Changes

==Early life==

==Early life==

Hammerschmidt was born on May 4, 1922 in Harrison, Arkansas.<ref name="AKencyc">Thomas, Felicia. [http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=4169 John Paul Hammerschmidt (1922–2015)]. ''The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture''. Retrieved November 4, 2016.</ref> Both sides of his family were of [[Germany|German]] descent, and both set of his grandparents had settled in Boone County, Arkansas in the early 20th Century.<ref name="AKencyc"/>

Hammerschmidt was born on May 4, 1922, in Harrison, Arkansas.<ref name="AKencyc">Thomas, Felicia. [http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=4169 John Paul Hammerschmidt (1922–2015)]. ''The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture''. Retrieved November 4, 2016.</ref> Both sides of his family were of [[Germany|German]] descent, and both set of his grandparents had settled in Boone County, Arkansas in the early 20th Century.<ref name="AKencyc"/>

Hammerschmidt graduated from Harrison High School in 1938.<ref name="CONGbio">[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=H000124 HAMMERSCHMIDT, John Paul, (1922 - 2015)]. ''Biographical Directory of the United States Congress''. Retrieved November 4, 2016.</ref> He attended [[The Citadel]] from 1938 to 1939, when he received an appointment to the Naval Academy at Annapolis.<ref name="AKencyc"/> A year later he changed that appointment so he coult attend [[West Point]].<ref name="AKencyc"/> Hemmerschmidt enrolled at the University of Arkansas for the 1940–41 school year.<ref name="AKencyc"/> He happened to be in California when the [[Japan]]ese bombed [[Pearl Harbor]] on December 7, 1941, and he decided to work in a shipyard to help in the war effort.<ref name="AKencyc"/>

Hammerschmidt graduated from Harrison High School in 1938.<ref name="CONGbio">[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=H000124 HAMMERSCHMIDT, John Paul, (1922 - 2015)]. ''Biographical Directory of the United States Congress''. Retrieved November 4, 2016.</ref> He attended [[The Citadel]] from 1938 to 1939, when he received an appointment to the Naval Academy at Annapolis.<ref name="AKencyc"/> A year later he changed that appointment so he coult attend [[West Point]].<ref name="AKencyc"/> Hemmerschmidt enrolled at the University of Arkansas for the 1940–41 school year.<ref name="AKencyc"/> He happened to be in California when the [[Japan]]ese bombed [[Pearl Harbor]] on December 7, 1941, and he decided to work in a shipyard to help in the war effort.<ref name="AKencyc"/>

==Military career==

==Military career==

Hammerschmidt quit West Point and joined the Army Air Corps, training to be a pilot.<ref name="AKencyc"/> He was commissioned as a [[Lieutenant|Second Lieutenant]] and applied to serve oversees.<ref name="AKencyc"/> From 1942–45, he served in the China-Burma-India Theater with the [[Third Combat Cargo Group]], flying 217 missions across the section of the [[Himalayas]]<ref name="CONGbio"/> called the "hump".<ref name="AKencyc"/><ref name="Advocate">[http://www.swtimes.com/news/state-news/john-paul-hammerschmidt-strong-advocate-western-arkansas-dies-92 John Paul Hammerschmidt, Strong Advocate for Western Arkansas, Dies at 92]. ''swtimes.com''. April 1, 2015. Retrieved November 4, 2016.</ref>

Hammerschmidt quit West Point and joined the Army Air Corps, training to be a pilot.<ref name="AKencyc"/> He was commissioned as a [[Lieutenant|Second Lieutenant]] and applied to serve oversees.<ref name="AKencyc"/> From 1942 to 1945, he served in the China-Burma-India Theater with the [[Third Combat Cargo Group]], flying 217 missions across the section of the [[Himalayas]]<ref name="CONGbio"/> called the "hump".<ref name="AKencyc"/><ref name="Advocate">[http://www.swtimes.com/news/state-news/john-paul-hammerschmidt-strong-advocate-western-arkansas-dies-92 John Paul Hammerschmidt, Strong Advocate for Western Arkansas, Dies at 92]. ''swtimes.com''. April 1, 2015. Retrieved November 4, 2016.</ref>

Hammerschmidt was awarded the [[Distinguished Flying Cross]] with three oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters, three Battle Stars, and the Meritorious Service Award.<ref name="Advocate"/> In addition, the [[Republic of China]] awarded him the China War Memorial Medal.<ref name="Advocate"/> After his service, Hammerschmidt served in Air Force Reserves from 1945–60,<ref name="CONGbio"/> retiring as a [[Major]],<ref name="Advocate"/> and then serving in the District of Columbia Army Reserves from 1977–81.<ref name="CONGbio"/>

Hammerschmidt was awarded the [[Distinguished Flying Cross]] with three oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters, three Battle Stars, and the Meritorious Service Award.<ref name="Advocate"/> In addition, the [[Republic of China]] awarded him the China War Memorial Medal.<ref name="Advocate"/> After his service, Hammerschmidt served in Air Force Reserves from 1945 to 1960,<ref name="CONGbio"/> retiring as a [[Major]],<ref name="Advocate"/> and then serving in the District of Columbia Army Reserves from 1977 to 1981.<ref name="CONGbio"/>

