EUGENE S. HAMES PAPERS

Eugene S. Hames was born July 24, 1920 near Phillipsburg, Montana. The fifth of seven children born to John and Beulah Hames, he grew up in what he later described as a log cabin without running water or electricity. School work came easily to Hames, and he skipped second grade. Hames graduated from high school in Missoula, Montana in the spring of 1937. At the age of fifteen, Hames worked as a railroad section hand for the Northern Pacific Railroad. At age sixteen, Hames became a lumberjack and the youngest man in his lumber camp.

With the outbreak of World War II, Hames received an occupational deferment due to America's need for lumber. However, when he learned about the "ski troops," he obtained the three letters of recommendation then required by the National Ski Patrol, and was sworn in to the Army at Butte, Montana on March 1, 1943. Although Hames had never skied, his lumberjack experience qualified him for the 10th Mountain Division.

Hames learned to ski at Camp Hale, Colorado. Following four weeks of training at the non-commissioned officers school, he was promoted to corporal and retained by the school as an instructor. In April 1944, Hames became the first sergeant of the Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 86th Infantry Regiment. Hames' rapid promotion through the ranks was virtually unprecedented, and he later acknowledged that he may have set a record. In the Fall of 1944, Hames applied for and was accepted to officer candidate school. After receiving his commission at Fort Benning, Georgia, Hames became the platoon leader of the First Platoon, Company K, 85th Regiment.

During combat operations in Italy, Hames received a Bronze Star Medal for his actions near Castel d'Aiano at Hill 913 on April 15, 1945.

Hames served as a member of the advance party responsible for arranging housing at Camp Carson, Colorado for the 10th Mountain Division's return from Italy. While stationed at Camp Carson, Hames met Verna Raisanen, a cadet nurse at the camp. Although separated for a time, "Rise" and Hames were reunited at the University of Minnesota following Hames' discharge from the Army. They were married on August 30, 1947.

Hames took advantage of an accelerated course offered to veterans by the University of Minnesota, and quickly completed his undergraduate work. He started law school in 1947. He also joined the Air Force Reserve, where he served with the rank of captain in the Air Force Judge Advocate General corps from 1947 to 1956.

Hames graduated from the University of Minnesota and moved to Denver in 1950. He was admitted to Colorado Bar in March 1951. In 1954, he joined the partnership Wood, Ris and Hames with fellow attorneys Ted Wood and William Ris. During his legal career, Hames represented clients in more than 700 jury trials. He served as director of the Arapahoe Ski Corporation at Arapahoe Basin from 1958-1962. An avid outdoorsman, Hames skied until age eighty. Following his retirement, he taught English as a second language to immigrants. He also served as President of 10th Mountain Division Foundation. Hames passed away Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 2006. He was buried with military honors at Denver's Fort Logan, Cemetery.