Lt. Col. Carol Jo Hammes

Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Colonel Carol Jo (Edwards) Hammes, 75, passed away at the Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) in Fort Sam Houston, Texas, October 16, 2023. Born December 15, 1947, in Washington, Indiana, she was the daughter of Joseph and Ivalue (Loughmiller) Edwards who preceded her in death, as well as a brother, Joseph Michael.
She graduated in 1966 from Washington Catholic High School where she was a class officer, honor student, and band member. Carol received an AS/Nursing Degree from Vincennes University, a BSN from Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis, MSN from Chapman University, and a MHA from Webster University.
Carol's life centered on family, the military, and sports. Her military career and love of country were inspired by her father, Joe, who was a Master Sergeant in the Army Air Corps during World War II. Her father became a highly respected sportscaster in Indiana and was known as "Mr. Basketball." He is recognized in the Indiana Broadcasters Hall of Fame and the Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Hall of Fame. She enjoyed spending time with her granddaughter and friends and loved to travel.
Lt. Colonel Hammes joined the USAF in 1979 as a surgery/trauma nurse after having worked in civilian hospitals as part of an open-heart surgery team at St. Vincent's Hospital, Indianapolis.
During her 26-year military career, she was deployed to bases all over the world including Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. She was also stationed in Honolulu, Spokane, Omaha, Lompoc, Tampa, Langley, San Antonio and Bitburg, Germany.
Carol's Air Force positions of note included Chief of Medical Operations for the Pacific, Chief of Air Force Medical Operations at the Pentagon, and Central Command at McDill AB, Tampa. She also served in both Iraq Wars and was responsible for building a 250-bed hospital during the second war.
After retiring from the military, Carol held positions as the Director of Perioperative Services at hospitals in Vancouver, Washington and Kaneohe, Hawaii. She returned to Boerne, Texas, in 2004.
Carol was a Charter member of American Legion Post 313 in 2019, and served as Chaplain until 2021. In 2020, Carol formed the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 313 and served as the first President. Carol also served 3 years as the District 21 Chaplain as well as serving on committees at the State organization.
Carol is survived by her daughter, Kelly Page, and granddaughter, Maggie Page of Boerne, Texas; brother, Dan Edwards, and sister-in-law, Beth Edwards of Evansville, Indiana; as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends and Carol's faithful sheepdog, Rudy.
Family and friends are invited to a Visitation on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. with the Recitation of the Rosary at 7:00 p.m. at Ebensberger-Fisher Funeral Home in Boerne, Texas. The Funeral Mass will be November 2, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Leon Springs. Carol's Inurnment at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, will take place at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Legion Post 313 at www.boerneamlegion.org or the American Legion Auxiliary Post 313 in Boerne, Texas. To leave condolences for the family and view a video of Carol's life, please visit www.ebensberger-fisher.com.
Arrangements with Ebensberger Fisher Funeral Home of Boerne.