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Joseph Hampton Atkinson 'Hamp' |
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Engagements: • World War II (1941 - 1945) |
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Biography: | ||||
Joseph Hampton Atkinson Joseph Hampton Atkinson was born on 5 February 1900 in Dublin, TX, the son of Lee Arthur and Della Linla Watson Atkinson. When he was six months old, his parents returned to his father's "old home town" in Jacksboro, TX. Later, the family spent several months at Dalhart but returned to Jacksboro, where Joseph finished high school then graduated from a business college in Dallas. Atkinson enlisted in the U.S. Army on 20 December 1922 and became a flying cadet in September 1923. [He found his lack of a full college education a handicap, so he dove into special training, in addition to his regular military duties, and made up the deficiency in three years.] He earned his wings and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps on 13 September 1924 after completing flying training at Brooks and Kelly Fields, TX. Atkinson was then assigned to the 16th Observation Squadron at Fort Riley, KS. He also served with the 12th Observation Squadron, commanded by Major H.H. Arnold. One of Atkinson's duties was to fly the Presidential Airmail from the summer White House in Superior, WI, to Chicago, IL, with the Squadron operating from what he recalls as a "typical cornfield operation." While in Italy, Atkinson was designated as Deputy Commanding General of the Fifteenth Air Force in February 1944. He remained in that assignment until July 1944 when he was designated as Commanding General of the III Bomber Command at MacDill Field, FL. In September 1956, Atkinson was appointed Commander, Air Defense Command, Ent AFB, CO, where he remained until his retirement on 28 February 1961. Medals, Awards and Badges Distinguished Service Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf ClusterSilver Star Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal with Silver and Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster American Defense Service Medal American Campaign Medal European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 4 Bronze Stars World War II Victory Medal National Defense Service Medal Air Force Longevity Service Award with Silver and 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters Command Pilot Badge He also received the Croix de guerre with Palm (France). Personal Atkinson married Marie Sealy, also a native Texan. She went into full time war work as soon as "Hamp" went overseas. She was a mail and record clerk in the Army Relief Office in Washington. Death and Burial Lieutenant General Joseph Hampton Atkinson died on 6 November 1984 in Sun City, AZ. He is buried at the U.S. Air Force Academy Cemetery in Colorado Springs, CO, in Section 3, Row B, Lot 74. |
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Honoree ID: 2082 | Created by: MHOH |