Thomas Hamilton

Lady Lakes, FL; Glenburn, ME

With deep sadness I am posting the passing of my beloved brother, Chief Petty Officer Thomas Edwin ("Red") Hamilton, age 72, in Ocala, Florida of a stroke and heart conditions.

Tom was born in Bangor, ME on March 23, 1952, the son of Philip J. Hamilton and Mary Ellen (Weston) Hamilton. Tom began his journey on a large farm on the Ripley Road in Dexter, ME. The family moved to Glenburn in 1955, residing at 695 Hudson Road for many years. Tom enjoyed the "the farm" as we called it, where he made lifelong friends with Tom Sproul and Philip McQuire. We shared fond memories of haying the fields with horse-drawn wagons, planting gardens, hunting, fishing on the trestle on Kenduskeag Stream with the MacDonald girls, trips to Moosehead on Lily Bay at Uncle Eddie's camp, and driving the old 1932 Model A truck in Dad's woodlot on the Lower Cross Road. Tom and I built dams to flood Mr. Grant's pond in the spring for rafting in the summer and ice skating with friends in winter. We would use our American Flyer sleds to slide across the field and snow-shoe to the woodlot. We had Dad's old Plymouth wagon to race around the field which Tom loved to drive when he was 8-9 years old.

In 1959, the family moved to 379 Buck Street, in Bangor so our mother could take care of Nana Weston. He attended Vine Street School, Fifth Street Junior High, and graduated from Bangor High School in 1970. Dad and Mom kept the farm which Tom and I enjoyed for may years. Tom enjoyed school, especially ROTC in high school, trips to Pushaw for swimming at the old dance hall landing, trips to Uncle Eddie and Aunt Leolia's camp at Beech Hill, as well as Uncle Ed and Aunt Frieda's camp. Tom loved to ski at Hermon Mountain and Squaw Mountain, family outings on the coast, camping those days on Blueberry Hill on Schoodic Head. The summer after graduation, he contacted J.R. Adams, our cousin Pat's husband, at Great Northern Paper and was hired on for the last log drive by Great Northern; he also worked at the Millinocket mill for a short time.

Tom's work ethic and dedication were remarkable, particularly during his 22 years in the US Coast Guard Aviation. After retirement, he improved his skills in carpentry which he had learned from Dad. With a break from the service, Tom worked as an electrician with Bangor Housing Authority and remodeled his grandparents' home on 376 Buck Street. We had and enjoyed 34 aunts and uncles on both sides of our family.

Reflecting back on the old conversation starter, "Bro, remember when...," I have to add a few more lines on how much fun we had flying kites out at the farm. Then, Dad wondered where his mason line disappeared to! The bales of hay Dad got us to have a target for bows and arrows. The time Ma took us to St. Stephens in Canada to get fireworks and the customs agent asked, "Do you have anything to declare?" You said, "We didn't get any fire crackers!" The custom agent probably rolled his eyes but thankfully said, "Proceed!" Each of us blamed the other for the bright idea of throwing a few lady fingers out the car window while Ma was driving us to town. This unfortunately set off a roman candle inside the station wagon! "What are you kids doing now?" We got the candle out the window. Ma almost always said, "What makes you kids act like this?" Then, after moving to Buck Street, you, me and our old friend George Gillis would pile into the old Buick and Ma would take us to Pushaw to swim at the Old Landing.

Once I came home from school to find you and your friend David Korinsky beating on something in the barn with a ball peen hammer and I asked, "What have you got guys?" You answered, "A broken keg we found in the old powder house on Webster Avenue that's half-full of something black stuck together." I yelled, "STOP! You're beating on black gun powder!" I recognized it from firing cannons with our cousin, Sonny Colburn. So, we filled a quart bottle with powder; dug a hole behind the barn; made a trail all the way to the front of the house; turned the TV up loud; threw a match into the powder and got in front of the TV. The next day George Gillis's mother, from next door asked, "Did you hear that loud explosion yesterday?" We answered, "No, we were watching the Three Stooges."

As time passed and you retired from the Coast Guard, you followed up with a second education at Erwin Technical Center graduating with a 4.0 Honor Roll Achievement award. You developed a deep interest and study in Theology that led to your involvement with several rabbis of the Jewish faith. After you finished remodeling your home in Olsmar, you studied extensively with pastors in the Jehovah Witness organization and you became a servant of Jehovah. The discussions you had with our now late friend, Peter Hambrecht, who was also a follower of JW.org for over 50 years meant a great deal to him and you.

The following is a list of your many accomplishments. I'm very proud of you.

