25 Facts About Barksdale Hamlett

Barksdale Hamlett later served as President of Norwich University in Vermont.

Barksdale Hamlett then served a three-year tour at Fort Sam Houston as regimental motors officer and later regimental adjutant for the 15th Field Artillery, and finished his tour as an aide to Brigadier General Lesley J McNair.

In 1939, Barksdale Hamlett reported to the 1st Balloon Squadron, Army Air Corps, Post Field, where he was rated as a free balloon pilot, captive balloon pilot, and motorized balloon pilot.

Barksdale Hamlett abandoned the Air Corps upon receiving his desired assignment as a gunnery instructor at the field artillery school at Fort Sill.

Barksdale Hamlett was promoted to captain in 1940 by new legislation that automatically advanced every regular officer with at least 10 years of service.

In July 1943, Barksdale Hamlett was transferred back to Washington, DC at the request of now-Lieutenant General McNair.

Barksdale Hamlett remained at Army Ground Forces as assistant G-3 until September 1944.

When his mentor McNair was killed on an inspection tour in France, Hamlett immediately secured assignment as division artillery commander for the John L Pierce's 16th Armored Division, in which role he was promoted to colonel.

The division withdrew to Sudeten mountains, where Barksdale Hamlett became the military governor of a district containing 187 towns and villages.

Barksdale Hamlett was group commander for one month before Japan capitulated and he was transferred to the 15th Army Group to help write the after battle reports of World War II.

Barksdale Hamlett was a student at the National War College from 1948 to 1949.

In December 1949, Barksdale Hamlett was ordered to the headquarters of General of the Army Douglas MacArthur as executive officer of the logistics section, GHQ, Japan.

Barksdale Hamlett was promoted to brigadier general in 1952 and assigned to the General Staff in Washington, DC as assistant for planning coordination in the office of the deputy chief of staff for plans.

Barksdale Hamlett returned to Europe in 1955 as corps artillery commander for VII Corps.

Barksdale Hamlett's tour coincided with the 1958 Berlin crisis, which began when Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev issued an ultimatum demanding that the occupation of Berlin be terminated within six months.

Five days later, the army announced that Barksdale Hamlett had been reassigned to Washington, DC, stressing that the move was a long-scheduled rotation since the crisis had already extended his tour six months beyond the normal two years.

Barksdale Hamlett's transfer was interpreted as an indication that the Pentagon believed the immediate danger to West Berlin had passed.

In January 1960, Barksdale Hamlett assumed duties as assistant deputy chief of staff for military operations.

Barksdale Hamlett was receptive to dissenting views about the progress of the war, most notably arranging for Lieutenant Colonel John Paul Vann to brief the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

In March 1964, Barksdale Hamlett suffered a massive heart attack and was expected to die.

In 1965 Barksdale Hamlett became president of Norwich University, the oldest military college in the United States.

Barksdale Hamlett stepped down in 1972 after completing the merger.

Barksdale Hamlett was president of the Retired Officers Association from 1974 to 1975.

Barksdale Hamlett died of cardiac arrest at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in 1979 and was buried at West Point.

Barksdale Hamlett married the former Frances Valencia Underwood on 15 December 1931, and they had one daughter.