William Bernard Hamacher
William Bernard Hamacher
Private First Class William Bernard Hamacher was born on July 11, 1949 in Woodbury, Nassau County, New York. A 1967 graduate of Gloucester Catholic High School in his hometown of Gloucester City, NJ, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps a month after graduation. He had planned on becoming a teacher. Hamacher was a soprano horn soloist in the Vagabonds Drum and Bugle Corps and enjoyed baseball, weightlifting and school plays.
William Hamacher enlisted in the US Marine Corps in July 1967, a month after graduating from high school and a year after his cousin, John Rodgers of Gloucester City, died in Vietnam. Hamacher attained the rank of Private First Class, served as a 0331 machine gunner and was a gun team leader. Private First Class Hamacher was killed in action during an ambush in Vietnam on May 22, 1968. He was awarded the Silver Star, the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Republic of Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Pistol Expert Medal, and Rifle Sharp Shooter Medal.
New St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bellmawr, New Jersey
William Bernard Hamacher is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Panel 65E, Row 11.
Gloucester Marine 'Always Optimistic'
Camden Courier-Post —
Marine Pfc. William B. Hamacher, 18, son of Mr. and Mrs. William C. Hamacher of 709 Powell St., Gloucester City, was fatally wounded during action in Vietnam on May 22.
A machine gun team leader, Pfc. Hamacher was taking part in a battalion-sized search and destroy mission near Con Thien when he was hit by small arms fire. He was a member of the 1st Battalion of the 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division.
Hamacher graduated from Gloucester Catholic High School in June of last year and worked for a month for a Philadelphia insurance firm before enlisting in the Marine Corps. He was sent to Vietnam in January.
Postponed Education
His sister, Margaret, 25, said William had planned on attending college to become a teacher but decided to postpone his higher education after a cousin was killed in Vietnam.
“He said he had a duty to be there and he could go to college later,” Margaret said.
Margaret stated her brother had a bad back and could have been exempt from military service. She said that he was determined to be a Marine.
Always Optimistic
“He was very proud of the Marine Corps and felt he was doing the right thing by being in it,” she said. “Billy had a great personality and was always optimistic. It makes it a little easier to take knowing how he felt about what he was doing.”
Beside his sister, Pfc. Hamacher is survived by his parents; a brother, Air Force Sgt. David Hamacher, 23, who is a veteran of Vietnam, and another sister, Mrs. Dorothy Stratton. The older Hamacher is a pressman with the Thayer Advertising and Hal Printing Co. of Camden.
Remembrances at The Virtual Wall
The following remembrances have been left at The Virtual Wall for William Bernard Hamacher:
- The American Way — posted by Bob Fair, American Legion Post 135, a fellow veteran
- Gloucester Catholic High Class of 1967 — posted by Robert Greer, high school classmate
- Bugle Billy — posted by Edward John Lynd IV
- A Best Friend — posted by Carlos Cortez, grew up together
- Hellooooo Billy — posted by Robert Greer
- Gone But Not Forgotten — posted by Hillary Malsberger Dayton, close friend
Messages Left on TheWall-USA
Honoring you today Marine. Rest in peace Marine knowing that we will never forget your sacrifice and service to the Corps and our Country. Semper Fi Marine. Cpl. Harton, USMC Ret., Vietnam 1967.
— Ray Harton, fellow Marine — July 11, 2000
Gone, Dear Friend, But Never Forgotten
Billy and I were in drum corps together back in the ’60s. I’ll never forget his quick wit and tall lanky build. He was a great friend, a great Marine, and a true hero. He is deeply missed. As the mother of a U.S. Marine who served in Iraq, I truly feel closer to Billy and what he fought for. OOH RAH Billy, Semper Fi.
— Hillary Dayton (Malsberger), friend, Jacksonville, NC — September 29, 2003