The Price of Freedom: Lewis R. Hamm

Can someone explain this to me? Why is it? Is it in the soil around this part of Texas? Maybe it is something in the local beef or milk? 

Why is it that we have a more guys and gals from this small part of North Texas, who have gone on and become heroes?

I can only say some “outstanding examples” of how the conflicts of war bring out the best of some people. I will have some more guys to tell you about later. 

Why is it that Olney has a great number of folks who had made history? 

This first guy was from Olney. The first guy was a Silver Star awardee and also had four Purple Hearts from being wounded in combat four different times. 

Anyone ever hear of Uncle Dobbs? Most everyone from Olney that knew him called him Dobbs. Kids and cousins, everyone, all called him Dobbs. His name was Lewis R. Hamm of Company “H” 350th Infantry Regiment. 

Any one know why they used the title “infantry” at the onset of the first world war? 

The youngest troops were put together in squads of “infants” to try and teach, train them at starting at the lowest levels. Kind of like the group trying to protect the kids from all of the things of wars. The name evolved over time into the infantry. 

Anyway, Back to Uncle Dobbs, Sergeant Lewis Hamm was awarded the Silver Star and a Purple Heart for Gallantry in Action on Sept. 30, 1944, during a conflict with German solders on Mount Battaglia in Italy. 

On this day the enemy had launched a powerful attack to recapture this high ridge to, again regain this the highest vantage point. The Germans were using everything they had. Including flamethrowers, machine guns and machine pistols. 

Due to the high number of wounded among the American soldiers Sergeant Lewis took up a machine gun and personally maned the gun. 

While the enemy was in full attack mode, the sergeant carried his machine gun to another vantage point and confronted the enemy from a better field of fire. He opened up on the Germans and killed a great number of them. 

Having seen where this firepower was coming from the Germans set up and returned fire at the sergeant. This return fire pinned the sergeant down long enough for the Germans to get a flamethrower team up to Dobbs and were able to shoot spurts of flames at his position. 

Having been severely burnt on the face, didn’t slow Dobbs down. With true firepower and a great aim, Dobbs killed the flamethrower and his assistance. While doing this the sergeant also received a bullet wound to his hand. 

Being told to evacuate, Hamm refused and stayed on his post and then he killed three more Germans. Dobbs refused to be evacuated until the attack was over. 

His unit was awarded the Blue and Gold Badge. If anyone has more to add to this tale of valor, please contact me so that I can add to this. 

His Dad was Oscar Hamm and his Mom was Lula Belle Hamm of, I think, Olney and his brother and sister were in Lawton, Oklahoma. 

One of the poems found along with his uniform items read: “We did our stretch in hell. I am sitting here and thinking of the things I left behind. And I hate to put it in writing what is running through my mind. But there is one good consolation, so gather around me while I tell. We will all go to Heaven for we have did our stretch in Hell. We have built a million kitchens, for the cooks to burn our beans. We have stood a million guard mounts, we have cleaned out our latrines. We have waded through the marshes, of a million tons of mud. We have killed a million insects that tried to suck our blood. When final TAPS has sounded And we lay aside life’s cares; When we stand our last inspection on those shining Golden stairs, The Angels then will welcome us their magic harps will play; we’ll draw a million canteen checks, And spend them in a day. It is there we will hear St. Peter tell us loudly with a yell, Take a seat, deserving Soldiers for you have done your stretch in Hell.”
Cpl. Roy Walsh 

Please add all of these folks to your prayers