In 1940, Hamilton saw an opportunity to join the U.S. Border Patrol and signed up. World War II soon followed and he was chosen to be an M.P. (Military Police) in the U. S. Army.
“I was sent to New Caledonia in the South Pacific,” said Hamilton. “Later on, I was transferred to Auckland, New Zealand. Our job was transporting prisoners of war.”
After the end of the war, Hamilton resumed his career with the Border Patrol. He recalls the temperature in El Paso and Del Rio, Texas.
“It got pretty warm down there at times,” said Hamilton. “After a couple of years, I was sent to Blaine, Washington, just south of Seattle. I spent a few years in Seattle.”
Hamilton remembered an incident while patrolling on the Canadian border.
“There was this fellow who crossed the border illegally,” said Hamilton. “I chased him down and he ended up in the bottom of a sort of gravel pit. The walls of the pit were pretty steep so I knew he wasn’t going anywhere. I yelled down to him, ‘O.K., I know you’re down there, come on out you so and so.’ He answered back ‘I’ll come out, but I’m not a so and so.’”
Throughout his long career with the Border Patrol, Hamilton had his partner at his side, his wife Esther. Hamilton made mention that she was an accomplished seamstress. A rather attractive woman, Esther had her likeness used on some Land O’ Lakes products.
“She could walk by a store window, see an outfit, and go home and make the same outfit without a pattern,” said Hamilton. “She made all of her own clothes. She had sewed costumes for some movies. The old actor Walter Brennan wanted to take her to Hollywood to design some clothes, but he told me, ‘That’s as far as it goes.’”
Hamilton served in the Border Patrol from 1941-1970. Towards the end of his career, he was on the hiring board, one of five Chief Patrol Inspectors, whose job was to interview applicants to join the patrol.
“I traveled all over the country,” said Hamilton. “Trying to hire someone from New York to join the Border Patrol wasn’t easy. There was a height requirement in place. You had to be at least 5’8” and you had to be in shape. You couldn’t be a fat boy. If I would have had a son, I would have wanted him to join the Border Patrol. I ended up in St. Paul before I retired.”
Even though Hamilton enjoyed his many years serving with the Border Patrol, he almost chose a different vocation.
“If things had gone right, I would have been a rancher,” said Hamilton. “My buddy’s uncle owned a ranch. At the time, Wyoming was full of wild horses. I worked three summers for $30 a month and we had our choice of horses. We did all of the cowboy work.”
Compared to the Texas heat, Hamilton recalls the temperatures in New England, notably New Hampshire.
“The coldest I can remember was 55 below zero,” said Hamilton. “I spent a total of five years up there on patrol in Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire.”
During his time with the Border Patrol, Hamilton had the chance to meet some pretty important people.
“I met all of the Kennedy brothers (Jack, Bobby and Ted,)” said Hamilton. “When they wanted something done, they called the Border Patrol. I also met Presidents Johnson and Carter.
After his retirement, Hamilton and Esther moved to New Richland and built a house. She passed away five years ago at the age of 101. Turning 100 isn’t easy, and Hamilton attributes his health to all the walking he did in his younger years.
“Up until a few years ago, I would walk four miles a day,” said Hamilton.
He doesn’t use a walker and still has his driver’s license. His car is parked outside Country Neighbors, where he now resides.
“I think they want me to give up my license voluntarily,” he said.
Hamilton has lost some of his hearing, but he still does quite a bit of reading. The pace at which he goes, has slowed down some though.
“I used to read a book in a day or two,” said Hamilton. “Now, it takes me a little longer.”
New Richland resident Connie Field has known Hamilton for more than 20 years, and they have become good friends.
“He’s a great guy,” said Field. “I used to accompany him on many trips over to Rochester and he has told me many stories. He has always been a gentleman.”
When asked the secret to living to be 100 years old, Hamilton got right to the point.
“Live a good, clean life, and keep your mouth shut,” he said with a smile.
