Charles Robert Hamm

Colonel Charles R. Hamm, US Army Retired, age 89, died on February 9, 2011. He was married 66 years to his high school sweetheart, Hazel, who preceded him in death in September, 2009. He is survived by his daughter Kristy Ross, his two sons, Charles R. Hamm II and Gary Hamm; two grandchildren, Jessica Jager and Jonathan Ross; and two great-grandchildren. He was an active outdoorsman and a strong supporter of the Boy Scout programs. Charles was raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and entered active military service in 1943 following graduation from the University of Iowa. In his 36 years of active military duty, he served as an enlisted man, warrant officer, and all commissioned grades up to and including Colonel. As an infantry officer, he served in Normandy with the 83rd Infantry Division, where he was seriously wounded. Later he served in the 1st and 25th Infantry Divisions. He was commissioned in the Army Medical Service Corp in 1953. His assignments included the Infantry School at Ft. Benning; the Medical Field Service School at Ft. Sam Houston; the Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth; the Office of the Surgeon General, Washington D.C.; Hq 8th Army, Korea; and Hq. U.S. Army Pacific, Hawaii. Among his awards were the Combat Infantry Badge, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and the Legion of Merit with cluster. He was a member of the Masonic Fraternity since 1949. In retirement, he always took a very strong and supportive interest in the lives of his extended family and thoroughly enjoyed his hobbies of bridge playing with friends, fishing, and rose gardening. Services will be held at the Army Retirement Center Chapel, 7400 Crestway Drive at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 12, 2011.