This Deceased Army Profile is not currently maintained by any Member.
If you would like to take responsibility for researching and maintaining this Deceased profile please click
HERE
Contact Info
Home Town Millsboro
Last Address Dunwoody, GA
Date of Passing Jan 04, 2009
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Hamblin was commissioned a second lieutenant upon completion of the ROTC program in 1943.
He served with the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment in Europe in World War II and with the 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg, N.C., from 1948 to 1957. He completed 105 parachute jumps during his career.
Hamblin was an infantry company commander in Korea in 1952.
He served as an adviser to the Republic of Vietnam Joint General Staff in Saigon in 1964. For his service, he was the first member of the U.S. Armed Forces awarded the Republic of Vietnam Army Distinguished Service medal, second class.
In 1965, he was adviser to the II Vietnam Army corps. He was wounded during a Viet Cong attack on the military installation at Pleiku in February 1965.
After 28 years of service, he retired in 1971. He was a training and safety consultant to automotive and heavy vehicle fleets and was formerly a member of the board of directors of the Georgia Motor Truck Association and the Georgia Safety Council.
Other Comments:
Colonel Hamblin was born on May 23, 1922, in Millsboro, Delaware, where he grew up. His parents were Joshua and Flossie Hamblin. Colonel Hamblin and his wife, Sylvia, have been residents of Dunwoody, Georgia, since June 1972.
Paul graduated from the University of Delaware in 1943 and in September of that same year he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant.
He served his country with great distinction as a member of the U.S. Army for the next 28 years. Of particular note was his success in establishing standards par excellence in the area of military-civilian relationships.
His service included tours as an infantry officer during World War II in Europe, the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War.
Colonel Hamblin was a highly decorated officer. His military decorations include the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit (2d Award), the Bronze Star with "V" Device (2d Award), the Joint Services Commendation Medal, The Army Commendation Medal, The Air Medal, The Purple Heart with 4 Clusters, The Combat Infantryman's Badge, The Aircraft Crewman's Badge, The Master Parachutist's Badge, The Presidential Unit Citation and 7 Overseas bars, The American Campaign Medal, The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, The World War II Victory Medal, The Army of Occupation Medal (Germany), National Defense Service Medal, The Korean Service Medal, The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 20 years Device and The United Nations Service Medal.
His decorations from foreign governments include The Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation Badge, The Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation Badge, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and The Republic of Vietnam Army Distinguished Service Medal.
In a letter accompanying this latter award, General Nguyen wrote, “this medal is the highest, medal after the National Order of RVNAF and Colonel Hamblin is the sole and first American to receive the Distinguished Honor."
Survivors include loving wife, Sylvia Dutton Hamblin; son, Paul W. Hamblin II and his wife, Kitty, of Hudson; a grandson, Paul W. Hamblin III; and a brother, John Lee Hamblin, and his wife, Josephine, of Georgetown, Delaware.
Interment was on February 11, 2009, at 9 a.m. in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.
Korean War/Korea, Summer-Fall 1952
From Month/Year
May / 1952
To Month/Year
November / 1952
Description In May the enemy became bolder, increasing his probing attacks and patrols, intensifying his artillery fire, and aggressively interrupting U.N. patrols. In May 1952 an estimated total of 102,000 artillery and mortar rounds fell in Eighth Army positions.
As a result of increased Chinese ground action in the 45th Division sector, the division planned an operation to establish eleven patrol bases across its front. Operation COUNTER began on 6 June. By the 7th, ten of the eleven objectives had been taken. The last one (Hi11 191, eight miles west of Ch'orwon) was captured after a 48-hour battle on 14 June. The Chinese immediately launched counterattacks along the entire division front, climaxing their efforts on the night of 28-29 June with an unsuccessful 4-hour attack. The division sustained over 1,000 casualties during the month of June; Chinese losses were estimated at more than 5,000.
Throughout the first half of 1952, the U.N. forces waged a. war of containment. The frontline soldier, meanwhile, hoped that the armistice negotiators would soon reach an agreement.
As the Korean War went into its third year, in June 1952, the deadlock continued. July began with a series of small-scale attacks by both sides. Torrential rains restricted activity in the last week of July and through most of August. For some time the enemy had gradually increased the volume of mortar and artillery fire in support of his attacks, and in September fired a total of 45,000 rounds against the Eighth Army's front.
During the summer of 1952 the air war over Korea intensified. In addition to striking at supply centers, troop concentrations, power plants, factories, and rail and road networks, U.N. aircraft rendered valuable assistance to frontline troops by bombing, or searing with napalm, enemy bunkers, trenches, gun positions, and communications lines. On 29 August the largest U.N. air raid of the Korean War was carried out on P'yongyang, the North Korean capital. During the month of September alone the U.S. Fifth Air Force shot down 64 MIG-15's at a cost of seven Sabrejets.
A series of enemy attacks in October 1952 produced some of the heaviest fighting in more than a year. Most of it centered around two key heights, Hills 281 and 395, northwest of Ch'orwon. The attacks were opened on 6 October with the largest volume of mortar and artillery fire received by the Eighth Army during the war. By 15 October the disputed ground was held firmly by U.N. forces, and the enemy withdrew. Over 2,000 Chinese dead were counted on these two hills after the 10-day battle.
