Donald Wheeler Hamilton Jr. 1917-1945

Entertain at Luncheon in Honor of Miss O'Hara

Chenango Telegraph, June 11, 1940

Mrs. George C. McMullen, Mrs. F. Leonard Burchard and Miss Margory McMullen of this city, and Mrs. Chester L. Jones, of Springfield, Mass., formerly Miss Ann Burchard of Norwich, entertained Saturday at a luncheon at the Brown avenue home of Mrs. McMullen in honor of Miss Marie O'Hara.  Miss O'Hara will leave early next week for California, where her marriage to Ensign Donald W. Hamilton will be solemnized.  Ensign Hamilton is attached to the USS Warrington of the destroyer division of the United States fleet, now in the Pacific.  Miss O'Hara will be accompanied on the trip west by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred H. O'Hara of 76 south Broad street.  It was originally planned to hold the wedding in Norwich, but fleet operations prevented Ensign Hamilton's coming East.

Hamilton - O'Hara

June 1940

Miss Marie O'Hara, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred H. O'Hara of 75 South Broad street [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], was married Saturday afternoon at 4 o'clock in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, to Ensign Donald W. Hamilton, U.S.N., son of Mrs. Donald W. Hamilton and the late Commander Hamilton, U.S.N. The bride was given in marriage by her father.  Following the ceremony, a reception was held at the Royal Hawaiian hotel in Honolulu.  Miss O'Hara was graduated from the Convent of the Sacred Heart, in Noroton, Conn., and from Finch college at New York city. Ensign Hamilton was graduated from New Mexico military institute and from the United States Naval Academy where he was an outstanding student and athlete.  He is now attached to the USS Warrington, of the destroyer division of the U.S. Pacific fleet. The couple will make their home at Pearl Harbor, Maui, Territory of Hawaii.

Chenango Telegraph, July 12, 1940

Returning to their home here from Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, where the marriage of their daughter, Miss Marie O'Hara, to Ensign Donald Wheeler Hamilton occurred June 22 [1940].  Mr. and Mrs. Fred H. O'Hara report a delightful trip. The following story of the nuptials, carried in the Honolulu paper will be of much interest to friends here.

Palms, tall tapers, regal lilies and gladioli were arranged in the sanctuary of Sacred Heart church, Punahou, yesterday at four in the afternoon for the marriage of Miss Marie O'Hara, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred H. O'Hara of Norwich, New York, and niece of Capt. Charles C Hartigan of Washington, D.C. to Ensign Donald Wheeler Hamilton, Jr., son of Mrs. Donald Wheeler Hamilton of Coronado and the late Lt. Cmdr. Hamilton.  The Rev. Father John Coulehan read the service and a Papal apostolic benediction was given after the ceremony. The pews were marked with giant gardenias and royal crown flower leis.  Mrs. Virginia Watson O' Connor presided at the console.  The beautiful bride, who was escorted to the altar by her father, was gowned in an Empire model of white satin.  The gored skirt flared into a sweeping train, the long sleeves were shirred and the neckline was heart-shaped and appliqued with heirloom Duchesse lace.  A coronet of the same family lace held the billowy veil of illusion.  She carried a white prayer book marked with butterfly orchids from which fell pikuke leis.  Mrs. John K. Fyfe, matron of honor, and only attendant, wore a white gown complemented by a taffeta bodice and swirling net skirt. A heart-shaped neck, puffed sleeves and white taffeta bonnet with forget-me-nots completed her costume. She carried a colonial bouquet of delicate cadena and forget-me-nots.  Mrs. O'Hara chose a blocked flower chiffon gown accented by a picture hat with camellias from pale blush to pink rose shades for her daughter's wedding.  She carried a flat purse with triumphant orchids. The mother of the bridegroom, Mrs. Hamilton, was gowned in flowered white chiffon with a white picture hat with pastel colored flowers.  She wore an orchid corsage.  Mrs. Hamilton is the sister of Mrs. Aubrey Wray Fitch, wife of Admiral Fitch, commanding officer of the patrol wing, number two of Ford Island.  For her going away costume, the bride selected a flowered French blue and white ensemble with a white bolero and picture hat of straw.  Best man was Ensign George Muso.  After the ceremony a reception was held in the Ianal suite of the Royal Hawaiian hotel arranged with white flowers, tube roses, gladioli, gardenias and Easter lilies. the reception room was decorated with red torch ginger, pikake, anthuriums and bird of paradise. The bride is a graduate of the Convent of Sacred Heart in Noroton, Connecticut, and attended Finch School in New York.  Ensign Hamilton is a graduate of the class of 1938 of the United States Naval Academy and is attached to the USS Warrington.

