Today our walk was dedicated in honor of:
Army Capt. Kimberly N. Hampton, Age 27 of Easley, SC.
KIA Jan. 2, 2004 Operation Iraqi Freedom
Capt. Hampton was assigned to 1st Battalion, 82nd Aviation Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
Killed when her OH-58 Kiowa observation helicopter was shot down by enemy ground fire in Fallujah, Iraq.
She was the first female pilot killed in Iraq.
Since the age of 3, Kimberly had always wanted to fly. She even wrote a paper about it for her third grade class. She was president of the student body and captain of the tennis team at Easley High School and also played shortstop on the softball team her senior year. She played tennis at Furman University for a year but graduated in 1998 from Presbyterian College, where she studied English and was the battalion commander of the ROTC unit. She was recruited by West Point to play tennis but decided it was not a place for women, that it was a place for men. She was in her second term of military service, leaving for Iraq on Aug 31, when she was shot down having also served in Korea and Afghanistan. Kimberly could be tough on her troops but she was an inspiring leader who rewarded a job well done with her warm smile and trademark wink. To those serving with her in Iraq, her voice was “Dark Horse Six”. She was doing what she enjoyed, she was well trained and felt it was an honor to serve her country. Her parents were given her Bronze medal, an Air Medal and the Purple Heart. When Kimberly headed off to war the first time, she sent her mother an e-mail, joking about the hazards of flying a small helicopter. But she had a serious message, too. “If there is anything I can say to ease your mind … if anything ever happens to me, you can be certain that I am doing the things I love,” she wrote. “… I’m living my dreams for sure, living life on the edge at times and pushing the envelope. … “So, worry if you must,” she added, “but you can be sure that your only child is living a full, exciting life and is HAPPY!” Hampton became the first female military pilot in U.S. history to be shot down and killed as a result of hostile fire.
We had a great 6.87 Mile walk. We walked over to the 911 Memorial and then we walked up town to the War Memorial Park and back. I want to thank my friend Robert for walking with us today and I want to thank all who honked, waved, and saluted in helping us honor this hero. We had 229 honks. Thank you so much.
Army Capt. Kimberly N. Hampton will not be forgotten !
