HAMILTON F. SEARIGHT, LTCOL, USA
Hamilton Searight '14
Hamilton Folts Searight was admitted to the Naval Academy from Texas on July 12, 1910 at age 19 years 4 months.
As a 3/c midshipman, he was "deficient at annual examination, and at reexamination in September" and resigned.
Lucky Bag
Hamilton Folts Searight, "Pat", from Texas is listed on the page of those "Lost At Sea."
Photographs
The Austin American Statesman carried an article (below) and photo of Pat on April 10, 1942 — four days before his death. Photo and article located by Kathy Franz.
From the 1918 University of Wisconsin yearbook
From The Honolulu Advertiser on June 21, 1936
Loss
Hamilton was lost on April 14, 1942 while on the Bataan Death March.
He was the commanding officer of the 51st Field Artillery Regiment (Philippine Army). The Regiment had not been fully mobilized before the beginning of the war. Hamilton is mentioned several times in "United States Army in WWII - the Pacific" by Louis Morton.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Besides being in Kappa Sigma at the University of Texas, Hamilton was a member of the Kweehees in the 1914 yearbook. In the spring term 1915, he was president of the Sophomore Engineers. He continued as a Kappa Sigma at the University of Wisconsin, and in its 1918 yearbook, he was a member of Chi Gamma, the Professional Civil Engineering Fraternity.
On May 25, 1917, on his draft registration card, he was a civil engineer for the Pennsylvania Railroad. He was stationed in the Division Engineers Office in Akron, Ohio.
On Dec 7, 1917, Hamilton was attached to Battery B, 21st Field Artillery, and on March 19, 1918, he was named commander. On October 11, 1919, he was in Battery F, 9th Field Artillery. During WWI, he served with the fifth division in the battles of Vosges, St. Michel and Argonne Meuse.
Hamilton married Louise Crow at the Southern Presbyterian Church on October 20, 1920, in Austin. Their daughter was Louise (later, Mrs. Armand M. Morell.) During this time, he was stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. In September 1921, he was transferred to Texas A. and M. to be an assistant professor in the military department.
In June 1922 he attended a training camp at San Antonio. In April 1926, he was with the 1st division, Fort Hoyle, Maryland. In October 1930, he transferred to Lawton, Oklahoma.
In 1932 he was at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indiana. In April 1933, he helped organize its annual horse show. That year, he completed two tours with the C. C. C., one in California and one in Manchester, Ohio. He was with the 3rd field artillery.
In February 1935 he assumed the plans and training officer duties of the 11th Field Artillery in Honolulu. In April, Hamilton won the hunter’s jumping class on his horse “My Sheik” at the third gymkhana of the year at Schofield Barracks. He also took second in mixed pairs with Mrs. Haugen on her horse “Hawaii.” In 1936, he was the Grand Champion.
In 1937 he was with the 83rd Field Artillery at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. In March 1939 he transferred to the R.O.T.C. at Auburn, Alabama.
In January 1941 he was sent to Fort Bliss, and on October 1, he was ordered to Fort Stotsenberg, Philippines, to organize and command the 51st field artillery composed mostly of Philippine recruits.
In 1966, Hamilton’s daughter Louise was Mrs. Edward A. Dacher of Westport, Connecticut. Her daughter Louise Morell married that year.
At the Texas Military Institute, there was a Hamilton F. Searight Award given out annually in the late 1960s.
Hamilton’s father was a stock raiser.
He was married sometime before 1924. He was survived by her, his daughter, Louise, his mother, and two brothers.
News
From the Austin American Statesman on April 10, 1942:
"Few Will Do Most to Very End With Poor Chance:" Col Searight
Among those gallant American soldiers who held Bataan for weary months against overwhelming numbers and equipment is Col. Hamilton F. "Pat" Searight of Austin.
Col. Searight, who received his promotion to colonel in the field of battle Jan. 3 from Gen. Douglas MacArthur, is the son of Mrs. Will Ella Searight of Austin and the late William F. Searight. His wife, the former Miss Louise Crow of Austin, is now living in Durham, N.C., where their daughter, Louise Searight, is a senior at Duke University.
