Kimberly Hampton

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Capt. Kimberly Hampton, in her OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopter
Capt. Kimberly Hampton, in her OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopter

Captain Kimberly Nicole Hampton (August 18, 1976 in Greenville, South Carolina – January 2, 2004 in Fallujah, Iraq) was the first female military pilot to be shot down and killed in United States history.

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[edit] Early life

Hampton grew up in Easley, South Carolina, where she graduated Easley High School as the student body president, and captain of the tennis team.[1] She went on to be an honors graduate of Presbyterian College.[2] In college, she was a champion tennis player, leading the school team, the Blue Hose, to three consecutive South Atlantic Conference women’s tennis tournament titles. She was undefeated in three years of singles play.[2] She won the SAC awards for Women’s Tennis Player of the Year in 1997 and 1998, and Female Athlete of the Year in 1998.[3]

[edit] Military career

Hampton joined the U.S. Army ROTC in college, and was the school’s second female to be a ROTC battalion commander as a senior. After graduation, she was an honor graduate of the U.S. Army Helicopter Flight School and Officer Basic Course. She was a Captain in the U.S. Army, Commander of Delta Troop, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division. She served 2 years in South Korea, in Afghanistan War in Afghanistan (2001–present) during Operation Enduring Freedom, and was deployed to Iraq as part of the Iraq War in September 2003.[4][3] Hampton died when the Kiowa Warrior OH58-D armed observation helicopter she was flying was shot down near Fallujah, on January 2, 2004. Captain Hampton was the first female military pilot to be shot down and killed by enemy fire in US history.[5][6][7] She was also the first female combat casualty from South Carolina in Iraq.[4][3] Captain Hampton's resting place is located in the cemetery section just east of the bell tower at Robinson Memorial Gardens on Powdersville Road near her hometown of Easley, South Carolina.

[edit] Honors

Hampton was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star, an Air Medal, and a Purple Heart.[4] On June 10, 2004, she was inducted into the South Atlantic Conference hall of fame.[3] In 2005, the "Captain Kimberly Hampton Memorial Library" public library and the "Kimberly Hampton Memorial Highway" in her hometown of Easley were named in her honor.[8][9] The annual Presbyterian College Capt. Kimberly Hampton Scholarship has been presented to an ROTC student since 2006.[10]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Female helicopter pilot was 'living my dreams'", by Sharon Cohen, The Associated Press, published by USA Today, 2004-09-09. Retrieved 2007-09-28.
  2. ^ a b Bob Faw (January 12, 2004). "Chopper pilot recalled as a super-achiever". MSNBC. Retrieved on 2007-09-28.
  3. ^ a b c d "Seven Inducted into South Atlantic Conference Hall of Fame", South Atlantic Conference press release, June 11, 2004. Retrieved 2007-09-28.
  4. ^ a b c "Parents, fiancé lay to rest first woman from South Carolina to die in Iraq", Associated Press. Retrieved 2007-09-28.
  5. ^ EDITORIAL: Sept. 11 brought a 'new normal': Status quo has been upended. The Beaufort Gazette, S.C. wire feed distributed by Knight Ridder Tribune Business News. Washington: Sep 10, 2006. pg. 1
  6. ^ *Jim Duplessis (September 12, 2006). "Couple felt ‘connection’ in visit to ground zero". The State. Retrieved on 2006-12-20.. Wire feed distributed by Knight Ridder Tribune Business News.
  7. ^ Capt. Kimberly Hampton. Write from the Front. Retrieved on 2006-12-20.
  8. ^ Pickens County Library SystemPDF (773 KiB) Retrieved 2007-09-28.
  9. ^ Dedication for “Kimberly Hampton Memorial Highway”. South Carolina Department of Transportation (2005-04-01). Retrieved on 2006-12-20.
  10. ^ Presbyterian ROTC commissioning, 2006, 2007, retrieved 2007-09-28.

[edit] External links