Curtis E. Hamlett - U.S. Army 1943-45

During World War II, Curtis E. Hamlett, Brookneal, proudiy served his country in one of the most famous infantry units in history, the 101st Regiment, 26th Division of the U.S. Army. Staff Sergeant Hamlett served from 1943-1945 and saw heavy action in the initial occupation of Germany. His first battle was at Alsace-Lorraine, Germany and a fierce and violent battle it was. Only 38 out of 162 men who were in the battle came out alive and only 2 out of 38 men in Hamlett's squadron came out alive. Hamlett said, "I always thought I would get killed or wounded during the war. I hoped the wound or death would not be the result of artillery fire, as those injuries were so violent."

In November of 1944, during an advancement in Germany, Hamlett and 43 other infantry soliders found themselves heavily out-numbered and surrounded. All 44 soliders were captured and spent the next six months in four different Prisoner of War camps. Hamlett felt blessed to return home in 1945.