Colonel Hamilton Stuyvesant Fish III, A Soldier's Story
.png "Colonel Hamilton Stuyvesant Fish III – World War I Officer and Congressman")
Colonel Hamilton Stuyvesant Fish III, A Soldier's Story
Colonel Hamilton Stuyvesant Fish III was born on December 7, 1888, in Garrison, New York, into a prominent and influential American family. His early education included private boarding schools and study abroad at Château de Lancy’s Swiss academy. He later graduated from St. Mark’s School in 1906.
A gifted athlete, Fish excelled in soccer and football. Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall, he was recruited to play football at Harvard University, where he became one of the institution’s standout athletes. He was selected twice as an All-American and captained teams noted for both discipline and endurance.
Fish graduated from Harvard in 1909 with a degree in history and government. He briefly attended Harvard Law School before leaving to work in the insurance industry in New York City. Entering public life early, he was elected to the New York State Assembly, serving from 1914 to 1916.
Alongside his political career, Fish was a member of the New York National Guard. When the United States entered World War I, he was commissioned as a captain and assigned command of K Company, 15th New York Infantry, later redesignated the 369th Infantry Regiment, famously known as the “Harlem Hellfighters.” The regiment, composed primarily of African American soldiers, was attached to French forces and spent 191 days on the front lines, longer than any other American unit in the war.
Under relentless combat conditions in the trenches, Fish earned the respect of his men and allied commanders. He was promoted to major during the campaign and remained with the regiment until leaving active federal service on May 14, 1919. He continued serving in the New York National Guard and ultimately attained the rank of colonel in 1940.
In 1920, Colonel Fish was elected to the United States House of Representatives, where he served continuously from November 2, 1920, until January 3, 1945. Early in his tenure, on December 21, 1920, he introduced House Resolution 67, which led directly to the establishment of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery—one of the nation’s most enduring memorials to the fallen.
After leaving Congress, Colonel Fish turned to writing and civic leadership. He authored five books, including FDR: The Other Side of the Coin and Hamilton Fish: Memoir of a Patriot. In 1958, he founded the Order of Lafayette, continuing his lifelong commitment to Franco-American cooperation and remembrance of shared wartime sacrifice.
Colonel Hamilton Stuyvesant Fish III died on January 18, 1991, in Cold Spring, New York, at the age of 102. He lived long enough to witness the full integration of the United States military—a cause he had championed since commanding the Harlem Hellfighters during World War I.
His life bridged aristocratic privilege, frontline combat, legislative service, and a century of American military evolution.
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About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life
She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.
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