returning to the United States he was involved in his high school ROTC program and was a company commander in his junior year. He was a member of the National Honor Society for two years and graduated with high honors in both academics and ROTC. Bill began his college career in 1960 at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana and was designated the outstanding freshman cadet of the ROTC infantry unit. In April 1961, he received appointments to both West Point and the Air Force Academy, choosing the latter and graduating in 1965. After graduation he entered pilot training and was assigned the F-4 Phantom. He served two tours in Southeast Asia, the first at Danang from 1967 to 1968. He flew 215 missions during this tour. He volunteered for a second tour to fly the missions for his classmates who were shot down and killed. This tour was at Udorn, Thailand in 1969. After flying 54 missions, he became critically ill. In 1970, Bill was placed on the Temporary Disability Retired List and was subsequently permanently retired with 100 percent disability. His military decorations included the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star, and the Air Medal with 17 clusters, among others.
Have a blessed day,
Leon
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