[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 93 (Friday, June 29, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1262]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 A TRIBUTE TO LT. AUGUSTUS HAMILTON, JR. AND THE MEMBERS OF THE FORCED 
                          LANDING ASSOCIATION

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 28, 2001

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, today is June 28th. We are only a few 
days away from the July 4th Independence Day celebrations. As fireworks 
light up the sky, houses are adorned with crisp flags, and children 
gaze in wonder at the passing parades, we must not forget the many 
brave men and women who courageously sacrificed their lives to preserve 
the freedoms and ideals we all enjoy as Americans.
  Throughout our short history, America's security as a nation has been 
tested and tried. It is truly a blessing that our youth have been 
spared the horrors of war. However, for all those who have known war 
and have died for the sake of this great country, let it be said that 
they did not die in vain. The gratitude felt by all Americans and our 
many allies throughout the world is immeasurable.
  Let us extend particular thanks to the veterans of World War II. 
During World War II, Adolf Hitler and his Nazi regime came alarmingly 
close to achieving world domination. It is difficult to envision what 
our world might have looked like had Hitler succeeded but, thanks to 
the heroism of World War II veterans, we will never have to find out.
  I'd now like to share a story about one very special World War II 
veteran, a man by the name of Augustus Hamilton, Jr., and a remarkable 
group of people in France who have dedicated themselves to ensuring 
that the memories of World War II veterans endure. This story was told 
to me by Mr. Hamilton's niece, Beth White from Chicago, Illinois, and I 
want to thank Ms. White for taking the time to contact me.
  Augustus Hamilton was born on January 4, 1922. At the age of twenty, 
he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps the day after Pearl Harbor and 
quickly advanced to First Lieutenant of the 358th Fighter Group, 365th 
Squadron. By all accounts, he had always been a family hero--an athlete 
(amateur golf champion for the state of North Carolina and football 
star who attended the University of North Carolina on a football 
scholarship), good student, caring brother, and loving son. He was also 
a new husband and when he went overseas, his wife was pregnant with 
their child.
  Lt. Hamilton served as a fighter pilot in World War II and was 
awarded an air medal with two oak leaf clusters. According to an 
excerpt from Thunderbolts over High Halden by Graham J. Hukins, ``Lt. 
Hamilton was last seen diving on a flight of four enemy planes with 
another four on
  At the time of his death, Lt. Hamilton had never met or seen a photo 
of his only son, for the baby was born when he was overseas. He had 
named his fighter plane after his wife and son, ``Mrs. Ham/'Lil Ham 
3rd.'' Following the crash, several of his family members persisted in 
denying his death. He had told his family that if he were ever 
seriously injured in combat, he would not come home because he didn't 
want to be a burden. Remembering these words, his family hoped that he 
had somehow survived the crash but had decided not to come home due to 
his injuries, or perhaps had developed amnesia and could not contact 
them.
  In 1993, almost half a century later, the gift of emotional closure 
was finally given to Lt. Hamilton's surviving family members by a 
French man named Jean Luc Grusson and his volunteer organization, 
Forced Landing Association. In an amazing demonstration of appreciation 
for the U.S. soldiers who fought in World War II, the members of Forced 
Landing Association devote themselves to finding each of the more than 
150 crash sites reported within a 30 kilometer radius of Tillieres sur 
Avre, an area of intense air battles because of the close proximity of 
three German airfields. The Association was established in 1986 and has 
11 members who live in France. To date, its members have discovered 30 
crash sites, including that of Lt. Hamilton.
  M. Grusson uncovered Lt. Hamilton's plane in 1993. He then spent a 
full year tracking down Lt. Hamilton's surviving family members to 
return Lt. Hamilton's dog tags, ``wings'' (a lapel pin), a belt buckle, 
and other items. When the Hamilton family asked M. Grusson why he and 
his associates devote so much time, energy, and personal expense 
unearthing these crash sites, he replied, ``The pilots who gave their 
lives need to be honored. We owe these men our freedom. They gave us 
our country. We must honor them.'' M. Grusson's associate, Jacques 
Larousse, also shared a personal account of the profound impact 
American soldiers had on him as a young child. He explained that his 
mother washed the uniforms of American soldiers during the war to make 
money. When the Americans would come to their home to retrieve their 
uniforms, they always brought food and chocolate bars to M. Larousse 
and his mother. Given the scarcity of the time, the kindness of the 
Americans and their generous gifts made a lasting impression on M. 
Larousse.
  M. Grusson and M. Larousse continue to revere these American soldiers 
as heroes to this very day. In fact, the members of Forced Landing 
Association are completing individual memorials at the crash sites of 
both Lt. Hamilton and Edward Blevins, Hamilton's squadron member. These 
sites will contain photographs and descriptive accounts of these men to 
commemorate their tremendous service. There will also be a ceremony on 
July 8th in remembrance of these fallen soldiers.
  I applaud the tireless work of M. Grusson and the Forced Landing 
Association to keep the memory of our veterans illuminated. I hope that 
on this July 4th holiday, we will not take for granted the countless 
freedoms we enjoy. Rather, I hope we always remember that such freedoms 
have been kept alive through the sacrifices of others.

                          ____________________