“Tommy Hamill is American to the core. Pride, perseverance, a sense of purpose, faith, love of country and his family. His story is riveting ... And relevant to our times as America fights the war on terror”.

General Tommy Franks

 

 

Do you remember the “Tommy Hamill story?  I do, although I had forgotten his name until recently.  His story, his capture, his rescue, his town’s faith, and his family’s faith are an inspiring American story.

 

4/9/04-Hamill and six other Halliburton employees are captured by terrorists in Iraq after an attack on their convoy.  The terrorists demand total U.S. withdrawal from Fallujah by the next day.

 

4/10/04-Hamill is paraded before a TV camera as a captive.  Further demands are made.  All American troops must leave Iraq or Hamill and the others will be killed.  A deadline is given and is passed.

 

4/14/04-Kellie Hamill, Tommy’s wife, makes a plea for his life during interviews.  She is age 36, born and raised in Amarillo, Texas.  She and Tommy have been married for 17 years and have two children, Thomas, age 14 and Tori, age 12.  She, like her husband, is a person of strong faith in God.

 

4/20/04-Four of the seven captive Halliburton employees are found dead.

 

5/2/04-Tommy escaped from the place he was being held when he hears what he believed was a passing American convoy.  Hamill identified himself to American troops and led them back to capture the terrorists that had held him captive.

 

5/8/04-Tommy Hamill returned to Macon, Mississippi after a brief stay at a German military hospital. 

 

Hamill was on Fox and most or all major networks.  He spoke about his faith in God, his prayers and how they were answered.  He never gave up and always believed he would be rescued.  Such strength comes from deep held beliefs. 

 

“The whole town of Macon, it seemed, showed up at one time or another in some interview on one of the mainstream news networks during Hamill's captivity. All of them testified to their faith in God and the power of prayer.

 

Here's what fascinated me. Macon prayed. God heard. Thomas Hamill was delivered from his captors. More than that, the tables were immediately turned and Hamill's captors were delivered into his hands. Mayor Baker, Thomas Hamill, his family and the people of Macon gave God the glory in every interview. If not, God would have been relegated to the role of some nebulous, impersonal symbol of "hope" instead of the Living, Personal God of Whom all Macon testified.”

Quotes from:  WorldNetDaily, 5/8/04

 

The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.       James, 5:16 NLT

 

Our God hears and answers prayer!

 

Tommy Hamill, age 44, grew up on a dairy farm in Noxubee County, Mississippi.  He is a volunteer firefighter for his town, Macon, Mississippi.  He first job was being a carpenter.  He later worked as a truck driver while operating a dairy farm.  He went to Iraq to support his county’s efforts and as a part of his employment.  Thank God America still produces men like Tommy Hamill.

 

Other sources for this story.  Clarion Ledger, Jackson, Mississippi & RPM for Truckers Magazine (online).