New England Chapter Welcomes its Most Senior NEW MEMBER!
June 26, 2024
| In late May 2024, New Hampshire Army Recruiter, SSG Zach Buffington (a fellow Veteran of the 101st Airborne Division), reached out to our member LTC (RET) Greg d’Arbonne and said 1SG (Ret) Frank Wetherby approached him about a WW II Veteran who was 101 years and asked if it was possible to make him an Associate Member of the 101st Paratroopers, now the 101st Airborne Association. The Veteran, Mr. Richard Henry Hamilton, was going to be honored at a dinner on 26 June at 1630 (4:30 PM) at the Post 5 American Legion, 32 Linden St, Brattleboro, VT. Mr. Hamilton’s family would also be in attendance. |
Mr. Hamilton’s biography is attached. He was in the Army Air Corps from 1939 to 1945, serving in the 401st Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group, 8th Air Force as a radio operator/gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress. Their aircraft was attacked by a group of FW-190's and ME-109's over Germany. The aircraft was so severely damaged they had to bail out. Of a nine man crew, Mr. Hamilton and four others got out via parachute, which in actuality qualifies them for a combat jump.
He spent 10 months as a POW in German Stalag Luft IV, Gross Tychow, in Pomerania, Poland. After liberation by the Soviets (and a harrowing 77-day ordeal trekking back to American lines), Mr. Hamilton returned to the US and settled in the Brattleboro, VT area where he married and raised a family.
Up the chain the request went. First to New England Chapter President Bob Morrissey who wholeheartedly approved and initiated creation of a Lifetime Membership Card. He notified National Executive Director, Randal Underhill, who enthusiastically issued a Proclamation and Letter on June 18. Greg attended the event, accompanied by New England Chapter Sergeant-at-Arms Bill Blankenburg and member Don Miller, and made our presentations. See PHOTOS page.
We welcome Richard Henry Hamilton to our ranks!
Membership in the New England Chapter brings you closer socially to local
comrades-in-arms and provides an opportunity for your ongoing connection to the
101st.
E-Mail
us to request more information about joining our Association
or use our
Application for Membership form.
Our meetings are now held at Bailey's Bar & Grille, 18 Main Street, Townsend MA.
We are currently on our Summer Hiatus. Our next business meeting will be on October 5.
NOTE: The "Members Only" page was updated July 15, 2024 and the "Photos" page was updated August 18, 2024.
On October 18, 2014, a large group of the New England Chapter members—and guests—were present at the dedication ceremony for the signage for Highway 101 in Auburn NH.
Click here for a copy of the Bill, NH SB15.
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Fisher House Boston |
The Fisher House program is a unique private-public
partnership that supports America's military in their time of need.
Fisher House donates "comfort homes", built on the grounds of major
military and VA medical centers. These homes enable family members to be
close to a loved one during hospitalization for an unexpected illness,
disease, or injury. |
The New England Chapter of the 101st Airborne is proud to sponsor this
organization.
We ask you to join us in supporting their unique and
meaningful efforts.
OFFICIAL NEW ENGLAND CHAPTER Logo
Merchandise
Supply chain issues have hit us along with everybody else! We
have limited amounts of items and are not sure when we will be able to get more.
Also, we must stop paying shipping charges — and are very sorry about that. Email Bob Morrissey to ask what's still available.
TAPS: New England Eagles Who Have Soared—June 10, 2023
ARCHIVED STORIES
In Memoriam -- Richard Henry "Murph" Murphy, Jr. and CSM Robert M. Delia
