Major Pierpont Morgan Hamilton 1898 – 1982

Pierpont M. Hamilton was born in Tuxedo Park, New York on August 3, 1898 to William Pierson Hamilton (great-grandson of Alexander Hamilton) and Juliet Pierpont Morgan (daughter of John Pierpont Morgan). He attended Harvard University where he attained a bachelor's degree and master's degree. In August 1917, as the United States joined World War I, he entered military service, receiving flight training first at the Aviation Ordnance School atCornell University and then at flying schools at Hazelhurst Field, New York and Ellington Field, Texas. On May 8, 1918 he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Officer's Reserve Corps and served as an instructor pilot at Ellington Field for the remainder of the war.
Hamilton married Marie Louise Blair, daughter of C. Ledyard Blair, on September 11, 1919. The wedding was held near Bernardsville, New Jersey, with a lavish reception at Blairsden Mansion. They had three children before divorcing: Philip, David and Ian. He married Rebecca Stickney on January 3, 1930. The second marriage also ended in divorce, with no children. His third and final marriage was on August 21, 1946 to Norah Soutter. Hamilton adopted her son Harold from a previous marriage.
In World War II, Hamilton returned to active duty, joining the Army from New York City. By November 8, 1942 had risen to the rank of major. On that day, he participated in Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of French North Africa. He volunteered to act as an interpreter on a mission to meet with the French commander near Port Lyautey, French Morocco, and broker a cease fire. After landing on the beach under hostile fire, Hamilton and Colonel Demas T. Craw approached the French headquarters in a light truck. They came under machine gun fire, leaving Craw dead and Hamilton captured. Although imprisoned, Hamilton succeeded in persuading the French to surrender. For these actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor two months later, on January 23, 1943. Craw was also awarded the medal later in 1943 for his part in the mission.
Hamilton reached the rank of major general before leaving the military. He died at age 83 and was buried in Santa Barbara Cemetery, Santa Barbara, California.

Medal of Honor Citation

Rank and organization: Major, U.S. Army Air Corps. Place and date: Near Port Lyautey, French Morocco, 8 November 1942. Entered service at: New York, N.Y. Born: 3 August 1898, Tuxedo Park, N.Y. G.O. No.: 4, 23 January 1943. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty. On 8 November 1942, near Port Lyautey, French Morocco, Lt. Col. Hamilton volunteered to accompany Col. Demas Craw on a dangerous mission to the French commander, designed to bring about a cessation of hostilities. Driven away from the mouth of the Sebou River by heavy shelling from all sides, the landing boat was finally beached at Mehdia Plage despite continuous machinegun fire from 3 low-flying hostile planes. Driven in a light truck toward French headquarters, this courageous mission encountered intermittent firing, and as it neared Port Lyautey a heavy burst of machinegun fire was delivered upon the truck from pointblank range, killing Col. Craw instantly. Although captured immediately, after this incident, Lt. Col. Hamilton completed the mission.