Hospitalman Francis Colton Hammond U.S.N.

courtesy of Docs' Military and Patriotic Graphics

Francis Colton Hammond was born November 9, 1931, in Alexandria, Virginia, the son of Harry C. Hammond and Elvira Jenkins Hammond. He attended George Washington High School in Alexandria for grades nine and ten before moving to Washington D.C. to live with his father. He remained in Washington for only one year, attending St. Johns High School, a Catholic Military Academy. Francis returned to Alexandria to live with his mother and his aunt, attending George Washington High for his final year, graduating with the class of January 1951.

While still in High School, Francis worked for a construction company, which was owned by his future father-in-law. He also played guitar in a band, which would play at local affairs and parties in the Alexandria area. After graduating he worked with his father at Timbermans Pharmacy in Alexandria, which was owned by his uncle. With the Korean War still raging, Francis knew that eventually he would be drafted. He wanted to be a pharmacist, but with the thought of the draft looming into view he knew it would be much longer before that could be possible. After discussing his future with his family, Francis decided to join the service.

Francis joined the Navy on March 20, 1951, going through basic training at Great Lakes NTC, Illinois. From there he was assigned to Mare Island, working in the base hospital. Not long after, Francis was given orders to Camp Pendleton, California, to train as a Hospital Corpsman. Knowing that he was to be shipped out to Korea, Francis requested, and was granted, permission to marry his High School sweetheart, Phyllis Ann Jenkins. They married on June 19, 1952.

Married for less than a year and a child on the way, Francis received his orders to Korea. He arrived in Korea on February 1, 1953 and was met there by Hospitalman Paul Polley, whom he had trained with back at Pendleton. They were both assigned to the same unit, 3rd Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division (C/1/5).

Though Francis was very likable, in the beginning of his tour he was not very appreciated within his unit. This was not due to his personality, but for the fact he tended to be noisy when out on patrol. "If there was a twig or a rock to stumble on, Francis could find it," says Sgt. William Janzen, his platoon Sergeant. Noise was not something anyone wanted while on patrol. On more than one occasion this issue was brought before Sgt. Janzen by others in the platoon. But soon Francis proved himself to his unit. One night while a squad, including Hammond, was on patrol, and making their way through tanglefoot* wire, a marine in the lead stepped on a mine, seriously injuring him and two other marines. Francis raced through the wire and into the minefield with no care as to his own safety. He tended to Pvt. Grada (who lay near death from loss of a hand, a foot, and one eye), then the other two wounded marines. His actions that night saved the life of Grada, and earned Francis the respect of his fellow squad members.

*Tanglefoot wire - Wire that is laid loosely on the ground and on trails, which as the name implies tangles ones feet if they walk or run through it. It is unaffected by mortar rounds, as it simply flies into the air and settles back into position on the ground.

The Battle for the Nevada Triangle

March 26, 1953 - Charlie Company was assigned to the Reno Block area, which sat just behind Command Outpost Reno. Reno was part of what was known as the Nevada Triangle, which also included Outposts Vegas and Carson. This "Triangle" was located near Sanae-Dong, just north of Panmunjon. At approximately 1900 hours, intense enemy mortar and small arms fire was being directed at Outpost Reno. At the same time, enemy attacks were taking place against Vegas and Carson. The call came in from Reno stating that the few remaining men there were trapped in their cave, and air was running low. C/1/5 was ordered to retake Reno from the invading Chinese. C/1/5 moved forward through the trenches towards Reno, which was 1400 yards from the Reno Block. It seemed more like miles. As they moved ahead, small arms and mortar rounds began to impact on their position. Keeping low, they made their way to Reno, and into the Chinese onslaught. This was not going to be what one would call a fair fight, pitting two hundred fifty marines and two corpsman, against two thousand Chinese and North Koreans. "If were going to die, let's take as many of them with us as possible," said Sgt. Janzen. Francis Hammond, wounded in the hand, made his way across the battlefield, tending to any wounded marines he came across. Polley, wounded himself in the left shoulder, worked deftly in the night, until blinded by a nearby mortar round. Upon seeing Polley's injuries, Francis directed him to leave the area and return to the Battle Aid Station, located at the Main Line of Resistance (MLR), for treatment. Polley crawled along the ground, asking marines he came across to guide him in the right direction, and even treating any wounded he came across. This without being able to see**. Francis continued making his way around the battlefield, although he had been wounded again. "He was one of the bravest men I saw out there that night," reported Janzen.

Fox Company (F/2/5) arrived near 2300 hours to relieve Charlie Company. But it wasn't until 0230, the morning of the 27^th, that C/1/5 was finally ordered to withdraw. Sgt. Janzen conveyed the order to his men, but Francis refused to leave. He chose to remain with F/2/5, to assist their corpsman with the treatment and evacuation of F/2/5 and C/1/5 wounded.

Francis was killed by a mortar round at approximately 0300hrs while tending to a wounded marine from the relieving force of F/2/5. This was just two weeks before Francis was to be rotated out of the combat area, and just 4 months prior to the end of the Korean War, July 27, 1953. His son, Francis Colton Hammond, Jr., was born seven months after that night on Outpost Reno.

Hospitalman Francis Colton Hammond was laid to rest with full military honors in Section 33 of Arlington National Cemetery.

**Polley's blindness was temporary, caused by blood and sand blown into his eyes. He received the Navy Cross for his actions that night, and went on to serve as a medic in Vietnam. He retired as a Senior Chief Hospitalman.

Photo courtesy of Lela Curtis

On December 30, 1953, the Medal of Honor was presented to his wife and infant son at the Pentagon by the Secretary of the Navy, Robert B. Anderson. Also in attendance was Hammond's parents, grandparents, and about forty other relatives and friends.	August 1999: Francis Hammond Jr. stands beside a portrait of his father at his home in VA. The portrait was presented to him when the U.S.S Hammond was decommissioned. (click here for more pictures)
Hospitalman Hammond's Medal of Honor, Purple Heart, and Korean Service Medal, along with two other medals awarded to him.