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Paul Lewiston Fremont Hamaker was born September 15th, 1922, in Milford, New Jersey to parents Reuben and Lillian Hamaker. Paul grew up with a large family of 10 siblings living most of his life on the family farm in Milford, New Jersey. The family moved to San Diego California after the beginning of WWII. Paul worked at the family gas station Paul enlisted in the Army at Fort Macarthur San Pedro California on June 29th 1944 and shipped off to Basic Training with Company D, 153rd BN, 91st Regiment, Camp Hood Texas. Letters home from boot camp showed that Paul was in good spirits but was getting tired of all the marching. He remarked in a letter home to his father in October 1944 that his unit marched over 4 miles in 45 minutes “I made it ..believe it or not, but didn’t think I would”. Paul was able to take leave in November of 1944. and visit the Hamaker family in California, prior to deploying to France A Notice of Change of Address showed Paul was temporarily located with CO. E. 13th BN. 4th Regiment, located at Fort Meade Maryland. Paul was ultimately assigned to 1st Platoon, Company D, 112th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division, known as the “Keystone Division”. The Keystone Division patch was red in color and the Germans after the bloody fighting in the Huertgen Forest called the division "The Bloody Bucket". He was killed in action on February 1945 as the 28th ID was moving to liberate Alsace France. He gave his life in the service of his Country…and will always be remembered in the hearts and with pride to his family and to any American that loves freedom.
Photo of Paul Hamaker with Father Reuben S. Hamaker in 1944, prior to shipping out to Europe.
Paul on leave with family in Laguna Mountains.
Paul with siblings at the family Gas Station in Solana Beach CA. 1944
Private Paul Lewiston Fremont Hamaker -Purple Heart Posthumously. Thank you for the ultimate sacrifice, for your love of Family, Country and for Freedom. We will ALWAYS be proud of you!!
Paul Hamaker - Young/Elementary School
Paul Lewiston Fremont Hamaker - Grave Marker Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial Epinal, Departement des Vosges, Lorraine, France Plot A, Row 10, Grave 21