==Post-military career and entry to politics==

==Post-military career and entry to politics==

After his military service, Hammerschmidt attended Oklahoma A&M College, but he left to take over the family lumber business in Harrison, the Hammerschmidt Lumber Co., due to an illness in his family.<ref name="AKencyc"/><ref name="CONGbio"/> He married his wife on October 11, 1948.<ref name="AKencyc"/>

After his military service, Hammerschmidt attended Oklahoma A&M College, but he left to take over the family lumber business in Harrison, the Hammerschmidt Lumber Co., due to an illness in his family.<ref name="AKencyc"/><ref name="CONGbio"/> He married his wife on October 11, 1948.<ref name="AKencyc"/>

Hammerschmidt came from a Democrat family, but he started attending Republican meetings "because the local Democratic Party was a closed group".<ref name="WaPo">Lauer, Claudia (April 3, 2015). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/john-paul-hammerschmidt-arkansas-congressman-dies-at-92/2015/04/03/2575c30e-da23-11e4-ba28-f2a685dc7f89_story.html John Paul Hammerschmidt, Arkansas congressman, dies at 92]. ''The Washinton Post''. Retrieved November 4, 2016.</ref> He served as a Harrison city councilman from 1948–54 and 1961–62.<ref name="AKencyc"/> He also served as the chairman of the Arkansas Republican Party from 1964–66.<ref name="CONGbio"/> Hammerschmidt was very active in the Republican Party, serving as a delegate to the [[Republican National Convention]] in 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, and 1984.<ref name="CONGbio"/>

Hammerschmidt came from a Democrat family, but he started attending Republican meetings "because the local Democratic Party was a closed group".<ref name="WaPo">Lauer, Claudia (April 3, 2015). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/john-paul-hammerschmidt-arkansas-congressman-dies-at-92/2015/04/03/2575c30e-da23-11e4-ba28-f2a685dc7f89_story.html John Paul Hammerschmidt, Arkansas congressman, dies at 92]. ''The Washinton Post''. Retrieved November 4, 2016.</ref> He served as a Harrison city councilman from 1948 to 1954 and 1961–62.<ref name="AKencyc"/> He also served as the chairman of the Arkansas Republican Party from 1964 to 1966.<ref name="CONGbio"/> Hammerschmidt was very active in the Republican Party, serving as a delegate to the [[Republican National Convention]] in 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, and 1984.<ref name="CONGbio"/>

==U.S. House of Representatives==

==U.S. House of Representatives==

==Post-congressional career==

==Post-congressional career==

Hammerschmidt earned a B.S. from Canbourne University, in London, England, in 1993 and M.A. from the same university in 1997.<ref name="CONGbio"/> Among the numerous organizations that he served on after his tenure in Congress was the board of trustees of Arkansas State University from 1999–2004.<ref name="AKencyc"/> He served again as the chairman of the Arkansas Republican Party from 2002–04.<ref name="WaPo"/>

Hammerschmidt earned a B.S. from Canbourne University, in London, England, in 1993 and M.A. from the same university in 1997.<ref name="CONGbio"/> Among the numerous organizations that he served on after his tenure in Congress was the board of trustees of Arkansas State University from 1999 to 2004.<ref name="AKencyc"/> He served again as the chairman of the Arkansas Republican Party from 2002 to 2004.<ref name="WaPo"/>

==Personal life==

==Personal life==

Hammerschmidt married his wife, Virginia "Ginny" Ann Sharp, on October 11, 1948, and they remained married for 58 years, until she died on January 2, 2006.<ref name="AKencyc"/> They had one son.<ref name="AKencyc"/>

Hammerschmidt married his wife, Virginia "Ginny" Ann Sharp, on October 11, 1948, and they remained married for 58 years, until she died on January 2, 2006.<ref name="AKencyc"/> They had one son.<ref name="AKencyc"/>

Hammerschmidt died on April 1, 2015 in Springdale, Arkansas.<ref name="AKencyc"/> When he was first elected in 1966, no other Republican had been elected to a federal or statewide office in Arkansas since Reconstruction, but less than fifty years later when he died, the Republican Party held every federal and statewide office in the state and held majorities in the state legislature.<ref>Brantley, Max (November 4, 2014). [http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2014/11/04/arkansass-new-day-a-historic-republican-victory Arkansas's new day; a historic Republican victory]. ''Arkansas Times''. Retrieved November 4, 2016.</ref>

Hammerschmidt died on April 1, 2015, in Springdale, Arkansas.<ref name="AKencyc"/> When he was first elected in 1966, no other Republican had been elected to a federal or statewide office in Arkansas since Reconstruction, but less than fifty years later when he died, the Republican Party held every federal and statewide office in the state and held majorities in the state legislature.<ref>Brantley, Max (November 4, 2014). [http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2014/11/04/arkansass-new-day-a-historic-republican-victory Arkansas's new day; a historic Republican victory]. ''Arkansas Times''. Retrieved November 4, 2016.</ref>

==References==

==References==