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Lieutenant Colonel<em> Frederick J. Hampton</em> distinguished himself by gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force as Aircraft Commander near Khe Sanh, Republic of Vietnam, on 6 March 1968. The citation to accompany the Award of the Silver Star goes on to say that “...on that date, Colonel Hampton led his flight in support of friendly ground forces engaged in defense of their beleaguered outpost. Despite the continuous threat from intense hostile fire, Colonel Hampton’s leadership, exemplary foresight, and ceaseless efforts resulted in significant contributions to the effectiveness and success of the commitments of the United States in Southeast Asia.”</p>
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Fred was killed along with his crew, one civilian photographer, and forty-four Marines when the C-123 transport plane, of which he was Aircraft Commander, was hit at 4,000 feet by hostile fire and crashed in dense jungle.</p>
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He was born on 16 July 1927, at Gainesville, Florida, the son of the late Frederick J. Hampton and the late Alice McNair Taylor. As a boy, he led an active outdoor life with great interest in hunting, fishing, and athletics. He attended the University of Florida for two years and joined the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. About this time he set his sights on being in the United States Air Force.</p>
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Fred started his profession on 1 July 1947, when he entered West Point. His size predestined him for assignment to 2d Battalion of the 2d Regiment. This was an outfit which, in Fred’s day, held itself to be a sort of Special Elect among the Corps of Cadets: it was quartered in the Lost Fifties, snugged in next to the gym at the base of the hill on which the chapel stands, isolated from the rest of the Corps, and far removed from such focal points of corps activities as the mess hall, the Wheel House, the academic buildings, and cadet headquarters. Life in the Lost Fifties called for clansmanship, and in this atmosphere of special kinships the quality of this man began to unfold.</p>
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Fred knew from the beginning that the Air Force was his goal, and he gauged his academic and military efforts to that end. He made it easily. He made a great many other things, incidentally, along the way. He was one of our top-notchers in gym on the high bar until a bad fall broke an arm. He was the anomalous Floridian who performed so well in the ski club. He served as a chapel usher in his first class year, and also in that year was appointed a Cadet Lieutenant of H-2 Company—an appointment merited by the combined judgment of his tactical officers and his peers.</p>
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But there was more. There is mention in the 1951 Howitzer of the Harmonicazoo Five, of the Universal Ukes, and of other activities by which cadets of “the Lostest of the Lost Fifties” bound themselves to one another. Fred was a generator of these doings. His interest in these forms of fellowship characterizes him as an essentially generous man. The testimony to his generosity was a series of furloughs on which his companions accompanied him to his home in Gainesville, Florida. That comradeship is not forgotten.</p>
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After graduation, Fred attended pilot and combat crew training at Spence, Vance, Randolph, and Forbes Air Force Bases. In 1953, he was assigned to the 307 BW at Kadena AFB, Okinawa, where he was awarded the Air Medal while flying B-29’s in Korea. In late 1953, he joined the 305 BW at MacDill AFB where he met Katherine Anne Hawkins. They were married 1 May 1954, and moved shortly thereafter to Barksdale AFB and Hamilton AFB where Fred was Aide to Major General Robert B. Landry. After a short tour at Aerial Observer School in 1955-56 at Connally AFB, Fred and Anne returned to MacDill AFB in Florida, where Fred served for two years as a B-47 pilot with SAC’s 305 BW.</p>
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In April 1958, he received the choice assignment of his career. At the Air Force Academy he distinguished himself by meritorious achievements as Air Officer commanding, 3d Squadron, The Air Force Cadet Wing. He was quite proud, and justly so, when his 3d Squadron was designated “Honor Squadron” of the Class of 1959, the first graduating class of the Air Force Academy. Fred’s assignment at the Air Force Academy was his favorite and the highlight of his career—he appreciated working with “the finest young men in the world.”</p>
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In 1961-62, Fred attended Command and Staff School at Maxwell AFB and in 1962-63, the Attache School at Fort Belvoir. From January 1964 through June 1967, he was Assistant Air Attache, Venezuela. A fitting tribute was paid by the members of the Aeroclub of Caracas when they dedicated a page of their magazine to him. The memorial read in part: “The painful notice of his death was unpleasant news for the pilots of the Aeroclub of Caracas who had learned to love the congenial North American friend of Venezuela. We in Venezuela, far from that war are only able to mourn the death of our friend.”</p>
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His decorations were numerous. They included the Air Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one BOLC, Distinguished Unit Citation, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Korean Service Medal with two BSS, National Defense Service Medal with one BSS, United Nations Service Medal, and the Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with three oak leaf clusters. In 1961, he received the Air Force Commendation Medal for distinguished service at the Air Force Academy. He was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal for his exceptionally meritorious service while assigned to the Defense Attache Office, Caracas, Venezuela. For service in Vietnam he received the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon and the Vietnam Service Medal. On 1 May 1968, by direction of the President, Fred received the Purple Heart and three other awards, posthumously, for distinguished service in Vietnam—the Silver Star for gallantry in action on 6 March 1968, the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on 22 January 1968, and the Bronze Star Medal for outstanding achievement during February 1968.</p>
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His last commanding officer stated it well when he wrote: “It is difficult to accept Fred’s absence as anything but temporary. His strength of character, skill as a pilot, and engaging personality all insure that he will be long and warmly remembered by all of us fortunate enough to have known him.”</p>
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Fred is survived by his wife Anne and four children, Tracy Anne 13, Ellen McNair 11, Frederick Jordan Jr. 8, and James Duncan 4, who live in Tampa, Florida.</p>
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