World War I Series - Dallas D. Hamilton

 

DALLAS D. HAMILTON

John Franklin Hamilton, Sr. and wife, Aerobyne (Keezer) Hamilton welcomed their eighth child, Dallas Delore Hamilton on 17 August 1890 in Defiance, Ohio. Dallas was the fourth son to be born to the large Hamilton clan of nine children. The family lived in the 4th Ward of the city of Defiance from the 1870s until both parents died in the 1920s.

Dallas took a job in 1913 with the B&O Railroad and moved to Garrett, Indiana. By June, 1917, he and older brother, Edward, were living in Flint, Michigan. Dallas was an acetylene welder with the Buick Motor Company.

Dallas registered for the draft as required. He was called to serve and placed in Company F of the 338th, assigned to the 169th Infantry Brigade of the 85th Infantry Division, also known as the "Custer Division, named after the cavalry commander, George Armstrong Custer.

The regiment was formed 5 August 1917 at Camp Custer, Michigan. In this regiment, there were 3,755 officers and enlisted men. On 22 July 1918, Corporal Dallas D. Hamilton left New York City on the "Carmania," heading for France. The Doughboys of the regiment deployed to France as part of the American Expeditionary Forces and were billeted in the cities of Nevers and Cosne. The regiment didn't participate in any named campaigns during the war. Its infantrymen were used as individual replacements to the fighting divisions.

In a letter home to his sister, dated 12 November 1918 (one day after the Armistice was signed in Europe), Dallas expressed his relief at being spared. He wrote of his hopes to be home by Spring, 1919, and longed for news of the family. Ten days after Dallas penned this letter, he was was listed as missing in action. His letter arrived in Defiance and was published in the Crescent-News on 2 December 1918.

"Dallas Hamilton of East Defiance, who is in the service in France, and who was reported 'missing' has written the following letter to his sister. The letter is dated November 12th which is since the day he was among the missing.

'France, November 12th, 1918

Dear Sister and All,

Things have made quite a change in this country lately. From war to peace certainly cheered people up. I'll bet they celebrated in the States  Would like to have been there to help.

It came in time to make a very pleasant Thanksgiving for some and of course the loss for others will make it very much different. I consider myself lucky to getting thru alive and if God permits will be home by spring.

Did you notice the peace came on the eleventh hour, the eleventh day, eleventh month? I think that by the time I write again, I will be able to tell a little more and tell you almost where I am located.  Mail service should be better now since the boats can make the trip across in six days instead of twelve or thirteen. There is one thing that I am anxious to know and that is to hear about you people for it seems as tho my mail fails me. Am transferred around so much, it makes it impossible to get it, but from now on, I think I will be pretty much settled.

Hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner.

Love to All,

Your Brother'"

In the 11 January 1919 issue, the Sandusky Register listed Dallas as being wounded, previously reported MIA. Then on 17 January 1919, Dallas was listed as dying from his wounds. Actually, Dallas had succumbed to his wounds on 8 December 1918 near Bourgoyne, France.

Communication was sometimes slow to get back to the U.S.

The Hamilton family had suffered another tragic loss. John and Aerobyne had already lost four children before they received news of Dallas' death in 1918. To make matters even more difficult, they had to wait over two years to finally lay their son to rest in Defiance.  His remains arrived at Hoboken, NJ aboard the "Wheaton" on 15 December 1920. His body was interred at Riverside Cemetery in Defiance on 13 January 1921.

In Memoriam

 Dallas Delore Hamilton

 

Guest Blogger - Rhonda Casler