Col. Searight has been in the U.S. army service since the beginning of the First World war when he was cited for excellent service. His battalion in Bataan, 1 battalion, 31 field artillery of the Philippine army, was cited for extraordinary bravery in execution of orders under fire on Feb. 11.
In the past few weeks his family has received several letters from Col. Searight written during January and February and brought over by submarine. Descriptions of the weakness of their position, the handful of men and the great lack of trained men and equipment were expressed several times.
"No matter what happens," he wrote in a letter dated in February, "rest assured that the few Americans here will do their best to the end with a poor chance."
"There has been lots of shooting these last few days," he says in his latest letter. "I had the pleasure of locating and knocking out one Jap battery personally. Never fired a better problem when learning how while at Fort Sill."
"War is hell of a lot different from the ones in story books," he write. He had five white officers serving with him over a battalion composed of Filipino soldiers. "I don't know what I would have done without them," he remarks, "but they would not grade well in the parlor. They certainly do put out the work."
When the war began, Col Searight was stationed at Fort Statesenburg which got part of the bombing of Clark field. Against air bombing you are completely helpless, Col. Searight writes, and it reduces you to a shaking helpless rage.
His best exploit, he wrote back, had not as yet received recognition, but that he would tell his family about it later.
"I have gotten so that I can sleep under any conditions, on the ground with snipers around or on an auto seat. Food is our greatest worry and pre-occupation. Rice and canned salmon form the basis of our supply. With the constant attacks, we often do not have time to eat or sleep for several days at a time." In his last letter he wrote that he had cut six or seven inches off his belt but expected to pick it up in the first few weeks after they recaptured the island.
Col. Searight comes by his courage and his fighting heart rightly for he is of a "fighting family" who always hated tyranny and oppression. His mother's father, Gen. William P. Hardeman, was with Sam Houston's army at the battle of San Jacinto and was one of Dean Smith's scouts.
His great grandfather, Thomas J. Hardeman, served in the battle of New Orleans under Andrew Jackson, and a great great uncle, Bailey Hardeman, was one of the signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence. Another great great uncle, Thomas J. Polk, wrote the Mecklenburg declaration.
Col. Searight is a graduate of Austin High School and attended the University of Texas and the University of Wisconsin. He left the University of Wisconsin to enter the first World war, and while at the University of Texas was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity.
Career
From the 1942 Army Register:
Searight, Hamilton F. (O10112). B[orn]— Tex. 11 Mar. 91. A[ppointed]—Tex. S. S. Grad.: F. A. [Field Artillery] Sch., Btry. Officers' Course, 26, Advanced Horsemanship Course, 31.
Federal: Midshipman U.S. Navy 12 July 10 to 5 Oct. 11. 2 lt. F.A. Sec. O.R. C. 27 Nov. 17; accepted 27 Nov. 17; active duty 27 Nov. 17; 1 lt. of F.A. USA 13 Oct. 18; accepted 19 Oct. 18; capt. of F.A. USA 25 Feb. 19; accepted 28 Feb. 19; vacated 7 Sept. 20. — 1 lt. of F.A. 1 July 20; accepted 7 Sept. 20; capt. 15 May 29; maj. 1 Sept. 38; lt. col. 4 Jan. 41.
In November 1940 he was a major, stationed at the Senior ROTC, Alabama Polytechnic Institute, Auburn, Alabama.
Legion of Merit
Hamilton was posthumously awarded the Legion of Merit.
Silver Star
Unable to find a citation for the Silver Star he was awarded.
Memorials
At Duke University, the Colonel Hamilton Folts Searight Loan Fund was established in 1957 by gift from Mrs. Louise Searight Morell, '42; to be used for the aid of students pursuing a science curriculum.
Memorial Hall Error
Hamilton was a Lieutenant Colonel, not a Captain as is listed in Memorial Hall. (The "Roll Call" issue of Shipmate, September 1946, lists him as a Lt. Colonel.)
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
