CALVIN THOMAS HAMILTON
CMSGT USAF RET
CMSGT Calvin T. Hamilton died on October 20, 2012, at his home, with his children at his side. He was born June 21, 1927 in Westfield, Wisconsin and had been a resident of Colorado Springs since 1964.
Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 at the Shrine of Remembrance Funeral Home. Services with Full Military Honors will be at 2:00 p.m. on October 25, 2012 at the Shrine of Remembrance “America the Beautiful” Chapel, 1730 East Fountain Boulevard in Colorado Springs. A reception will follow at The Retired Enlisted Association at 834 Emory Circle in Colorado Springs.
CMSGT Hamilton graduated from Westfield High School in May 1945 and was drafted into the USA, where he served as Combat Infantryman; Heavy Equipment Crewman and Cook with Company A, 101st Infantry Battalion, Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Little Rock, Arkansas. Given a chance to choose a branch of service, he reenlisted in the Army Air Corp in January 1946 and served continuously as a Classification Technician, First Sergeant and Personnel Sergeant Major.
During his many years in the service of his country, he was stationed at Selfridge AFB, MI, the Air Transport Command, Paris, France and Wiesbaden, Germany; Wright Patterson AFB, OH; Langley AFB, VA; Tinker AFB, OK; US Military Training Mission, Saudi Arabia; 93rd Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Kirtland AFB, NM; 687th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, West Mesa Air Force Station, NM; 29th Air Division, Richards-Gebaur AFB, MO; Air Defense Command Headquarters, CO; 20th Tactical Fighter Wing, RAF Wethersfield, England; 14th Aerospace Command Headquarters at the old Ent AFB, CO; plus other bases throughout the US, Europe and the Mid-East on TDY.
He retired May 1, 1973. His decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal; Air Force Commendation Medal; World War II Victory Medal; American Campaign Medal; Medal for Humane Action with the Berlin Airlift Device; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award; Air Force Longevity Service Award with four . Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters; Good Conduct Medal with five loops; National Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Star; USAF NCO Academy Graduate Ribbon; plus many other certificates of merit and achievement.
He was recognized as an outstanding Scoutmaster of Troop 339, Richards-Gebaur AFB, MO in appreciation for a job well done, where he found the time to help the youth of the community. He was an honorary warrior in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say, Kansas City Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, with the tribal name of Lone Black Bear.
After retiring he attended El Paso Community College graduating with an Associate in Science in Business Management in 1975. In 1980 he graduated from the University of Colorado with a Bachelors of Science in Business in 1980 and began Cal’s Painting and Repair until his second retirement in 2008.
CMSGT Hamilton was married on September 3, 1948 to Hilda Geis of Wiesbaden, Germany. They had been married for 55 years at her passing in 2004.
He is survived by his daughter: Helen Hedemark; and son: Calvin, Jr. of Colorado Springs; as well as brothers: Willard of Westfield, Wisconsin; Keith of Blair, Wisconsin; sisters: Sarah Leonhardt of Madison, Wisconsin; Donna Baumann of Westfield; Wisconsin; Shirley Boden of Santa Rosa, California; as well as eight grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, or to the Boy Scouts of America or to the Girl Scouts of America.