National Vocational Technical Honor Society Member

National Defense Medal

Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal (22 years)

Sharpshooter Medal

Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon

Coast Guard Commendation Medal (Heroism)Awarded by President Ronald Reagan

Sikorsky Aircraft Co. Winged-S Rescue Award (21X)

Port of New York and New Jersey Severe Seas Rescue Award

Lt. Robert A. Perchard, "Outstanding Air Crewman of the Year Award" (2)

Naval League of the United States "Outstanding Enlisted Man of the Year Award"

Honorable Discharge from the United States Coast Guard

U.S. Coast Guard Experience from 1971-1993

Entered as a seaman recruit and retired as a Chief Petty Officer

One and half year tour-U.S. Coast Guard Presidential Honor Guard and Drill Team Member

Flight Engineer

Avionic's; Navigator

Chief Aviation Electrician's Mate

Primary Quality Assurance Control Inspector

Test Flight Engineer for Airworthiness and Quality Assurance Acceptance (Test Flight all phases)

Shop Supervisor

Watch Captain/OOD for Duty Section (75 men)

Site Supervisor for Drug Interdiction Program (sites classified)

Flight Engineer Instructor/ Avionics Instructor for HH-3F Aircraft

Flight Standards Board Member and Instructor HH-3F Aircraft

Ward LaFrance aircraft fire fighting truck operator and engineer

Top Secret Security Clearance

Class (A) CDL Florida Driver's License Tractor Trailer 33 years SAFE DRIVER - no driving infractions

Extra-Curricular Activities

Call representative, VICA (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America)

Masonic Blue Lodge Member (Alaska) #159

Attended Countryside Christian Church

Active missional work and Bible study with JW.org

Fishing

Professional Performance Recommendations for Advancement to Chief Petty Officer

From W.W. Spitler, LCDR, USCG Engineering Officer (March 28, 1988)

Petty Officer Hamilton has continually displayed outstanding performance of duty while assigned at CGAS Cape Cod. His performance during the past year has been especially noteworthy. His technical expertise as an Aviation Electrician Mate is superb. He is our leading authority on the highly complex HH-3F electrical systems. He is indeed a rare individual who made several significant contributions to Coast Guard wide programs. He developed and prepared an outstanding Time Compliance Technical Order (TCTO) to relocate wiring on the HH3F fuel quantity indicating system to reduce the effect of water intrusion and corrosion. The change was adopted and issued by Commandant (G-EAE) and it has proven to greatly increase the fleetwide reliability of this system. His efforts on this and other R&D projects has been a significant contribution toward establishing this unit as leader in the development of HH-3F systems.

Petty Officer Hamilton has also consistently displayed superior performance as an HH-3F crewmember. He was recognized for his dedication to duty during the rescue of 15 of the 37 survivors during the "Russian Rescue" and received the "Severe Storm at Sea Rescue Award." He possesses superior abilities in dealing with others that are complimented well by his comprehensive experience on HH-3F systems and aircrew duties. Because of his special talents, he has been a superb instructor for both shop and aircrew training. His efforts as a member of the Flight Standards and Flight Examining Boards have been a significant contribution to this unit's outstanding performance during the most recent ATC Mobile HH-3F Stan Visits.

Petty Officer Hamilton's positive attitude and intense enthusiasm serve as a model to all personnel at this unit. He has been a leader in our community, devoting a significant amount of off-duty time to assist with special programs. He was recognized by the Enlisted Wives Club for devoting many off-duty hours in support of the club's programs. His performance as the Engineering Departments Combined Federal Campaign Manager was remarkable. He made himself continually available to give all engineering personnel the opportunity to participate in worthwhile program. His perseverance paid off by making the engineering department first to have 100% participation, a remarkable effort from the unit's largest department. He is very active in support of alcohol abuse prevention programs. He served as a volunteer on the "Drive a Drunk Program" and also serves as a designated driver during special events. His sharp military appearance and courteous demeanor are indicative of his intense pride in the Coast Guard.

AE1 Hamilton's marks folder, which is available from Engineering Administration, is full of letters documenting his continuous outstanding performance, which further supports my recommendation. I would be pleased to have Petty Officer Hamilton represent the Coast Guard in any capacity.

Leadership Factor: Looking out for others (May 31, 1988)

AE1 Hamilton continues to provide leadership through a people-oriented approach. Numerous times he has been observed going out of his way to take care of his subordinates and assist them with their needs. His people see this and respond with extremely high performance. He was assigned as the aviation engineering department's representative for a recent CG Mutual Assistance Drive. He quickly drew the support to derive 100% participation from within our department. This is only one example of his involvement in a myriad of community affairs that benefit others. He is deserving of the highest mark in this category.

In closing, I will note that Tom spent several years at Annette Island and Kodiak Island in Alaska patrolling the Bering Sea coast and making rescues with helicopters. He also served in San Diego, Cape Cod, Clearwater and a station in the Caribbean. He had trips to Sikorsky Helicopter Corporation in Connecticut where he met Igor Sikorsky, son of the helicopter company's founder. He flew into Bangor once on what was called "the whisper pig" Lear Jet to provide fleet repair to some helicopters.

I went to see Tom in the Ocala hospital last summer for a few days. He told me, "Jim if I don't make it, I'll see you on the other side." I responded, "I'll do my best, Bro." His good friend pastor Mark Bigelow said to me, "Jim, your brother is a good man. I'll refer you to the gospel of John 5: 28-29." Mike Ruhlin, who served with Tom in the US Coast Guard stated, "Tom served in the Coast Guard half his life, rescuing people. In his final years, he served Jehovah rescuing souls with the same tenacity and dedication." I miss you Bro, Love Jim

If you care to make a donation, in Tom's memory, please give to the Bangor Humane Society.

An interment will be held for Tom on September 5th, 10AM at the Pine Grove Cemetery, Bangor.

Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.