Nuclear Museum Logo
Nuclear Museum Logo

National Museum of Nuclear Science & History

Raymond L. Hamilton

Explosives Research AssistantHanford, WA

Los Alamos, NM
Manhattan Project VeteranMilitary Veteran
Hamilton poses with a dog at Los Alamos

Raymond Hamilton worked in the explosives research area at Los Alamos after a distinguished career with the US Army Coast Artillery Corps 705th Machine Gun Battery. Hamilton developed malaria in the East Asia theatre forcing a return to the United States. He was sent to Los Alamos in 1944 after recuperation and did various work on explosives and in the carpentry lab. He married Mary Olipra, a WAC also at Los Alamos, and stayed on as a civilian employee until about 1954. 

Raymond L. Hamilton’s Timeline
1941 Entered military service with the US Army Coast Artillery Corps 705th Machine Gun Battery in the China-Burma-India theatre

1944 Developed malaria and is sent back to the US. Transferred to Los Alamos once healthy.

1954 Left Los Alamos after becoming a civilian employee at the facility for eight years.

Hamilton and his wife, Mary Olipra

A reference letter from J. Robert Oppenheimer commending Hamilton's work

Related Profiles

William E. Smith

Tinian Island

William E. Smith served as a corporal in the 393rd Bombardment Squadron. He was a member of the ground crew regularly assigned to the B-29 Straight Flush.

Nelson H. Van Wie

K-25 Plant

Attended the University of Maryland.

F. C. Meadows

Hanford, WA

Melvin L. Dietrich

K-25 Plant

Melvin L. Dietrich worked as a welder and electrician in a number of facilities across the Oak Ridge, Tennessee facility.