A Soldier's Story: Captain Father Lawrence Edward Lynch

A Soldier's Story: Colonel Hamilton Stuyvesant Fish III



Colonel Hamilton Stuyvesant Fish III was born on December 7, 1888, in Garrison, New York.

His education included private boarding schools from a wealthy family, including Chateau de Lancy's Swiss academy. Colonel Hamilton Fish graduated from St. Mark's Academy in 1906.

Colonel Hamilton Stuyvesant Fish was a natural athlete, playing soccer and football. At 6'4", he was accepted onto the Harvard Football team during college. He was twice on the all-American team.

After graduating from Harvard in 1909 with a degree in history and government, Colonel Hamilton Fish initially started Harvard Law School before leaving to work for an insurance company in New York City. He was elected as a New York State Assembly member from 1914 to 1916.

Colonel Hamilton Stuyvesant Fish was also a member of the NY National Guard and, during World War I, commanded (as a captain) K Company of the 15th NY Infantry (the famous "Harlem Hellfighters") and mustered with them to the 369th Infantry. His unit spent a whopping 191 days in the trenches, where he was elevated to the rank of major before leaving the regular army on May 14, 1919. He remained with the NY National Guard until 1940 when he obtained the rank of colonel.



Colonel Hamilton Fish was elected into the US House of Representatives, serving from November 2, 1920, until January 3, 1945. He introduced resolution 67 on December 21, 1920, which provided for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington.

After his time in Congress, he wrote five books, including FDR: The Other Side of the Coin and Hamilton Fish: Memoir of a Patriot. In 1958 Colonel Hamilton Fish also founded the Order of Lafayette.

Colonel Hamilton Stuyvesant Fish died on January 18, 1991 - at 102 years of age, in Cold Springs, New York.   He lived long enough to see a fully integrated military, which had always been one of his most passionate causes.


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a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia. 

In addition to the travel writings at www.takethebackroads.com, you can also read her book reviews at www.riteoffancy.com and US military biographies at www.everydaypatriot.com

Her online photography gallery can be found at shop.takethebackroads.com

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