About

Orson Smith Hammond, the son of John and Hester (Reilly) Hammond, was born on May 8, 1912, in Winnetka, Cook County, Illinois. He had spent some time in Schenectady because his wife, Kitty, was from there. Before joining the service, Orson graduated from Kent High School in Connecticut and worked as a real estate broker.

In January 1942, Orson enlisted in the United States Army. He completed officer candidate school at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Orson was a First Lieutenant in the Tank Battalion of the 4th Armored Division. On November 11, 1944, Orson was killed in battle in France. He is buried in the Forest Dale Cemetery, New York.

Sources: The Schenectady Gazette, Find A Grave, Ancestry