Staff Sgt. Terriance Hamilton

ehash Soldier serves community with soup kitchen

ehash Staff Sgt. Terriance Hamilton and his wife Joyce, a retired sergeant first class, wanted to help those in need living near Fort Knox, Kentucky, so this past year they opened the Lord’s Supper Soup Kitchen, a non-profit that provides more than just hot meals.

ehash Before they opened, Hamilton said he and his wife did some recon.

ehash “We went off the highways and down into the trailer courts ... apartments, low-income housing,” Hamilton said. “And we literally saw people eating off cardboard boxes.”

ehash They felt it was their calling to help these residents, and in the past year the kitchen has raised an estimated $40,000 worth of food, clothing and furniture for the less fortunate. There’s also a ministry aspect to their work, but Hamilton stresses that any and all are welcome to break bread.

ehash Hamilton has managed to co-lead the soup kitchen while juggling his active-duty responsibilities.

ehash “I get off work, I take off my uniform, put on a pair of tennis shoes and jeans, and I get real humble,” Hamilton said.

ehash He’s had to defer some of his service work in recent months, however, as he’s presently deployed to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan with 3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary).

ehash Downrange, Hamilton is serving as the contract air cell noncommissioned officer in charge and he’s responsible for assurance inspections of government contractors. Recognized as a talent behind the mic, Hamilton is often tapped for a special duty — serving as emcee for events, such as color-casing ceremonies, at home and abroad.

ehash Hamilton said he and his wife have big plans to create a homeless shelter down the line and also build more soup kitchens, branching out to other states.

ehash “The Army prepared me with patience and fortitude and dignity, respect, integrity, loyalty. The Army gave me all these attributes,” Hamilton said. “I had them, but they made me go deep with them.”

ehash Assignment: Contract Air Cell NCOIC, deployed with 3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

ehash Personal: A married 44-year-old with more than 18 years of service. Hails from Ozark, Alabama. 

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