Robert Eugene Hamel (1923 - 2017)

Born 5 Jun 1923 in Newburyport, Essex, Massachusetts, United States

Ancestors

Son of Alfred Francis Hamel and Clara Alice Laplante

Husband of Natalie Florence Felker — married 5 Jun 1948 in Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts, United States

Descendants

Died 23 Sep 2017 at age 94 in Holiday, Pasco, Florida, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Chris Ferraiolo [send private message] and Bob Hamel [send private message]

Biography

Robert Hamel is a Military Veteran.
Served in the American US Air Force 1942-1966
Tech Sargent

This profile is part of the Newburyport, Massachusetts One Place Study.

Born in 1923 in the city of Newburyport, Mass to Alfred Francis Hamel and Clara Laplante, Robert Hamel went on to serve in the Air Corps (Which later became the Air Force) during World War II. He was stationed in Italy and helped with the reconstruction efforts in Japan. In his twenty years of service to the Air Force, he achieved many medals and commendations including:

The Good Conduct Medal with 5 Bronze Loops, American Campaign Medal, EAME Medal with silver star, the World War Two Victory Medal, the Korean Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, UN Service Medal, American Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star, the Air Force Longevity Service Award with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Air Force Commendation Medal.

Later, he married Natalie Felker and had many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was known for telling many great stories about his past, his family and teaching his grandchildren about the world. He retired from military service as a Technical Sargent in 1966.

One of his many hobbies was photography and he often took many pictures during the war years. Some were spectacular vistas of the land. Some were horrific pictures of war. His hobby continued well into his later years.

Sadly, he passed away in 2017 at the age of 94 leaving behind six children, ten grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

DNA

Paternal and Maternal relationships are confirmed with an AncestryDNA test match between Chris Ferraiolo and his second cousin. Their MRCAs are their great-grandparents, Alfred Francis Hamel and Clara Alice Laplante. Predicted relationship reported by AncestryDNA: 2nd cousins based on sharing 300 cM across 15 segments; Confidence: Extremely High.

Sources

• "Massachusetts, Births, 1636-1924", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6ZS2-LQRC : 13 February 2021), Robert Eugene Hamel, 1923.

• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XQLT-KVS : accessed 25 September 2017), Robert E Hamel in household of Alfred F Hamel, Newburyport, Essex, Massachusetts, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 213, sheet 4A, line 49, family 70, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 901; FHL microfilm 2,340,636.

• "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K4XV-Y71 : accessed 25 September 2017), Robert Hamel in household of Clara Hamel, Ward 5, Newburyport, Newburyport City, Essex, Massachusetts, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 5-286, sheet 12A, line 24, family 227, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 1587.

• "United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KMXQ-CYT : 5 December 2014), Robert E Hamel, enlisted 06 Feb 1942, Boston, Massachusetts, United States; citing "Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946," database, The National Archives: Access to Archival Databases (AAD) (http://aad.archives.gov : National Archives and Records Administration, 2002); NARA NAID 126323, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.

• Obituary: http://obituaries.newburyportnews.com/obituary/u-s-air-force-technical-sgt-robert-e-hamel-ret-1923-2017-987198581

• Find a Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/129782690/robert-e_-hamel

• 1950 US Census: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6F3M-K6HJ