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Last Updated on Thursday, 02 May 2019 14:54

MIA/KIA World War II Veteran, Sgt. Vernon Lance Hamilton Buried with Full Military Honors in Monongahela

Alice Harris

Seventy-four years after his plane disappeared over Germany, the remains of Sgt. Vernon Lance Hamilton were returned to the City of Monongahela, the town he left at age 17 in October, 1943 to join the US Army Air Corps.

Sgt. Vernon Lance Hamilton

Frye Funeral Home, Inc. in Monongahela received his remains and handled his burial. Family and friends were received to celebrate his life on Saturday, April 13, 2019 from 10-11 AM at the First Presbyterian Church in Monongahela. The Revs. Mark and Sharon Woomer co-officiated his funeral and interment followed in the Monongahela Cemetery where full military honors by the US Army were bestowed.

Monongahela Police and the Patriot Guard and American Legion Riders led Hamilton's funeral procession on Main Street through the heart of Monongahela which was decorated with American flags and military banners. Residents and friends waved flags, shed tears, and saluted as Sgt. Hamilton passed by to his final resting place in Monongahela Cemetery where he was buried beside his mother.

Born on October 3, 1925 in New Eagle, Vernon Hamilton was the son of the late James Hamilton and Dorothy Shaw Hamilton Lazzari, and brother to the late James Hamilton. He is survived by his sister Donna Hassel of Anaheim, CA, five nieces and a nephew, and numerous other relatives. Vernon grew up on West Main Street in Monongahela and attended Monongahela Public Schools. He was also an usher at the Anton Theater.

On March 21, 1945, at the age of 19, the A-26B invader bomber aircraft that he was on board, took off from England. It was hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire during a combat mission from Couvron, France to Dulmen, Germany. Hamilton and two other crew members were on board. All three went down with the plane. The site of the crash was not discovered until late 2016, and his remains were identified on December 14, 2018 through DNA. Positive identification was formally completed by the Armed Forces Medical Examiner and the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.

Sgt. Hamilton was a member of the 642nd Bombardment Squadron, 409th Bombardment Group (Light). He was post-humusly awarded the US Army Air Medal, the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal, the American Campaign Medal, European, African, Middle-Eastern Campaign Medal with one Bronze Service Star, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Enlisted Air Crew Member Wings. His sister, Donna received his Gold Star Lapel Button.