On his birthday, July 11,1918, he was leading an attack across a wheat field at Sossions, France, when a German gunner hidden in a tree wounded him and two members of his platoon. Gordon had two slugs in his hip, James Jesse
of Winchester took a bullet through his lung, and a third man lost his left leg. They laid in a shell hole until medics moved them into open ground. The next day medics removed two bullets from Gordon’s right hip with no pain medication.
In 1919 Gordon returned home to a hero’s welcome. He joined many veterans in establishing the first American Legion post in Georgetown, Ky. - Post 24 - and served as its first commander. As commander, he was instrumental in procuring a French 75 mm cannon to be placed at the Georgetown Courthouse, remaining there until ii was donated for scrap metal for the war effort in WWII.
In 1920 Gordon was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, Purple Heart, French Medaille Militaire and Croix de Guerre on the steps of Georgetown College. Promoted to the rank of second lieutenant, he was selected to represent the Commonwealth of Kentucky at the entombment of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.
In 1926 he purchased a buffalo for sale in his meat market and mounted its head on a plaque which was presented to his former school, Georgetown High, where it proudly remained for many years.
Following his time in Georgetown, he relocated to Florida, passing away there in 1963. He was laid to rest in the Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola, Fla.
The distinguished beginnings of Our first post commander.

Sgt. Gordon A. Hambrick
2nd Infantry Division, AEF