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Hamilton King Avery II, Lieutenant Colonel, USAF, Retired Died today 10 April 2008 at 4:45 PM. He was 91. He was the son of the late Hamilton King Avery I of Memphis, TN and Alice Josephine Daigle of New Orleans, LA A graduate of West Point Military Academy 1941, where he earned his letter in track and was a member of the equestrian team. His class was called "Black 41" by Author Bill Yenne who wrote of a class that graduated on the eve of America's entry into WW II; joined the US Army Air Corps which then merged into the USAF in 1947. He trained as a pilot in B-24's and A-26's and flew in Egypt, Libya, Romania, Naples and Normandy. He served in the 98th Bomb Group; which was activated 3 February 1942 at McDill Field, FL with the B-24"Liberator "Bomber. On 1 Aug 1943, led by Col. John Kane, 165 B-24's took off to bomb the Ploesti Oil Fields 30 miles north of Bucharest. This unit was the only B-24 group to precisely carry out their mission and that was why Captain at the time Avery was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, for extraordinary heroism that day. At the end of WW II in 1947, he was assigned to the Royal Canadian Air Force Intelligence Ottawa, Canada. Then he was transferred to the Far Eastern Air Forces, Tokyo, Japan in 1953 during the Korean War. In 1957 he was reassigned to the Pentagon, Washington, DC, Intelligence Department where he served until he retired in 1961 He earned the American Campaign Medal WW II –1 Bronze Star, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign- 2 Bronze Stars and the Air Medal Meritorious Achievement- 1 Silver Oak Leaf & 1 Bronze Oak Leaf. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel 31 July 1961 after 20 years service. After leaving the military, he became head of the Foreign Language Department at Myrtle Beach High School, 1961-1977 where he taught Spanish and World Geography. Later he received his Masters in Education 1973, from the University of South Carolina. He was a Mason for 50 years, a member of the Myrtle Beach Masonic Lodge #353 AFM. He was also a 32ND degree Scottish Rite Mason, a York Rite Mason and a member of the Omar Shrine Temple. He was an active member of the West Point Society and the Air Force Association. He took joy in his wife's cooking and their collies. He was an avid piano player and he and his wife often entertained local musicians and friends in their home. He enjoyed philosophy, science fiction, teaching and his students. He was predeceased by his wife of 58 years Hilda Mae Gause of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Surviving are his son Hamilton King Avery III of Las Vegas, NV and Barbara Alice Avery of Charleston, SC. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews. He was a member of First United Methodist Church, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Memorial services will be 2:00 PM Tuesday, April 15, 2008 at First United Methodist of Myrtle Beach directed by Goldfinch Funeral Home, Beach Chapel. A private burial will be held later at Lakeside Cemetery in Conway. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church of Myrtle Beach, P.O. Box 1367, Myrtle Beach, S. C. 29587 The family will receive friends from 5 until 7 P.M. Monday at their home, 4303 North Ocean Blvd, Myrtle Beach SC. Sign a guest book at www. goldfinchfuneralhome.com

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Hamilton Avery, II

April 12, 2008