Medal of Honor: Pierpont M. Hamilton – World War II (Operation Torch) – November 8, 1942
Under fire from land, sea, and sky, Major Pierpont M. Hamilton rode into battle unarmed—not to conquer, but to end the fight. When his commander fell beside him, he pressed on alone, bringing courage and reason where chaos reigned.
November 12, 2025
Name: Pierpont Morgan Hamilton
Rank: Major (later Lieutenant Colonel)
Organization: U.S. Army Air Corps
Place and Date: Near Port Lyautey, French Morocco – 8 November 1942
Entered Service At: New York, New York
Born: August 3, 1898 – Tuxedo Park, New York
Departed: March 4, 1982
Accredited To: New York
General Orders No.: 4, War Department, January 23, 1943
Summary of Action
On the morning of November 8, 1942, the Allied invasion of North Africa — Operation Torch — erupted in full force. At Port Lyautey, Morocco, Major Pierpont M. Hamilton volunteered for one of the most perilous assignments imaginable: to cross the beaches under fire and negotiate directly with French commanders to halt hostilities.
Accompanying Colonel Demas T. Craw, Hamilton boarded a small landing craft with the first wave of assault troops. The boat came under heavy shelling and air attack from both shore batteries and low-flying enemy planes. Forced to divert, they finally ran the craft aground at Mehdia Plage amid machine-gun fire.
Undeterred, Hamilton and Craw commandeered a light truck and drove toward French headquarters, weaving through explosions and gunfire. As they neared Port Lyautey, a sudden burst of machine-gun fire struck the vehicle at point-blank range, killing Colonel Craw instantly. Hamilton, captured moments later, refused to abandon the mission and continued to press for communication with the French officers.
Through sheer determination and courage, he completed the dangerous diplomatic effort that his fallen comrade had begun — an act that helped pave the way for the eventual cessation of hostilities at Port Lyautey.
Major Hamilton’s heroism in the face of near-certain death demonstrated that valor is not only found in battle, but in the pursuit of peace under fire.
Medal of Honor Citation
Place and date: Near Port Lyautey, French Morocco, 8 November 1942.
Entered service at: New York, N.Y.
Born: 3 August 1898, Tuxedo Park, N.Y.
G.O. No.: 4, 23 January 1943.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty. On 8 November 1942, near Port Lyautey, French Morocco, Lt. Col. Hamilton volunteered to accompany Col. Demas Craw on a dangerous mission to the French commander, designed to bring about a cessation of hostilities. Driven away from the mouth of the Sebou River by heavy shelling from all sides, the landing boat was finally beached at Mehdia Plage despite continuous machinegun fire from 3 low-flying hostile planes. Driven in a light truck toward French headquarters, this courageous mission encountered intermittent firing, and as it neared Port Lyautey a heavy burst of machinegun fire was delivered upon the truck from pointblank range, killing Col. Craw instantly. Although captured immediately after this incident, Lt. Col. Hamilton completed the mission.