Chenango Telegraph, January 19, 1945

Another communication from  her husband, Lieut. Comdr. Donald W. Hamilton, Jr., prisoner war of the Japanese government, received Monday by Mrs. Hamilton, at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred H. O'Hara was described by her as "the most encouraging message I have received from him."

Lieut. Comdr. Hamilton is believed to be a prisoner in Camp No. 2 which may be located near Manila in the Philippines.  Dated March 19, 1944, the message to Mrs. Hamilton from her husband states "my health is excellent" with the last word underscored.  He also notes that he has received mail from her as well as the package which she sent to him on the Gripsholm a year ago last August.  Lieut. Comdr. Hamilton also told of receiving mail from others and he requested his wife to extend his thanks to them.  That the message from him is authentic is given additional proof by his remark that "I have drawn additional plans for a house."  Mrs. Hamilton was elated with the message and is watching the progress of the war in the Philippines with intensified interest.

Chenango Telegraph, August 31, 1945

Definite word was received Monday by Mrs. Donald W. Hamilton Jr., that her husband, Navy lieutenant Hamilton who has long been a prisoner of the Japs has been located and is well and safe.  Direct messages from Lieutenant Hamilton to his wife, the former Marie O'Hara are expected shortly and as soon as possible he will be taken from the Jap mainland prison camp and returned home.

Lieutenant Hamilton, wounded Dec. 10, 1941, three days after Pearl Harbor was taken prisoner by the Japanese in January, 1942.  Long months of prayerful and courageous waiting followed on the part of Mrs. Hamilton.  Last October Mrs. Hamilton received a prisoner-of-war card from her husband which had been written the previous March. Renewed hope followed receipt of this message.  More months of silence followed.

Allied forces were advancing and as Pacific strongholds of Japs fell to the forces of general MacArthur the supreme confidence of Mrs. Hamilton never wavered.  In February of this year she received a letter written by her husband which reached its destination by a circuitous route. It had been written last December from the Manila prison camp where Lieutenant Hamilton was then held.  He had penned the letter on the eve of their removal to the Japanese mainland.

The August 14 news announcing the acceptance of the unconditional surrender terms by the Japanese joyfully was learned by Mrs. Hamilton. At the time she said "If anyone ever walked on air, I am doing it now."  So, just 11 days later comes the most glorious news of all for her.  In spirit of the fact that it "is the most wonderful thing possible."  Mrs. Hamilton was at her duties in the bond department of The National Bank and Trust Company.  "I wonder if they can't fly him home?" she said.

Chenango Telegraph, September 14, 1945

Family members are awaiting a letter of details which is expected momentarily following a message received late Monday afternoon conveying news of the death of Navy Lieut.. Donald W. Hamilton Jr., whose wife is the former Marie O'Hara.  A shock to the entire city, the sad news follows by two weeks a message that indicated Lieutenant Hamilton, a Japanese prisoner since January, 1942 had been liberated from a mainland prison camp. That message is now believed to have followed announcement by the Japanese concerning the identity of officers held at that prison camp, but in which they revealed no other circumstances.

The message received Monday indicated that Lieutenant Hamilton died in February in the prison camp from pneumonia.  Mrs. Hamilton is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F.H. O'Hara.  Pending the receipt of detailed facts, family members said further information is not available.  the report which swept the entire city has saddened all.  Until last December Lieutenant Hamilton was held in a prison camp at Manila nd was then moved with other officers to a mainland camp.

Donald Wheeler Hamilton Jr.

1917-1945

Don died while in Japanese captivity at the Fukuoka #1 POW camp on February 13, 1945.  He was wounded during the air raid on Cavite Navy Yard, Philippines on December 10, 1942 when a bomb struck USS Peary (DD 226).  He was "removed to a hospital" and did not return to the ship before she departed Philippine waters.  Don was the Assistant Engineer, Stores Officer, Assistant Education Officer, and Boxing Officer.  His wife was listed as next of kin.  He has a memory marker in Missouri.  [Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery,  Lemay, St. Louis Co., MO, findagrave.com]

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/DONALD_W._HAMILTON,_JR.,_LTJG,_USN