"Arab Mujahideen Down Another Chopper, One US Soldier Killed
Jan 03, 2004
JUS News Desk
Arab Mujahideen have shot down another OH-58 Kiowa observation helicopter in central Iraq, killing one pilot and injuring another. A policeman who saw the crash said the helicopter was hit by a missile as the US continues to wrongly accuse Saddam loyalists.
U.S. Army Captain Kimberly Hampton, remembered as a "Renaissance woman" at Presbyterian College, is being mourned by the college community following her death Friday in Iraq.
Hampton, a native of Easley, S.C., and a 1998 graduate of Presbyterian College, was killed when her OH-58 Kiowa Warrior observation helicopter was attacked near the Iraqi town of Fallujah, west of Baghdad. A fellow solider on the helicopter was wounded in the attack.
"Alumni, students, faculty and staff often use the term 'PC family' because the college community is so close-knit. "We have lost a member of that family," PC director of communications Steve Owens said. "Kim was one of those students who could be found excelling in the classroom, competing on a tennis court, leading ROTC drills, working in the community, or meeting with friends. She truly was a Renaissance woman.
Our thoughts and prayers are with her family during this difficult time."
Hampton graduated with honors as an English major, one day after being commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. She attended PC on a full ROTC scholarship and served as the commander of the Scottish Highlander Battalion during her senior year. She accepted the Daughters of the American Revolution Award, the George C. Marshall Award, and the Wysor Saber as the battalion's top graduate in 1998.
She also excelled in the classroom, where Hampton earned dean's list honors for five consecutive semesters and was a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa honor society.
Her contributions to campus and community life included service through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Campus Outreach, the Student-Athlete Advisory Board, and as a Red Cross volunteer.
It was as a member of the Blue Hose women's tennis team that Hampton gained the most attention. She finished her singles career with a 27-0 record in the South Atlantic Conference, winning conference singles titles in 1997 and 1998. The team captain finished her PC career ranked 28th nationally as a singles player and 18th nationally in doubles play.
Hampton led PC to the NCAA Division II Tournament for three consecutive years and was the SAC Female Athlete of the Year in 1998.
As a result of her honors, she was nominated by PC as an NCAA Woman of the Year.
"Kim will be remembered as one of PC's finest student-athletes," said Blue Hose sports information director Al Ansley. "It would be difficult to find someone who was able to balance so many activities while excelling at all of them. Above all, she was just a great person."
After earning her degree, Hampton was accepted into the aviation branch of the U.S. Army and was an honor graduate of U.S. Army Helicopter Flight School and Officer Basic Course at Fort Rucker, Ala.
Her first operational assignment was to the 4th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea. She served as a helicopter pilot and platoon leader there for two years with a mission of patrolling the No Fly Line along the Demilitarized Zone between North Korea and South Korea.
Hampton returned to Fort Rucker in January of 2002, and was an honors graduate of the seven-month Aviation Officer Advanced Course and Combined Arms Services Staff School. She was then assigned to the 82nd Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C., in August of 2002.
After serving in Afghanistan with Coalition Joint Task Force 180 for Operation Enduring Freedom, Hampton returned to the United States and was deployed to Iraq last September.
Despite her world travels, Hampton remained interested in and involved with her alma mater, according to director of alumni relations Randy Randall.
"As a class agent, it would be hard to find a better one. She would e-mail us from all over the world — whether Korea or Afghanistan — to keep us up to date and stay informed of what was happening at PC. She also expressed an interest in serving as a member of the ROTC Alumni Association executive committee," Randall said.
"One thing was clear —she was definitely doing what she loved."
PC observed a moment of silence for Hampton prior to Saturday's men's basketball game at the Ross E. Templeton Center.
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